test flight

A 9 Air (九元航空) flight, AQ1441, scheduled to fly from Guangzhou to Guangzhou in 90 minutes sparked online amusement. While initially listed with impossible timings, the flight actually occurred on July 19th, and customer service clarified it was a test flight. The airline, a low-cost carrier based in Guangzhou, claimed that any decision for formal route planning needs futher decisions. The event highlights the interplay between innovation, resource management and transparency within China’s competitive aviation sector.

SpaceX’s Starship suffered another setback during its ninth test flight. The Super Heavy booster exploded during its descent, and the Starship lost control during re-entry, leading to its destruction over the Indian Ocean. This failed mission, aiming to test re-entry, landing, and reusability, follows previous failures and highlights the complexity of Starship’s development. Key objectives such as thermal protection verification and controlled splashdown were not achieved.