• The TSA said it intercepted 6,678 firearms at airport security checkpoints last year.
• It was a small decrease from last year — but incidents have doubled since 2015.
• The most firearms, 440, were detected at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The Transportation Security Administration intercepted 6,678 firearms at airport checkpoints last year, it announced Wednesday.

That's an average of more than 18 firearms a day.

The agency screened more than 904 million people, meaning there was an average rate of 7.4 firearms per every million people.

It added that 94% of the firearms were loaded.

The figures for 2024 represent a slight decrease from last year's record 6,737 — but only by 0.9%.

Nonetheless, it is still the only year in the past decade — except for 2020, when travel was crippled by the pandemic — that has seen a drop in the number of firearms detected at airports.

The figure has more than doubled since 2015.

One of the TSA's interceptions last year included an airline crew member carrying a loaded 9mm handgun at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The TSA also released statistics for which airports see the most firearms.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta Air Lines' primary hub, saw the most at 440. It was closely followed by the 390 at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, which is American Airlines' biggest hub.

Four of the top 10 airports were in Texas, while two were in Florida.

The TSA said that when a firearm is found at an airport security checkpoint, law enforcement will be contacted and remove the passenger from the area.

In addition to any action taken by local law enforcement, passengers who bring a firearm to a security checkpoint face a fine of up to $15,000.

"One firearm at a checkpoint is too many," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. "Firearms present a safety risk for our employees and everyone else at the checkpoint. It's also costly and slows down operations."

"If individuals who carry a firearm intend to travel, we remind them that the firearm must be unloaded, locked in a hard-sided case, declared to the airline at the check-in counter, and transported in checked baggage," he added.

• Emirates president Tim Clark told Business Insider how he thinks Boeing can get out of its "mess."
• He said the company should treat workers better: "You look after the people, they look after you."
• Boeing delivered 348 planes in 2024, the lowest number since the pandemic.

The boss of one of Boeing's biggest customers has a blunt message for its new CEO: treat your workers better.

Tim Clark, the president of Emirates airline, told Business Insider in an interview: "You look after the people, they look after you. I think they've been offsided by the previous management for too long."

"Have you got yourself into a mess like this because you prided yourself on treating them badly and not giving them a deal when you were making fat profits and taking bonuses at board level? Really? That's not the way to run a business. You need to get people with you.

"So if you look after the guys and share the loot, you probably won't have such a forceful union," Clark added.

A seven-week strike exacerbated Boeing's troubles last year. Tensions flared and the acting labor secretary went to Seattle to help broker negotiations.

Union members approved the company's fourth offer, which will increase pay by 38% over four years. It also included a $12,000 ratification bonus.

Dubai-based Emirates is one of Boeing's biggest customers. It has the world's largest fleet of Boeing 777s and has ordered more than 200 of the modernized 777X variant, which has faced several certification delays.

The embattled planemaker delivered 348 planes in 2024, its lowest number since the pandemic, as it grappled with the fallout from January's Alaska Airlines blowout.

Boeing is working to overhaul its production processes and get back on track. It's now led by Kelly Ortberg, who took over as CEO in August.

Clark thinks it will take years for the company to fully recover: "The hiatus, for me, is likely to last until the end of this decade."

"Produce good quality, safe aircraft, and the profits will come," he told BI. "If you prioritize one before the other, in an incorrect manner as happened over the last 10 years, then you will reap the whirlwind."

He added: "Don't worry about what City analysts or the Wall Street analysts are telling you what you can and can't do. Just get on with the job, produce very good airplanes. I promise you, we'll buy them in large numbers — we as an industry."

Clark said he wanted to see the planemaker recover from its woes and turn things around.

"We need Boeing — we need them to get back to the type of company that produced the excellent aircraft they always used to do," he said.

Shares in Boeing fell 31% in 2024, making it the biggest faller of the 30 stock in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

• BP announced on Thursday that it would cut thousands of jobs.
• The cuts will affect 4,700 staff positions and 3,000 contractor roles.
• BP said it was part of a program to "simplify and focus" the oil giant.

The oil giant BP is cutting thousands of jobs, the company announced on Thursday.

In a statement sent to Business Insider, it said some 4,700 positions would be eliminated, while the number of contractors would be reduced by 3,000.

It said the cuts, which amount to about 5% of its workforce, were part of a program to "simplify and focus" BP that began last year.

"We are strengthening our competitiveness and building in resilience as we lower our costs, drive performance improvement and play to our distinctive capabilities," the statement added.

