Aviation Safety Solutions, LLC (AvSafety) has been selected to join the Starr Safety Partnership, integrating its Safety Management System (SMS) consulting and training services into the network available to Starr Aviation clients.

Announced in a press release on June 17, 2026, the partnership provides Starr Aviation insureds with access to AvSafety’s specialized resources, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) SMS workshops, manual development, and safety audits. The integration comes as the FAA actively expands SMS regulatory requirements across broader segments of the aviation industry.

Expanding safety resources for operators

Starr Aviation, a division of Starr Insurance Companies, launched the Starr Safety Partnership in October 2022 to offer discounted safety services to its insured pilots and aircraft owners. By adding AvSafety to this network, Starr expands its portfolio of compliance and risk management tools available to policyholders.

Founded in 2013 and based in Janesville, Wisconsin, AvSafety focuses on helping aviation organizations build and maintain compliant safety programs. Amanda Ferraro, Chief Executive Officer of Aviation Safety Solutions, stated in the release that joining the network presents an exciting opportunity for the organization.

“Our team is passionate about helping organizations build sustainable safety programs that move beyond compliance and create lasting operational value. We are honored to support Starr clients as they strengthen their safety culture, improve risk management processes, and prepare for the evolving regulatory environment.”

Regulatory drivers for SMS adoption

The demand for specialized safety consulting is increasing due to shifting federal regulations. The FAA is currently expanding SMS mandates beyond Part 121 commercial airlines to include Part 135 commuter and charter operators, Part 91.147 air tour operators, and certain Part 21 aircraft manufacturers.

This regulatory expansion requires many operators to formalize their safety protocols, driving the need for external auditing, manual development, and structured training programs like those provided by AvSafety.

AirPro News analysis

We view the inclusion of AvSafety in the Starr Safety Partnership as a direct market response to the FAA’s widening SMS mandate. As smaller operators and charter companies face the administrative burden of implementing formal safety management systems, insurance providers are increasingly positioning themselves as facilitators of compliance. By subsidizing or discounting access to established SMS consultants, aviation insurers can simultaneously reduce their own underwriting risk and provide tangible value to policyholders navigating new regulatory hurdles.

Sources: Aviation Safety Solutions, LLC

This is a developing story. Information may change as official details are released.

This article summarizes reporting by CNN Brasil.

Six people sustained fatal injuries on June 14, 2026, following a mid-air collision between two helicopters over the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The deceased include American entertainer Oliver Tree Nickel and five other occupants across both aircraft.

The accident involved a Bell 206B JetRanger III and an Airbus AS350 B2. Following the airborne collision, the wreckage descended into an electric vehicle parking lot, triggering a complex post-crash fire involving multiple lithium-ion vehicle batteries. The Brazilian Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) has opened an investigation into the sequence of events.

Aircraft and flight details

According to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), both helicopters maintained regular registration status at the time of the accident. The Bell 206B JetRanger III, registered as PP-MAC, was operated by Turfik Comércio de Frutas Ltda and carried a single occupant. The Airbus AS350 B2, registered as PR-DJJ, carried five occupants.

The Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CBMERJ) received the initial emergency call at 08:59 local time. The collision occurred over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, specifically near Avenida das Américas.

Ground impact and secondary fire hazards

The wreckage from the mid-air collision impacted a BYD car dealership lot. CNN Brasil reported that the impact and subsequent fuel ignition destroyed approximately 20 electric vehicles parked at the facility.

The presence of electric vehicles introduced severe secondary hazards for first responders. CBMERJ spokesperson Fábio Contreiras detailed the challenges faced by fire crews on the scene.

“The fire in lithium batteries causes very high energy. It is a much more aggressive fire than a common fire,” Contreiras stated.

Victim identification and background

The Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro (PCERJ) officially confirmed the identities of the six victims. In addition to Oliver Tree Nickel, the deceased include Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim Díaz, Argentine video director Lucas Vignale, Brazilian music producer Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.

Oliver Tree had recently performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 4, 2026, and in São Paulo, Brazil, on June 6, 2026, as part of an international tour.

Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere addressed the loss of the flight crew in a public statement.

“I knew one of the pilots personally. They were 2 experienced pilots, with many flight hours, with a long career. It was a fatality, a tragedy,” Cavaliere said.

AirPro News analysis

While CENIPA will determine the factors leading to the mid-air collision, the ground phase of this accident highlights an emerging challenge for municipal emergency services. As electric aviation vehicle adoption increases, the probability of aviation accidents intersecting with high-density lithium-ion battery storage also rises. We anticipate that safety regulators and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) organizations will need to update urban crash response protocols to account for the thermal runaway risks and specialized extinguishing requirements associated with large-scale EV battery fires.

Sources: CNN Brasil

This is a developing story. Information may change as official details are released.

This article summarizes reporting by CBS News, The Washington Post, SFGATE, KEYT, and Fox 10 Phoenix.

A Pacific Aerospace 750XL operated by Skydive Kansas City crashed shortly after takeoff from Butler Memorial Airport (BUM) on June 14, 2026, resulting in 12 fatalities.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that the pilot and 11 skydivers died when the single-engine turboprop impacted a field adjacent to the airport and caught fire. The NTSB and the FAA have deployed investigators to the site, located approximately 65 miles south of Kansas City.

Accident sequence and emergency response

The aircraft departed BUM at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time. According to preliminary reports cited by SFGATE, the aircraft made a left turn shortly after takeoff. Emergency responders received a 911 call around 11:30 a.m. reporting that the aircraft had crashed into a field approximately 300 yards from the runway and was engulfed in flames.

Dennis Jacobs, acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director, told reporters that the aircraft appeared to lose power before stalling and impacting the ground nose first. The NTSB has not yet verified this sequence of events, and the official cause of the accident remains under investigation.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, alongside the Butler Police Department and Bates County Sheriff’s Office, secured the scene. A statement from the highway patrol confirmed that all 12 occupants perished in the crash. The identities of the victims are being withheld pending family notification.

Aircraft and operator background

The aircraft involved was a Pacific Aerospace 750XL manufactured in 2010. The 750XL is a single-engine turboprop frequently utilized in commercial skydiving operations due to its climb rate and payload capacity. The flight was operated by Skydive Kansas City, a commercial skydiving center based at BUM.

This accident follows a previous skydiving-related aviation occurrence near the same airport. On May 25, 2024, a Cessna U206C experienced an in-flight emergency near BUM. In that incident, the pilot and six skydivers successfully evacuated the aircraft via parachute before it crashed into a hayfield, resulting in no fatalities.

AirPro News analysis

We note that the NTSB investigation will likely focus on engine performance, weight and balance, and environmental factors at the time of departure. The Pacific Aerospace 750XL is a specialized utility aircraft, and investigators will examine maintenance records and the operator’s procedures as part of their standard protocol. Until the NTSB releases its preliminary report, usually within 30 days, any statements regarding a loss of power remain unconfirmed eyewitness observations.

Sources: CBS News