Kalitta Air 747-200F crashed over the weekend as it attempted to take off from Brussels en route to Bahrain, coming to a stop beyond the end of the runway and splitting into at least two pieces. Although reports vary, it does not appear that the aircraft ever was fully airborne. Its fuselage split in the middle and it likely will be written off. All five crew escaped and four were hospitalized with what were described by local officials as minor injuries.

Moskovia Airlines An-12 freighter crashed Monday in a forest 30 km. from the Siberian city of Chelyabinsk, from which it had departed just 10 min. earlier en route to Perm in the Ural Mountains, killing all nine crew aboard. The aircraft reportedly was flying without cargo, having been unloaded at Chelyabinsk. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said that 8 min. after takeoff, "the crew reported to the air traffic controller that smoke was in the aircraft cabin." The freighter disappeared from radar 2 min. after that report and wreckage was found hours later in the forest.

British Airways signed a firm contract with Airbus for two A318s. It will use the aircraft to launch all-business-class services between London City and New York scheduled for 2009. The A318 last year was certified for steep approach after compatibility tests at LCY.

As an important step in the reinforcement of China's "jumbo aircraft" program, principal manufacturers AVIC I and AVIC II are accelerating preparations for their integration, which is expected to take place "very soon," according to AVIC II General Legal Counsel Li Shentian. "As far as I am concerned, we do have an initial plan for integration of AVIC I and AVIC II. But it's not the time to formally disclose the specific details now as it still needs to be approved by Beijing." Li said.

TAM's Paraguay subsidiary, formerly known as TAM Mercosur and now called TAM Airlines, said it has consolidated its fleet and is operating three dual-class A320s outfitted with 144 economy and 12 business class seats on all flights. It has discontinued use of 108-seat F100s.