"As our transformation continues our priority will — of course — be safe and reliable operations and continuing to support our teams."

Bloomberg first reported the job cuts.

"I understand and recognize the uncertainty this brings for everyone whose job may be at risk, and also the effect it can have on colleagues and teams," CEO Murray Auchincloss told staff in an email seen by the outlet.

BP shares rose by as much as 1.7% in London before paring gains.

Thursday's announcement comes during a testing time for BP.

Its stock price has fallen by 5% over the past year while those of its competitors Shell and ExxonMobil have risen by more than a tenth.

Auchincloss is expected to try to reassure stakeholders at an investor day next month. On Tuesday, BP postponed it from February 11 to February 26 and moved the location from New York to London, saying the CEO was recovering from a medical procedure.

The firm's difficulties have been linked to its previous CEO Bernard Looney's decision to significantly cut oil and gas production and build a portfolio of green-energy businesses.

Looney resigned in 2023 after failing to fully disclose past relationships with coworkers.

BP is also struggling to reduce its debt levels as it continues to spend on transitioning to low-carbon energy.

• Boeing delivered 348 commercial aircraft last year, fewer than half as many as rival Airbus.
• It's the sixth year in a row Boeing has lagged behind its European competitor.
• After a troubling year, the planemaker has a plan to turn things around.

Boeing reported last year's delivery figures late Tuesday, and they show the scale of the challenge that lies ahead.

The embattled planemaker delivered 348 commercial aircraft in 2024 — down by just over a third since the year before. It was its lowest figure since the pandemic.

Boeing also delivered fewer than half as many planes as rival Airbus, which last Thursday reported 766 deliveries.

Last year was especially arduous for Boeing as it not only dealt with the fallout from January's Alaska Airlines blowout but also a seven-week strike that crippled production.

However, it was also the sixth year in a row it has lagged behind Airbus.

The bulk of both companies' deliveries consist of short-haul, single-aisle aircraft.

Boeing's 737 Max has become almost synonymous with its recent woes, while Airbus is helping airlines unlock new routes with an extra-long-range version of its A320neo.

The A320neo overtook the 737 Max as the best-selling narrow-body jet following the Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air crashes in 2018 and 2019, in which a combined 346 people died.

After a door plug came off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max in midair last January, the Federal Aviation Administration limited Boeing's production of the type to 38 a month.

However, it has stayed below that as it works to overhaul its safety and quality processes.

Boeing was also behind Airbus for orders last year, receiving 569 compared to the European manufacturer's 826. Although, it does have a smaller backlog to work through, of 5,595 versus 8,658.

On the one hand, backlogs are a sign that both firms have plenty of business — as airlines order planes years in advance. However, it is also a challenge to work through the order book and ensure airlines receive their jets on time.

Several Boeing customers voiced their annoyance with delivery delays last year. The planemaker also announced further delays to the certification of its 777X jet.

The industry has also had to contend with supply-chain constraints, with Airbus scaling back its delivery target.

For Boeing, there is a road map to increase production without compromising quality.

In 2024, it acquired the bulk of Spirit AeroSystems — a key supplier that was formerly part of Boeing before being spun off into its own entity.

Integrating Spirit back into the company should help keep production on track and minimize traveled work, where planes are assembled out of sequence.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has also made clear that he wants company leaders on the factory floors, so that workers have more trust in management and their concerns and challenges are better understood.

The latest delivery figures show there is a lot of work ahead for Boeing to better challenge Airbus, let alone reclaim the upper hand in the duopoly. But the new boss has a plan in place.

• A United Airlines plane hit a coyote during departure, the FAA and the airline confirmed.
• The Boeing 737 Max turned back to Chicago and landed 40 minutes after departing.
• The probability of wildlife strikes has risen "dramatically" in recent years due to quieter planes.

A United Airlines plane embarked on a 40-minute flight to nowhere after hitting a coyote on the runway.

On Monday, the Boeing 737 Max was taking off from Chicago O'Hare Airport, bound for Phoenix, when the incident occurred.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the aircraft "struck a coyote on departure." It added that the plane's right nose gear was damaged.

It was classified as minor damage, per the FAA's notice.

United confirmed the incident to Business Insider, saying the plane, operating as Flight 1727, "safely returned to Chicago O'Hare International Airport to examine the aircraft after its landing gear struck a coyote during takeoff."

