Jon Ostrower
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jonostrower.com
Jon Ostrower
@jonostrower.com
14K followers 1.2K following 830 posts
Endlessly fascinated by things in the sky. Editor-in-chief of @theaircurrent.com, co-host of @theairshowpodcast.com and co-founder of @yawmanflight.com. CNN, WSJ & Flightglobal alum. Standby for news...
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jonostrower.com
Alaska’s global 787 livery is officially unveiled here at Boeing Field in Seattle.
January 7, 2026 at 6:25 PM
jonostrower.com
7:42 UTC airspace snapshot over Venezuela
January 3, 2026 at 7:43 AM
jonostrower.com
The North Atlantic tonight going into the final day of 2025. #avgeography @flightradar24.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:36 AM
jonostrower.com
Um.
Anyone noticing more airplanes these past two days? Anybody know what's going on?
December 31, 2025 at 2:34 AM
jonostrower.com
Just to really put a very fine point on it. As we note on this chart, 75 feet is less than the wingspan of this CRJ700.
December 25, 2025 at 12:28 AM
jonostrower.com
The latest on Spirit Watch: TAC/Intel from @theaircurrent.com reported last night the airline now has a creditor hearing scheduled for Dec. 17 that will almost certainly center on the next essential tranche of $100 million available for the airline.
December 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM
jonostrower.com
This actually makes me really happy.
December 10, 2025 at 3:54 AM
jonostrower.com
What's old is new again.
December 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
jonostrower.com
Why yes, I do like flying on airplanes. Thank you for asking.
The wingtip of an Airbus A321neo in front of Mt. Rainier. Snowcapped summit is above the clouds, set against a beautiful blue sky.
December 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
jonostrower.com
🚀 The Air Current app is here.

- Standby for news: Instant notification of new scoops, features & insights
- TAC/Intel: Real-time, short-form updates
- Listen to TAC: Audio for soaking up TAC on the go
- Airflow: Headlines from across aviation, defense & space
apps.apple.com/us/app/the-a...
Now available on the Apple App Store: The Air Current for iPhone & iPad TAC/Intel: Real-time, short-form intelligence updates on everything from aircraft programs, airline performance and global competition to industry strategy, supply chain and regulation. Airflow: High-value headlines from across aviation, defense and space Standby for news: Instant notification of new scoops, features and insights
November 25, 2025 at 10:47 PM
jonostrower.com
I am out to prove that you can shoot an airshow is exclusively with a phone. (Yes, I still brought my mirrorless. Haven’t used it much though).
November 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM
jonostrower.com
Regardless of whether Emirates will successfully convince Boeing to build a 777-10, I had an opportunity to dig back into my reporting from my CNN days when Boeing and Airbus last seriously considered stretching the 777X and A350. theaircurrent.com/aircraft-dev...
November 18, 2025 at 5:10 AM
jonostrower.com
A steady stream of updates from @theaircurrent.com and TAC/Intel, which launches in the coming weeks.

