General Electric's HondaJet makes a local hop amid safety push for the model

General Electric flew its HondaJet HA-420 (N120GE) from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on a short local circuit on May 26, 2026, departing and returning to the same runway within minutes. The brief hop — likely a test or training sortie — came the same month the HondaJet Owners & Pilots Association released a video and training program aimed at preventing runway excursions, a concern that has shadowed the model, per a report from AIN online.

GE Aerospace, which operates the HondaJet from its Cincinnati headquarters, has a uniquely modest corporate fleet for a company its size — a single very-light jet. But that jet is itself a product of a long-running joint venture: GE and Honda co-founded GE Honda Aero Engines in 2004 to develop the HF120 turbofan that powers the HA-420.

The company's recent flight history shows a steady rhythm of trips to the Northeast — Long Island, Washington D.C., Boston, Albany — suggesting the jet is used for regional executive travel. The May 26 local circuit stands apart, possibly reflecting the kind of proficiency flying the HJOPA program now encourages for all HondaJet pilots.