The plane had 167 passengers and six crew on board, United said. There were no injuries reported.

Data from Flightradar24 shows that the plane took off normally, climbing to around 6,000 feet before U-turning.

It looped around twice before landing back in Chicago about 40 minutes after taking off.

Audio recordings archived by LiveATC.net show air traffic control confirming to the pilots that equipment was standing by to inspect the aircraft upon landing.

The incident wasn't too disruptive for the airline as the same 737 Max took off again four hours later, per Flightradar24.

The Chicago Department of Aviation did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Airports have wildlife management plans because animals can pose risks to aircraft — although birds are usually the main concern.

The FAA says the probability of wildlife strikes has "increased dramatically" in recent years, not only due to increased animal populations but also because newer planes have much quieter engines.

• Southwest Airlines is cutting costs.
• It's pausing corporate hiring, summer internships, and a team-building tradition.
• The move comes after a dispute with the activist firm Elliott Investment Management.

Southwest Airlines is pausing corporate hiring to cut costs, a company spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider.

The spokesperson said the airline was "pausing all noncontract internal and external hiring."

It's also pausing summer internships. Southwest said it would honor all internship offers already made but would not make new offers.

CNBC first reported the news, citing a memo from CEO Bob Jordan.

"Every single dollar matters as we continue to fight to return to excellent financial performance," he told staffers in the memo.

Southwest said it was also cutting noncore spending, including its staff rallies.

"We are limiting discretionary costs, including holding on the Southwest Rallies for this year, as we focus on reducing costs," the spokesperson told BI.

Southwest Rallies, where senior leaders lay out plans for the year and celebrate accomplishments with staff, have been a team-building tradition since 1985.

"We'll continue to evaluate hiring needs on an ongoing basis to determine when it makes sense for the business to resume hiring," the spokesperson added.

Southwest continues to face pressure from investors over poor financial performance.

The activist fund Elliott Investment Management has been the most prominent voice; in 2024 it called for the airline to replace its CEO and review its business model.

Last July, Southwest said it would ditch its open-seating model and offer some premium-seating options — a departure from its no-frills offering that inspired the budget-airline model.

In October, Southwest and Elliott reached a deal in which Jordan would remain in the top job while Elliott named six directors to the airline's board.

Southwest's stock is up by 13.7% over the past year but down by 40% over the past five years.

• SpaceX rockets coming back to Earth are disrupting flights over the southern Indian Ocean
• Qantas said flights have been delayed up to six hours, while South African Airways is also impacted.
• Australia's flag carrier wants Elon Musk's company to have more precise plans.

A number of flights over the Indian Ocean have been forced to be delayed due to SpaceX rockets coming back to Earth.

Qantas, the Australian flag carrier, is asking Elon Musk's company to be more precise with the areas and timings for such events.

Some of its flights between Sydney and Johannesburg have faced delays of up to six hours, Qantas said.

The Sydney to Johannesburg route passes over the southern Indian Ocean, where the upper stages of several SpaceX rockets have recently splashed down.

"Over the past few weeks we've had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to advice received from the US Government regarding the re-entry of SpaceX rockets over an extensive area of the Southern Indian Ocean," Ben Holland, the head of Qantas' operations center, said in a statement shared with Business Insider.

The Guardian reported that South African Airways has also been impacted by SpaceX activity. South African did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Disposable rockets are causing issues

While the booster, or first stage, of a Falcon 9 rocket is reusable, the upper stage is disposed of in the ocean.

There have been six Falcon 9 launches so far this year, while in 2024, there were over 100 launches.

Qantas says the timings and location of the re-entries can change last minute, adding to the problem.

"While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches have moved around at late notice which has meant we've had to delay some flights just prior to departure," Qantas' Ben Holland added.

"Our teams notify customers of changes to their flight as soon as we know it will be impacted."

"Customers generally understand this is outside of airlines' control and that we can't fly in the area when the rocket re-entry is taking place.

Holland added that the airline is in contact with SpaceX in an attempt to find a solution that will minimize disruption for passengers.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Americans visiting the UK now need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization.
• It's also necessary if you have a layover at an airport in the UK.
• Applying costs about $12 and should only take 10 minutes using the app.

The UK has changed its entry requirements, so most visitors need to apply for permission to travel to the country.

This is also necessary if you have a layover at a UK airport.

It encompasses all parts of the UK — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — as well as British Overseas Territories, which include Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

As of January 8, US and Canadian citizens are among 48 nationalities who will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

It is similar to systems already used in the US and Canada, as the UK is moving to a digital border system.

