It’s a jam-packed episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast with Tom & Mike, where we talk aviation, airlines, travel chaos, grilling food, and the wild world of airline policy. This week we dig into everything from 4th of July cookout trends to TSA controversies, historic crashes, and whether Southwest Airlines is losing its soul.

Here’s what’s on the flight plan:

🌭 4th of July Food & Fireworks Mayhem
From baby back ribs to flying bratwurst — and a reminder that 14,700 people landed in the ER last year from fireworks injuries. Don’t be a stat.

🛫 Vacation Plans & Evermore Resort Orlando
Hear what’s on deck for our next trip and whether it's worth checking out for your next family adventure.

📉 Delta Flight 1141 Crash Breakdown
A cautionary tale from 1988: flaps not set, TOWS system failed, cockpit distraction, and a deadly crash just 22 seconds after liftoff. We draw eerie parallels to the recent Air India 787 incident.

👞 TSA Might Finally End the Shoe Rule
A potential end to the smelly foot parade? ABC reports TSA may ditch the outdated policy tied to 2001’s Richard Reid “Shoe Bomber” — plus a look at PETN explosives and how close flights came to tragedy.

📦 Southwest Airlines’ New Direction
Will they abandon free bags and open seating? We talk CEO Bob Jordan’s moves, Wall Street pressure, and whether the new strategy will alienate their famously loyal flyers.

📻 Stories from the Road
Anchorage storms, flight deck dynamics, and why you never assume clear weather means an easy approach. Oh, and that spicy sausage story from Uncle G...

📦 In The News

• TSA bans high-proof alcohol

• Revisiting lithium battery dangers

• And the latest buzz from the terminal floor

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Black Box Aviation Podcast
Real pilots. Real stories. And no, we don’t miss the shoe scanner either.