

AvTalk - Aviation Podcast
Flightradar24
An aviation podcast from Flightradar24, the world’s most popular flight tracking service.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 22, 2025 • 39min
AvTalk Episode 333: Whinging about windowless window seats
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, United and Delta Air Lines face lawsuits for charging extra for window seats without a window. Serbian investigators reveal the extent of damages to a Marathon Airlines E195 during takeoff in Belgrade and the chain of errors leading up to the flight. A Finnair ATR (operated by NORRA) has an unfortunate incident with a ground power unit. Air Canada’s flight attendants return to work and a tentative agreement could be the first domino to fall in how flight attendants across the industry are paid.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
Marathon Airlines report
Finnair ATR photo
Ryanair Seat 11A (no window)
Spirit Airlines flight through (over) Hurricane Erin
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Please click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 333: Whinging about windowless window seats appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Aug 15, 2025 • 54min
AvTalk Episode 332: “Ongoing concern” concerns
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Spirit Airlines’ second quarter earnings report raises “ongoing concern” concerns and paints a bleak portrait of the airline’s future. A French notification about a Swiss investigation tips us off to a close call by an Aegean A320neo from last November.
Brazilian investigators release their final report on the collision between a GOL 737 MAX and a truck on the runway and reveal the incredible sequence of events the prevented the accident from being much, much worse and also how it could have been avoided entirely.
The US DOT Office of Inspector General has launched an audit of the FAA’s airspace organization around DCA airport and the ADS-B exceptions provided to military aircraft.
Chile has agreed to drop the charges against Ethan Guo, the pilot who landed at Chile’s Antarctic base, but Guo is still stuck for the time being.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
Spirit Airlines Q2 financial report
Aegean Airlines flight
GOL 737 MAX vs truck final report
US DOT OIG audit announcement
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Please click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 332: “Ongoing concern” concerns appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Aug 8, 2025 • 56min
AvTalk Episode 331: Stuck on the plane for 28 hours
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, what we learned from days two and three of the NTSB’s hearings on the midair collision at DCA. A Delta A330neo experiences severe turbulence, Boeing adds a new 777-9 to 777X test fleet, and Alaska Airlines unveils a new livery for its 787s. Plus, ANA retires the R2-D2 livery 787, the FAA releases proposed rules for beyond line of sight UAS operations, and Madagascar arrests two people over the transfer of a quintet of 777s to Iran.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
Delta A330neo experiences turbulence
Boeing’s fifth 777X flight test aircraft
Cathay Pacific flights add up to 28 hours on a plane
Alaska Airlines new 787 livery
Nolinor’s “new” 737-200
ANA retires R2-D2
FAA NPRM for BVLOS UAS OPS
787 draws world’s largest self-portrait
Wendover video on Scope Clause
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Please click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 331: Stuck on the plane for 28 hours appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Aug 1, 2025 • 52min
AvTalk Episode 330: Acceptable deviation?
On this episode of AvTalk, what we learned from the first of three days of investigative hearings by the NTSB into January’s crash at DCA. Russian investigators peel the layers of problems that led to the crash of a Gazpromavia SuperJet. An American Airlines 737 suffers a landing gear problem and fire in Denver.
In our strange new series there’s more animal-related aviation news this week and in honor of our 330th episode, Ian gives Jason a pop quiz on the Airbus A330.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
NTSB investigative hearings
Russian investigator’s report on the SuperJet crash
American Airlines 737 playback
OIG announcement
Nordwind flight to Pyongyang
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Please click here for a transcript of this episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 330: Acceptable deviation? appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Jul 25, 2025 • 42min
AvTalk Episode 329: Planes where they shouldn’t be
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Ian returns from Europe and Jason returns from sitting and staring at the wall for a brand new episode. We discuss the conversation around the Air India flight 171 preliminary report, a close call in Mexico City, and another in Minot, North Dakota.