You would be exempt if you have a UK visa or legal residency or if you are traveling on an Irish passport.

Otherwise, you must apply for an ETA before you travel to the UK.

How to apply for a UK ETA

It shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes to apply — although there is a fee of £10, or around $12.

The easiest way to apply is through the government's mobile app called "UK ETA." If you can't download the app, you can also apply through the UK government's website.

You first need to take a picture of your passport's photo page.

If you have a biometric passport, shown by the e-passport symbol on the cover, then the app can scan it.

You then scan your face with your phone's camera and take a photo of yourself.

You will also need to answer questions about your address, job, criminal history, and any other nationalities. If you're under 18, you also need to give contact details for someone with parental responsibility for you.

Afterward, you'll get an email confirming your application. Another will arrive when a decision has been made — usually within three working days.

What you can do with an ETA

The ETA is valid for two years, during which time you can travel to the UK as much as you want.

You can stay in the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or short-term study. You can also transit through a UK airport.

With an ETA, you can't do paid or unpaid work in the UK unless you're doing a permitted paid engagement or have a Creative Worker visa concession.

You can travel to the UK while awaiting a decision as long as you've already applied.

Being approved for an ETA doesn't guarantee entry to the UK, as you'll still need to pass border control.

• The European Aviation Safety Agency has warned against flying over western Russia.
• It said there was a risk of airliners being misidentified and shot down.
• Many airlines have been avoiding Russia since it invaded Ukraine, but others still fly there.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has warned airlines against flying over western Russia due to the risk of being shot down.

It comes after Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 was severely damaged while coming to land at Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechnya, on Christmas Day.

Of the 67 people on board, 38 died. Azerbaijan's president and a White House official have said the Embraer E190 appeared to have been shot by Russian air defense systems.

"The ongoing conflict following the Russian invasion of Ukraine poses the risk of civil aircraft being unintentionally targeted in the airspace of the Russian Federation," EASA said in Thursday's bulletin.

The warning applies to Russian airspace west of the 60th meridian east, which includes the cities of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg.

EASA said Russia "has not demonstrated full proficiency to address existing airspace risks by implementing an efficient and proactive approach to the airspace deconfliction."

No European Union airlines have flown to or over Russia since the war in Ukraine began.

This has caused complications on flights to eastern Asia, forcing airlines to find longer routes and increasing ticket prices. British Airways stopped flying directly to Beijing last October.

EASA's bulletin also applies to any airline that flies to or from the European Union. For example, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways fly to Moscow and several European countries.

The agency also noted that its EU Conflict Zone Alerting System was established following the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

In 2014, the Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile while passing over eastern Ukraine.

All 298 people on board the plane were killed.

• Airbus said it delivered 766 commercial aircraft last year.
• That was four short of its target, which had been reduced from 800 over supply-chain constraints.
• It's likely that Airbus delivered about twice as many planes as struggling US rival Boeing.

Airbus delivered 766 aircraft last year, or four short of its target, the European planemaker said on Thursday.

Despite facing its own challenges, the total shows its 2024 was much brighter than Boeing's year. The American planemaker is yet to announce full-year figures, but by the end of November it had delivered 318 jets.

That means Airbus is likely to have delivered about twice as many planes as its rival — matching predictions from Deutsche Bank analysts in a report last week.

The Airbus share price was marginally higher on Friday. The stock rose 14% in 2024, while Boeing stock fell 31% — leaving it the biggest loser in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Delivery figures are a useful measurement of a planemaker's financial success given that both companies are facing huge backlogs. Any delays can also reduce airlines' confidence in placing future orders since they would disrupt their fleet planning.

Airbus said it finished the year with a backlog of 8,658 aircraft, while Boeing's was 5,499 as of the end of November.

Airlines order planes years in advance, but recent supply-chain issues have exacerbated the figures.

In June, Airbus cut its 2024 delivery target from 800 planes to 770, citing "persistent specific supply chain issues mainly in engines, aerostructures, and cabin equipment."

It also delayed plans to increase production of the A320neo family. The following day, its stock dropped as much as 11%.

Like in 2023, Airbus managed to reach its delivery target with a big end-of-year push.

It delivered 123 planes in December, compared to an average of 58 in the preceding 11 months.

"Given the complex and fast-changing environment we continue to operate in, we consider 2024 a good year," said Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus' commercial aircraft division. "It has been a massive team effort to deliver this 2024 result."