Here's the latest: FAA Emergency Airworthiness Directive formally grounds MD-11 freighter fleet
The FAA formally prohibited flying of MD-11 freighters “until the airplane is inspected and the applicable corrective actions are performed” according to a Saturday afternoon Emergency Airworthiness Directive. (PDF) The directive requires approval by the FAA of a yet-to-be-determined means of compliance that will pace the aircraft’s return to service. The move by the U.S. aviation regulator follows Boeing’s recommendation on Friday to cease flying with the aging tri-jet “while additional engineering analysis is being performed” following the Nov. 4 crash of a UPS Airlines aircraft in Louisville. Two of the aging jet’s three remaining operators, UPS Airlines and FedEx Express, both curtailed flying on Friday and the third, Western Global Airlines, appeared to do so following the completion of a Saturday flight from Anchorage to Miami. The EAD contains few details, but the early investigation into the crash is focusing on the aircraft’s pylon. The left engine and pylon on the crashed UPS flight separated from the aircraft during the takeoff roll, the FAA said in its directive. Roughly 70 of McDonnell Douglas trijets are still in service, all as freighters. An FAA spokesperson said the order applies to roughly 109 U.S. registered aircraft, as the three carriers have aircraft in long-term storage.
November 8, 2025 at 11:19 PM
jonostrower.com
BREAKING: Boeing confirms recommendation to ground MD-11 fleet “while additional engineering analysis is performed” (via ⁦‪@theaircurrent‬⁩.com)
November 8, 2025 at 8:19 AM
jonostrower.com
CONFIRMED: FedEx follows UPS in grounding MD-11 fleet after Boeing safety recommendation. Western Global expected to follow. Boeing statement expected shortly. (Via ⁦‪@theaircurrent‬⁩.com)
After a Friday Boeing recommendation to ground the MD-11 freighter fleet, FedEx has followed UPS in immediately ceasing operations of the aging tri-jet. In a statement provided to TAC, the logistics provider said, “Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to immediately ground our MD-11 fleet as we conduct a thorough safety review based on the recommendation of the manufacturer.” A statement from Boeing on its recommendation is expected shortly. The airline has 28 MD-11s in operation. UPS Airlines, FedEx and Western Global are the only remaining operators of the McDonnell Douglas type. UPS grounded its fleet of 26 aircraft earlier Friday night.
November 8, 2025 at 6:43 AM
jonostrower.com
BREAKING on TAC/Intel: UPS Airlines says it has grounded the MD-11F fleet after Boeing recommendation
UPS Airlines said late Friday that “out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety” it has temporarily grounded its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter fleet. The global cargo and logistics provider said in a statement provided to TAC that “we made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer.” Boeing assumed responsibility for the McDonnell Douglas product line when it merged with the company in 1997. The grounding comes after the Nov. 6 crash in Louisville, Kentucky when one of UPS’s tri-jets bound for Honolulu lost its number one engine on takeoff. UPS said the aging MD-11 makes up 9% of its fleet and the grounding is “effective immediately.” The NTSB investigation into the fiery crash that killed at least 14 people, including three UPS pilots aboard the aircraft, is still in its earliest days.
November 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM
jonostrower.com
Little is known about the UPS MD-11F accident at this point, but footage taken from the air shows a chunk of one engine nacelle inlet sitting at a spot 2,000 feet before the end of runway 17R at SDF.
November 5, 2025 at 1:06 AM
jonostrower.com
Open your Photos app

Search “Airplane” (lol)

Scroll down to what you think is exactly halfway and screenshot it

Post.

#AvGeek
October 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
jonostrower.com
Aloha, Hawaiian Airlines. Aloha, indeed.
October 29, 2025 at 4:52 AM
jonostrower.com
Scooplet this morning from @theaircurrent.com’s TAC/Intel (now in beta): American’s first A321XLR is on its way to the U.S. — and it’s fully outfitted with now-FAA certified seats.
American Airlines is bringing home its first A321XLR to the United States. The aircraft is actually the third of 50 to be built and delivered by Airbus in Hamburg, Germany for the airline, but the first two are still in storage in the Czech Republic waiting for seats. A spokesman for American told The Air Current that this aircraft, N303NY, is now outfitted with its interior and the new seats aboard are "fully certified" by the Federal Aviation Administration. With 155 seats (20 business class, 12 premium economy, 12 main cabin extra and 111 standard economy) the long-haul single-aisle is expected to eventually be deployed on thin transatlantic routes to Europe, though it will first begin its service life flying the airline's Flagship route between JFK and LAX likely before year-end. To date, that's the lowest seat count by any airline that's taken delivery of the XLR. The swanky interior is part of a broader push by the airline to bolster its premium flying credentials in the face of surging financial performance by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. American in September conducted 42 training flights for an initial group of 45 pilots on proving runs between Philadelphia and Edinburgh on an A321neo.
October 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
jonostrower.com
This is what happens when @crankyflier.com stays home.

(cc @briansumers.com)
Two penguins at Airline prom.
October 18, 2025 at 1:36 AM
jonostrower.com
Two things.

1. The 777 can be flown with polished aluminum.

2. Why even do a retro jet if it’s not polished aluminum?
American Airlines 777–200ER on final approach to Chicago O’Hare International Airport in last generation polished aluminum colors.
October 15, 2025 at 6:17 PM
jonostrower.com
Is this a Starlink antenna?
Envoy Embraer E170 with new-fangled antenna above the aft cabin.
October 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
jonostrower.com
We covered a lot of ground in the latest episode of @theairshowpodcast.com, in which we dissect the brand and product issues with American Airlines. This photo neatly sums it up: Attention to detail. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Graphic design is my passion.
September 29, 2025 at 5:58 PM
jonostrower.com
Spent Friday afternoon doing some proper airplane spotting in between the runways at SeaTac. Here's four of my 1,400 that I took. These are straight off the camera, just light straightening. #avgeek
September 28, 2025 at 8:01 PM