• Mesa Airlines, who currently operates 700 daily flights for Delta Connection, US Airways Express and United Express, has filed for bankruptcy protection today. They are currently seeking court approval to continue their options of their 130 aircraft to 127 cities around North America.
• A Lear 35F operated by Royal Air crashed into a nature preserve while on approach to Pal-Waukee Airport in Chicago. Two pilots, the only people on the aircraft, died.
• Concerns are being raised in England, where new full-body scanners are said to violate laws that protect children from child pornography because of the nude imagery that comes from the scan. In addition, there have been calls for more stock photography for body scanners so people can stop look at that bald white guy’s unmentionables. It has been suggested that this lady’s explanation be followed up with a demonstration.
• United Airlines pilot Erwin Vermont Washington has pleaded guilty to being drunk while trying to fly United Flight 949 this past November. His maximum sentence can be as much as two years in jail in addition to a fine.
• A Compagnie Africaine Aviation Boeing 727-200 (registered 9Q-CAA) crashed on takeoff from Kinshasa Ndjili Airport due to a hydraulics issue. AvHerald has photos of the plane hanging out in the mud. [AvHerald]