Airbus is set to give guidance for 2025 deliveries when it reports earnings next month. In a report last week, Bank of America analysts said they expect the guidance to be between 800 and 810 planes.

They think Airbus' primary focus will be its integration with Spirit AeroSystems, with the objective of stabilizing fuselage production. Boeing is paying $4.7 billion to buy back most of Spirit's assets.

BofA is bullish on Airbus, naming it one of its 25 stocks for 2025.

Despite its woes, Boeing is still worth about $128 billion — almost the same as Airbus' market cap.

• Strong winds and wildfires in Los Angeles are disrupting air travel.
• Several airlines have waived change fees for flights to Los Angeles and Orange County.
• Some flights to Burbank were diverted, and passengers photographed the fires from the skies.

The wildfires devastating Los Angeles and the strong winds intensifying them are disrupting air travel in and around the city.

Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, has remained open throughout the fires and continues to be operational. The airport is advising passengers to check their flight status with their airline.

About 500 flights were delayed and 13 canceled over the weekend as fires continued to rage in the region fueled by the strong Santa Ana winds, according to FlightAware data. Delays and cancellations can arise from things unrelated to the airport or surrounding area, like weather elsewhere or necessary maintenance on an airplane causing cascading delays.

Wednesday, January 8 was the worst day at the city's main airport, according to FlightAware, with one in five departures delayed. Monday morning saw no cancellations as of 9 a.m. local time, with 64 delays, data showed.

LAX typically sees about 700 flights a day. It's more than 10 miles away from the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire.

Other airports in the area have remained open but faced some disruption.

A spokesperson for Hollywood Burbank Airport told Business Insider that on Wednesday, 41 of its scheduled 70 departures were canceled due to winds. It recorded gusts above 80 miles an hour. Officials expect winds to be moderate over the weekend but said they could pick up again early next week.

Several carriers have issued waivers for change fees, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue. The waivers apply to travel to or from LAX, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Ontario International Airport, and Santa Ana's John Wayne Airport.

Santa Monica Airport is the closest to the wildfires, about three miles south of an evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire. It is a general aviation airport, which means commercial flights don't typically operate there.

Aviation is also playing a key role in fighting the wildfires. The Los Angeles Fire Department said 12 helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft were in operation.

The FAA issued several temporary flight restrictions near the fires in Santa Monica and Altadena in order to keep the area clear for firefighting aviation operations.

At least 24 people have died, and over 150,000 have been ordered to evacuate due to the wildfires. Tens of thousands more people have been warned to be ready in case winds pick up again and the fires spread.

• American Airlines flight attendants were sent a union memo about leaving passengers on empty planes.
• The AFPA said cabin crew members should check lavatories and under seats for sleeping passengers.
• A union spokesperson said it "routinely" issued such reminders to members.

The union for American Airlines flight attendants has issued a memo reminding cabin crew not to leave sleeping passengers on board after flights land.

Aviation news site Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported that the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) recently warned members there had been an increase in such incidents.

"This communication serves as a reminder for flight attendants to complete required post-flight security checks to ensure all passengers have deplaned upon arrival," a spokesperson for APFA, which represents more than 28,000 American Airlines cabin crew members, told Business Insider.

They added that the union "routinely releases communications reminding flight attendants of the importance of conducting these checks."

Leaving a passenger on an empty plane is not only a security concern but can also violate safety rules that mandate a minimum number of flight attendants per passenger.

APFA's recent memo reminded cabin crew to "check lavatories, and make sure no passengers are sleeping in or under seats," Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported.

"These procedures are required to ensure that no passenger is ever left onboard," the memo continued. "This is a critical final check to confirm that no one has been overlooked, and this ensures that you and your crew aren't at risk of violating a [federal aviation regulation]."

The lead flight attendant is also supposed to perform a walk-through of the cabin as a final check, the memo reportedly said.

"Leaving passengers on the aircraft unattended is a significant safety and security concern and we appreciate everyone's shared efforts in ensuring this doesn't happen."

In 2019, an Air Canada passenger woke up alone on a cold and dark plane.

Tiffani O'Brien said she fell asleep on the 90-minute flight from Quebec City to Toronto and woke up hours later after the plane had been parked.

• Ryanair is suing a passenger it said had forced a flight to divert, it announced Wednesday.
• The airline said it paid for 160 passengers' accommodation after the diversion meant an overnight delay.
• It said it would take action against "disruptive passengers personally."