Plus, things are looking up for airlines awaiting Boeing 737 MAX deliveries, the NTSB issues a final report that raises questions about moose meat and the Ship to Theseus, and someone smuggles a turtle onto a flight.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
Air India flight 171 preliminary report
Data on close call in Mexico City
Air Force statement on Minot incident
NTSB report on Alaska crash
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Please click here for a transcript of this episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 329: Planes where they shouldn’t be appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Jul 11, 2025 • 47min
AvTalk Episode 328: Lock the cat in the lav
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Indian investigators narrow the focus of their investigation on the crashed 787’s fuel cut off switches. Lufthansa has quite the week with a damaged A340 in need of an unpressurized transatlantic ferry flight, a diverted 747 in South America, and a loose cat locked in a lavatory. A young pilot flies to Antarctica without authorization, raising the ire of the Chilean government. A man is ingested by a Volotea A319 engine in Milan and the NTSB releases its preliminary report on the close call between a Delta A319 and a flight of T-38s in Washington DC.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
The Air Current’s report on the AI171 investigation
Lufthansa A340 unpressurized transatlantic ferry flight
Unauthorized flight to Antarctica
Volotea flight in Milan
NTSB Delta—T-38s preliminary report
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Please click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 328: Lock the cat in the lav appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Jul 4, 2025 • 45min
AvTalk Episode 327: Overrun by squirrels
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Indian investigators have downloaded the data from AI171’s recorders. Chinese authorities decline to release a report on China Southern flight 5735, citing threats to “national security and social stability.” A report on the Heathrow power station fire makes clear that it should have never happened. And a US Air Force base is being overrun by squirrels… again.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
China Eastern Airlines flight 5735 data and report announcement
BBC summary of Heathrow transformer fire report
Mexicana’s first E195-E2
EASA’s take-off performance monitoring system (TOPMS) proposal
Task & Purpose’s piece on squirrels at Minot Air Force Base
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Click here for transcript of this week’s episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 327: Overrun by squirrels appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Jun 27, 2025 • 46min
AvTalk Episode 326: Diversions and diversion tactics
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss all that has happened in Middle East airspace over the past week—from the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and elaborate diversion flights to the Iranian retaliation against US bases in Qatar and the subsequent airspace restrictions to the fragile cease fire and the gradual opening of airways.
We also ponder why nearly two weeks after the crash of Air India flight 171, investigators have still not reviewed the data from the flight data recorders even as both were recovered just days after the crash. And the NTSB holds its probable cause board meeting for the mid-cabin exit door plug blowout aboard Alaska Airlines flight 1282, find that Boeing’s safety culture and the FAA’s lax oversight contributed to the door plug’s ejection from the aircraft as it passed 15,000 feet last January.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
The B-2 tanker diversion
NTSB probable cause summary for Alaska 1282
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 326: Diversions and diversion tactics appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Jun 20, 2025 • 50min
AvTalk Episode 325: The crash of Air India flight 171
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we discuss the crash of Air India flight 171 shortly after take off from Ahmedabad last week. What we know, what we don’t know, and possible avenues of investigation. We also examine the situation in the Middle East to see what effects current hostilities between Iran and Israel are having on commercial aviation. And we dig into the order numbers from this week’s Paris Air Show.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
Flightradar24 data regarding Air India 171
Airspace closures in the Middle East
Paris Air Show news round up
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Please click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 325: The crash of Air India flight 171 appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

Jun 13, 2025 • 42min
AvTalk Episode 324: Five flights to nowhere
On this week’s episode of AvTalk, Silver Airways ceases operations immediately and Qantas says subsidiary Jetstar Asia will wind down flights by the end of July. The NTSB releases the preliminary report on the American Airlines 737 fire in Denver. May was a big month for Boeing, with more than 300 orders, while Airbus recorded orders for precisely 0 aircraft. This month’s Paris Air Show has the potential to close the gap.
Southwest is looking at “monetizing its order book,” while American Airlines sends the wrong 787 to Naples. And Condor operates five flights in a failed attempt to get passengers from Zurich to Heraklion.
Note: this episode was recorded prior to the crash of Air India flight 171 on 12 June. Our discussion of the crash will be available in episode 325 next week.
Helpful links for this week’s episode
Silver Airways ceases operations
American Airlines 737 Denver Fire NTSB preliminary report
US restricting aerospace component exports to China
American Airlines sends the wrong 787 to Naples
Condor’s five flights to nowhere, A320 D-AICA
NTSB 3-day hearing scheduled for July 31-August 2
Thank you for listening!
Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next.
Please click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.
The post AvTalk Episode 324: Five flights to nowhere appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.