Australian Aviation

The jet was carrying 64 people when the incident occurred at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington on Thursday, sparking a huge search and rescue operation.

The fighter jet, landing gear extended in the footage, fell in an uncontrolled flat spin, passing in front of its own ejected pilot before striking the ground and exploding near an aircraft runway at the base on 28 January.

The previous look was launched in 2013 and designed by Paris-based Australian Martin Grant, with the new outfit set to be unveiled in 2027.

Jake Nelson talks to Don Williams about the unique role played by the Boomerang in Australia’s aviation history – and how it can be better remembered.

The XB-1 – or Baby Boom – is a demonstrator version of the larger Overture aircraft that will carry up to 80 passengers. Already, Boom claims to have taken 130 orders including from customers such as United, American and Japan Airlines.

The US planemaker lost US$11.8bn in 2024 to take its total losses since 2019 to more than US$35bn.