Ryanair announced a clampdown on passenger misconduct as it revealed it was suing someone it accused of disrupting a flight and forcing it to divert.

The budget airline said it wants to claim over 15,000 euros, around $15,500, in damages, having filed proceedings in the Irish Circuit Court.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the airline said it would now take action against "disruptive passengers personally" in a "major misconduct clamp down."

It added it would "continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behavior."

In the statement, it said that the incident occurred on April 9, 2024, on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote — a popular vacation destination in Spain's Canary Islands.

The flight, with 160 passengers on board, diverted to Porto, Portugal, and was delayed overnight, the airline said.

The airline accused the passenger of "inexcusable behavior" but did not elaborate on what they had specifically done.

A Ryanair spokesperson said the incident cost the airline 15,000 euros for overnight accommodation, passenger expenses, and landing costs.

"It is unacceptable that passengers — many of whom are heading away with family or friends to enjoy a relaxing summer holiday — are suffering unnecessary disruption and reduced holiday time as a result of one unruly passenger's behavior," the spokesperson said.

"This demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair's zero-tolerance policy, and we hope this action will deter further disruptive behavior on flights so that passengers and crew can travel in a comfortable and respectful environment," they added.

• A JetBlue passenger opened an emergency exit on a taxiway in Boston, the FAA said.
• One witness said that the man was arguing with his girlfriend before the incident.
• A pilot told air traffic control that the passenger was subdued by an officer on board.

A JetBlue passenger delayed his fellow travelers after opening one of the plane's emergency exit doors.

The incident occurred while Flight 161 was preparing to take off from Boston Logan International Airport on Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

It added that the Airbus A320, bound for Puerto Rico, was on a taxiway when the passenger opened an emergency exit. This also caused the slide to deploy.

Fred Wynn, a passenger on the plane, told CBS affiliate WBZ-TV that he was sat just in front of the man and his girlfriend.

"Boyfriend and girlfriend were arguing behind in me," Wynn said. "Boyfriend got mad, got up walked down the center aisle, grabbed the emergency door, ripped it off, completely off."

He added that the man was handcuffed by an FBI agent before state police boarded the plane and escorted him away.

In an audio recording archived by LiveATC.net, one of the pilots tells air traffic control a law enforcement officer subdued the passenger.

"I can hear all the passengers screaming. Looks like they tried to grab him before he went out," he added.

A JetBlue spokesperson said the flight was delayed "after a customer, for unknown reasons, opened an overwing exit."

"The flight was eventually swapped to another aircraft and has since landed in San Juan. We greatly appreciate our customers' understanding as we worked to address this situation."

Data from Flightradar24 shows that the flight took off almost three hours later than scheduled and landed in San Juan at 3:17 a.m. local time.

Passengers on other flights told WBZ-TV they were also delayed because the runway was temporarily disabled after the slide was deployed.

According to FlightAware data, 95 flights, or about 17% of the total, were delayed at Logan Airport throughout the day.

Massachusetts State Police told CBS that one person was detained after the incident.

"Shortly before takeoff, a passenger who wanted to deplane opened an aircraft door suddenly and without warning," state police said. "Other passengers restrained the individual until troopers arrived on scene to detain them for further questioning."

Massachusetts State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Boeing should start designing a new plane as soon as possible, a former CEO has said.
• Phil Condit told The Wall Street Journal that working on a new plane could boost morale.
• In recent years, Boeing has only updated past models rather than designed entirely new planes.

A former Boeing CEO has called for the company to start designing a new plane as soon as possible to help change its fortunes.

Phil Condit, who led the planemaker from 1996 to 2003, told The Wall Street Journal, "You've got to get people excited about what they're doing. You don't come to work just for a paycheck. You come to work because you care about what you're doing."

Condit was asked as part of an article that asked several industry leaders how Boeing could turn things around after a difficult year.

Boeing's share price fell 31% in 2024 — the worst performer on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It faced a wave of scrutiny from customers and regulators after a door plug came off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max in midair last January. A seven-week strike, further limiting aircraft production, compounded its problems.

The resolution of the strike included a commitment that Boeing's next commercial airplane would be built in the Seattle area — if a new program is launched during the term of the agreement.

Boeing last announced a new plane model more than 20 years ago — the 787 Dreamliner — which entered commercial service in 2011.

In the years since, the planemaker has instead worked on planes which are updates to previous models — but these have come with problems.

