The FAA is “looking into” an surprisingly low move {that a} Boeing 777 shipment jet painted in Doha Information Airlines livery revamped Horseshoe Bay Jet Heart Wednesday.
Joan Valls/Getty Photographs
Federal government are reviewing an surprisingly low flyby by means of a wide-body shipment jet over a Central Texas airport after video confirmed the airplane showing to return inside of ft of the runway.
Video that circulated extensively on social media Thursday seems to turn a Boeing 777 in Doha Information Airlines Shipment livery creating a low move over Horseshoe Bay Jet Heart, which is set 55 miles northwest of Austin within the Hill Nation. Within the video, posted by means of X consumer Eric Breno, the airliner approaches the runway with its touchdown tools up whilst other folks watch from the airport apron.
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Because the aircraft starts to tug up on the finish of its move, it banks sharply to the appropriate. The best wingtip seems to return inside of ft of putting the pavement.
The Federal Aviation Management “is aware of reports about this event and is looking into it,” it mentioned in a remark.
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Even though it’s no longer transparent who recorded the clip, the corporate that owns the airplane — Jetran LLC — showed its legitimacy in a remark. The freighter isn’t owned by means of Doha Information Airlines and used to be no longer operated by means of a Doha Information Airlines group, the corporate mentioned.
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“We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a freighter aircraft conducting a low-pass flight in a manner that does not reflect operational standards,” Jetran mentioned. “The aircraft was undergoing a final pre‑delivery test flight prior to its planned entry into the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet. We expect the relevant parties and authorities to investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action.”
Que raso!
Um 777-200LR(F) que está em processo de preparação para entrega para a Doha Information foi visto dando esse rasante espetacular sobre o Horseshoe Bay Lodge Jet Heart, no Texas!
Esse foi baixo! %.twitter.com/btzClzKiU5
— Eric Breno ✈️🇧🇷 (@EBaviation) June 25, 2026
Jetran is an airplane leasing and asset-management corporate founded in Horseshoe Bay that essentially acquires and converts huge airplane for shipment operations. It used to be no longer right away transparent whether or not the corporate used to be running the aircraft and the pilots have no longer been publicly known.
Flight-path information displays that the airplane took off from Peru, Ind., a commonplace repairs and portray base, simply sooner than midday and detoured to make the move over Jetran’s house base at Horseshoe Bay about 2:15 p.m. sooner than proceeding to its vacation spot in Castle Price. The Horseshoe Bay facility isn’t controlled by means of air visitors controllers however the pilots signaled their purpose to accomplish the maneuver at the airport’s radio frequency.
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Low move attracts complaint
Recorded flight information displays the airplane’s minimal altitude used to be 950 ft, but if adjusted for atmospheric power, elevation above sea degree and technical obstacles, it means that the aircraft got here inside of 25 ft of the bottom all over the maneuver, in line with Ian Petchenik of flight-tracking web page Flightradar24.
“That puts us at as close to ground level as you can get,” he mentioned.
Horseshoe Bay Jet Heart’s 6,000-foot runway “can accommodate all personal and business aircraft up to a regional jetliner,” in line with its web page, which might preclude a 777 from touchdown there.
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Petchenik mentioned that low-altitude flybys most often represent an important milestone for the airplane or its operators.
“Usually, a low pass is marking either the beginning or end of something — a particular project, a career,” he mentioned. “They’re often seen as a celebratory event, (but) they’re not usually this low.”
The move can have been supposed to rejoice the conversion of the airframe from a long-haul passenger jet to a freighter forward of its supply to Doha Information Airlines. Castle Price-based Mammoth Freighters transformed the previous Delta Air Traces 777-200LR right into a shipment aircraft, however that corporate mentioned in a remark it used to be no longer fascinated with Wednesday’s flyby.
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It drew sharp complaint from pilots and aviation mavens who seen the clip. Dallas aviation lawyer and certified business pilot Ladd Sanger mentioned the move, in particular the proximity of the wingtip to the bottom, raises critical protection issues.
“That is super dumb,” he mentioned of the maneuver. “I bet the FAA finds that pilot and has a conversation. If I were the airline both of those pilots would be unemployed.”
