A new Frontline investigation reveals the way major airlines are outsourcing maintenance and repairs to foreign companies that use untrained personnel who can’t speak english. It looks like a disaster in the making and should trouble anyone who flies.

A decade ago aircraft repairs were mostly done by the airlines flying the planes. Today, carriers are outsourcing the bulk of heavy maintenance. Should we worry? A co-production with the Investigative Reporting Workshop.

How scary is this? The guy was sleeping during his flight when he was suddenly awakened by a roaring noise. He looked up and noticed a football sized hole in the top of the airplane. He could see the sun shining through. Fortunately, the plane landed safely.

Is this not every flyers worst nightmare? A gaping hole in the roof is just not a good thing. Kudos to the passengers for remaining calm.

Click here to see cell phone footage of the hole taken during the flight.

Here’s an interview with the man after the flight:

I realize that before long the airlines are gonna be charging for bathroom access, but the least they can do is allow our soldiers heading off to war the ‘luxury’ of a few extra bags for free.

The airlines contend that soldiers are reimbursed by the military for the extra baggage fee, but soldiers complain that it’s just another hassle and another level of bureaucracy they have to content with.

American, which recently charged two soldiers from Texas $100 and $300 for their extra duffel bags, said it gives the military a break on the cost for excess luggage and that the soldiers who incur the fees are reimbursed.

Most major carriers allow military personnel traveling under orders to check two bags free, and then charge $100 for a third bag.

When soldiers receive their travel orders, they should make sure that excess baggage is authorized and that soldiers can be reimbursed for additional fees that airlines impose, said Army spokesman Paul Boyce.

“We can help them with additional expenses for travel, but soldiers have to submit a receipt and it has to be looked at by our finance people,” Mr. Boyce said.

The VFW has submitted a written request to the Air Transportation Association asking them to exempt all military personnel traveling under orders from all baggage fees.

I hope the ATA will honor the VFW’s request.

An airline crew faced a rebellion when they told passengers they were going to fly on a jet that had lost its wing tip in a runway crash.

The SriLankan Airlines customers had been on the Airbus A340 a day earlier when it sliced through a wing of a stationary British Airways 747 at Heathrow, delaying departure by 24 hours.

So they were amazed to be boarding the same plane next day for the ten-hour flight to Colombo.

When the cabin crew then admitted there was still a 5ft wing tip missing, there was “a minor revolt” as seven passengers demanded to be let off the aircraft.