The 737 Max is the fourth-generation descendant of a single-aisle airliner designed in the 1960s.

The 737 Max suffered two crashes in 2018 and 2019, in which 346 people died.

MCAS, a software that played a major role in the crashes, was added because the Max had a tendency to tilt upward in some scenarios — linked to the addition of new, larger engines.

In 2019, The New York Times reported that the 737 Max program was hurried to compete with rival Airbus' A320neo, which broke records at 2011's Paris Air Show.

Boeing's next plane is set to be the 777X — a modernized version of the world's most popular wide-body jet, the 777.

However, it has been beset by certification delays. Initially set to enter service in 2020, Boeing announced last October this has been pushed back to 2026.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Two bodies were discovered in the landing gear of a JetBlue plane on Monday, the airline said.
• The bodies were found during a routine inspection after the plane landed in Florida.
• The plane had flown from New York's JFK Airport to Fort Lauderdale.

Two people were found dead on Monday night in a JetBlue plane during a routine inspection of the aircraft at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

In a statement provided to media outlets, JetBlue said the bodies were discovered in the aircraft's landing gear compartment.

The airline said the aircraft had recently operated Flight 1801 from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Fort Lauderdale.

Flight-tracking data from FlightAware shows that the Airbus A320 landed in Florida on Monday at 11:10 p.m.

A Broward County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said homicide and crime scene units responded to a call at 11:30 p.m. on Monday night. Paramedics pronounced both individuals deceased at the scene, the sheriff's office said.

"The circumstances surrounding how they accessed the aircraft remain under investigation," JetBlue said. "This is a heartbreaking situation, and we are committed to working closely with authorities to support their efforts to understand how this occurred."

It's not clear if authorities know the identity of the individuals.

Broward County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Carey Codd told BI the Medical Examiner's Office will perform autopsies to determine the cause of death of both individuals.

Arlene Satchell, a spokesperson for the Broward County Aviation Department, told BI by email there were "no impacts" to the airport's operations due to the incident.

Stowaways sometimes try to hide in an airplane's wheel wells, which house the landing gear.

They risk being crushed when the landing gear is contracted. When the plane reaches cruising altitude, stowaways can lose consciousness because of low oxygen levels or face hypothermia.

The Federal Aviation Administration previously told USA Today that about three-quarters of such attempts were fatal.

Monday's incident comes two weeks after a body was discovered in the wheel well of a United Airlines plane on Christmas Eve. The Boeing 787 had flown from Chicago to Hawaii.

• Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shared his thoughts on Boeing.
• "What we really need to see is a pretty profound culture change," he told Bloomberg.
• He also said he hopes the next administration will prioritize Boeing's progress.

Boeing has more work ahead to change its culture, Pete Buttigieg, the outgoing transportation secretary, said in two Monday interviews.

"What we really need to see is a pretty profound culture change that will be ultimately proven out by the results, and that's results over the long term," Buttigieg told Bloomberg.

"That is a work in progress for them," he added.

Buttigieg also told Reuters that "there were real deficiencies" at Boeing and "there is much more to do."

"I think the culture change at Boeing is something that is a real work in progress and the only way to fully assess it will be to see they can consistently improve results," he told the news agency.

The embattled planemaker has a tough task ahead after a challenging 2024.

It ended the year as the biggest loser in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, following a seven-week strike and a crisis sparked by last January's Alaska Airlines blowout. Some airline bosses also spoke about their irritation with delivery and certification delays.

Kelly Ortberg, who took over as Boeing CEO last August, has also spoken about the need to change the company's culture.

In an October earnings call, he said Boeing leaders need to be "closely integrated" with other staff and the business itself — spending time on the factory floors and being held accountable to the firm's values.

"We will be relentless in changing the Boeing culture through action, not just words on a page," Ortberg added.

Buttigieg's comments come two weeks before Donald Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated as president. Trump has nominated Sean Duffy, a Fox Business host and former congressman, to take over as transportation secretary.

"I hope that making sure that Boeing makes the progress they need to make will be just as much of a priority for any other administration as it has been for ours," Buttigieg told Bloomberg.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.

• A Swiss International Air Lines flight made an emergency landing last month.
• The Airbus A220's cabin was filled with smoke after encountering an engine problem.
• An autopsy said a flight attendant died due to hypoxic brain damage, Blick reported.

A 23-year-old Swiss International Air Lines flight attendant died due to a "severe lack of oxygen to the brain," according to an autopsy reported by Blick, Switzerland's largest newspaper.

It comes after an incident on December 23, when Swiss Flight 1885 encountered engine problems, and the cabin was filled with smoke.

The Airbus A220 was flying from Bucharest, Romania, to Zurich when it made an emergency landing in Graz, Austria.

All 74 passengers and five crew members were evacuated, 17 of whom required medical attention, the airline said.

A week later, Swiss announced that one of the flight's cabin crew members died in the hospital in Graz.

"We are devastated at our dear colleague's death," said CEO Jens Fehlinger. "His loss has left us all in the deepest shock and grief. Our thoughts are with his family, whose pain we cannot imagine."

Blick reported that the public prosecutor's office in Graz has launched an investigation into the flight attendant's death.

A spokesperson told the newspaper that a Friday autopsy found the provisional cause of death to be hypoxic brain damage and cerebral edema, meaning brain swelling.

"The brain was massively damaged by a severe lack of oxygen, and the young flight attendant died of it in the intensive care unit," the spokesperson told Blick.

"We are also looking into the role played by the respiratory mask that the flight attendant was wearing," he added.

The Graz public prosecutor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.

Swiss said the investigation's initial findings point to a problem in one of the plane's Pratt & Whitney engines.

"We have no indication that the safety of the aircraft type is in question," it added.

• Storm Blair has caused travel disruption in several states.
• More than half of flights were canceled at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Monday.
• 94% of flights were canceled in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday.

More than half of flights were canceled at Washington, DC's Reagan National Airport on Monday, according to data from FlightAware, as Storm Blair brought snow and ice to a large part of the country.

The winter storm has triggered a state of emergency in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia, and parts of New Jersey.

FlightAware data showed 1,339 flights within, into, or out of the US were canceled on Monday as of 6:30 a.m. ET.

Reagan National Airport appeared to be the worst hit with 229 cancellations, equivalent to 58% of all flights scheduled there for Monday.

Nearby Baltimore/Washington International and Washington Dulles airports were also affected, with 38% and 25% of flights canceled respectively on Monday.

The National Weather Service warned that the DC area could face between 5 and 10 inches of snow, with a winter storm warning in effect until 1 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News that the formal certification of Donald Trump's election as president will still go ahead on Monday.

In Cincinnati, where the National Weather Service predicts up to four inches of snow, one-third of Monday's scheduled flights were canceled, FlightAware data showed.

More than 1,800 flights were canceled on Sunday, per FlightAware.

Heavy snowfall was also recorded in Kansas City, Missouri, where local media reported 10 inches fell on Sunday night. According to FlightAware, 94% of flights were canceled there on Sunday.

Airports in Indianapolis and Kentucky also saw rates of cancellation above 20% on both Sunday and Monday.

• A transatlantic United Airlines flight turned around on New Year's Eve.
• The plane's crew reported a lightning strike, the FAA said.
• Passengers were booked into overnight accommodation in Boston, a United spokesperson said.

United Airlines passengers unexpectedly celebrated the New Year in Boston after their transatlantic flight turned around.

Data from Flightradar24 shows the Boeing 767 was about an hour into its journey from Newark, New Jersey to London when it made a U-turn off the coast of Maine.

Flight UA16's crew had reported a lightning strike, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The passengers were initially set to welcome in 2025 in the air, with the flight scheduled to land in London about 9 a.m. local time.

However, the plane "safely diverted" to Boston shortly before 11 p.m. ET, the FAA said.

A United Airlines spokesperson told Simple Flying the Boeing 767 was inspected by emergency crews upon landing. The Boston Globe reported that there were no injuries.

"We provided accommodation overnight for passengers and rebooked them on another flight to London the next day," the spokesperson said.

United did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The same aircraft departed Boston about 7 p.m. ET on New Year's Day — landing in London 22 hours later than originally scheduled, per data from Flightradar24.

The FAA said it will investigate the incident.

The National Weather Service says airliners are struck by lightning about once or twice a year on average.

It also says jets avoid thunderstorms as much as possible. They can trigger strikes because their presence enhances the electric fields found in storms.

Commercial jets are designed with several protections to mitigate the impact of a lightning, such as a metal mesh that conducts electricity away from passengers and internal electronics.

BI previously reported on other planes struck by lightning, including a Delta Air Lines flight that declared an emergency, and an Air Canada Boeing 777 filmed after takeoff. Both continued to their destinations before being inspected.