Given that countless millions of individuals take flights on commercial airlines daily without any mishap, incidents like plane crashes are considered infrequent or relatively unusual occurrences.
But it only takes one for it to feel as if the sky is falling.
Although it’s common knowledge that statistically, flying is safer compared to driving, the idea of something going wrong on an airplane feels much more terrifying.
On January 29th, a tragic event unfolded: American Airlines Flight 5342, which was transporting 60 passengers and four crew members from Wichita, Kansas to Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, met with disaster as it clashed mid-flight with an Army Black Hawk helicopter. This collision resulted in the loss of every life on board both aircraft.
Since the tragic incident involving Colgan Air Flight 3407, which struck a house close to Buffalo, New York in 2009 and resulted in the loss of all 50 lives on board as well as a single individual on the ground, there had been no commercial airline accident on American soil until recently.
Despite the lengthy span since the previous accident, it was challenging to overlook the fact that the calamity occurred a year after a panel detached from a Boeing plane during an Alaska Airlines flight. As no lives were lost, the event served as material for a Saturday Night Live skit (“That’s why our new motto is, ‘Alaska Airlines: You didn’t perish and you have an exciting tale'”). However, we often try to find humor in things that make us incredibly anxious.
The fears were not eased when, just two days after the American Airlines disaster, a Learjet 55 air ambulance crashed in Philadelphia, resulting in the deaths of all six people aboard and one person on the ground. Similarly, concerns persisted when a Delta jet arriving from Minneapolis crash-landed and overturned upon arrival in Toronto on Feb. 17. Fortunately, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived this incident.
Despite my heart pounding with every takeoff and landing, I’ve always trusted the reassurances from U.S. authorities and aviation professionals. They consistently remind us that commercial flights are incredibly safe, a fact that I hold close to my heart as an ardent flying enthusiast.
Aviation expert John Cox shared with NBC News on March 1st that approximately 44,000 lives could be lost on roads this year. However, he emphasized that far fewer people will encounter issues related to airplane travel. He pointed out that the most hazardous aspect of any flight for a passenger is their journey to and from the airport.
Although the start of 2025 was marked by a significant loss of life, the typical number of aviation-related fatalities that usually happen in January and February in the U.S. actually decreased during this period.
As per data from the National Transportation Safety Board, on average, around 20 fatal aviation incidents involving all types of civilian aircraft (such as cargo planes and private jets) occur each month across January and February. However, this past January saw only 10 such incidents, while February experienced six.
According to Peter Goelz, a safety expert and ex-head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), traveling by commercial aviation is incredibly secure for transporting large groups of people. In fact, he noted that it becomes even safer each passing year.
Tragic events often lead to changes for the better. For example, families impacted by the 2009 Buffalo air crash played a significant role in passing a federal aviation safety law. This legislation, among other provisions, mandated the establishment of a pilot performance database and ensured that pilots would have at least 10 hours of rest prior to flying.
Ron Aughtmon, who lost an uncle in the Buffalo crash, told CBS News last month about the relatives who united to bring about change. He said, “We refer to each other as the family we never chose,” emphasizing that many people may not know about flight 3407. Their mission is to ensure that their loved ones and the fight for airline safety remain prominent in people’s minds.
As an aviation enthusiast who can’t get enough of the skies, let me share a fantastic aspect I’ve noticed about our community – we truly learn from our past. I’m talking about those harrowing instances when something went wrong, and we didn’t just sweep them under the rug. Instead, we delved deep, learned, and made necessary changes, all thanks to the tireless efforts of dedicated individuals like aviation attorney Jim Brauchle.
In an interview with USA Today earlier this year, he highlighted one such commendable practice: the Federal Aviation Administration’s initiatives to encourage reporting of safety issues without fear of repercussions. This is a testament to our community’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safest possible skies for all.
Additionally, he explained, “Regulations are quite stringent for everything. Aircraft are equipped with numerous fail-safe systems. In case of malfunction, there’s generally an alternative system available. Modern technology has advanced significantly in this regard.
Despite numerous headlines predicting flights in 2025 being of concern, there has been increased scrutiny on various flight-related incidents this year. Let’s take a closer look at what we’ve experienced thus far:
A few minutes before 9 pm Eastern Time, an American Airlines-operated American Eagle plane was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., when it unfortunately struck a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of all lives on board both aircraft.
The plane had a team of four pilots and sixty travelers on board, among whom were several athletes who had just attended a national ice-skating workshop in Wichita, Kansas.
President Donald Trump called it a “dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital.”
Air traffic control last monitored a helicopter carrying three military personnel flying at an altitude of 300 feet, which is higher than the usual limit of 200 feet near that airport as dictated by FAA regulations, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. On the other hand, FlightAware, an aircraft tracking site, reported that the jet’s last recorded height was 375 feet.
The crash remains under investigation.
Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair, stated to reporters on January 30th: “We examine the person, the machine, and the surroundings. We’ll investigate every individual who played a role in this incident. We’ll analyze the aircraft and helicopter. We’ll study the environment where they were operating. This approach is our usual procedure.
Since the tragic incident involving Colgan Flight 3407, which struck a house in the Buffalo, New York region in 2009, causing the deaths of all 50 people on board and one individual on the ground, this was the first fatal commercial airline accident to occur on American soil.
In the northeastern part of Philadelphia, a Learjet 55 belonging to Jet Rescue Air Ambulance suffered a crash on a city street around 6 p.m., Eastern Time.
The unfortunate incident claimed the lives of all six individuals onboard the jet: a child recently recovered from a critical illness (as reported by Jet Rescue), her mother, a medical professional, a paramedic, and two pilots, as well as a 37-year-old man who was behind the wheel.
Just a moment after takeoff at 6:06 p.m., the unfortunate accident happened, as reported by FlightAware. The flight was scheduled to land in Branson, Missouri, before returning the patient and her mother back home to Mexico.
Shai Gold, a representative from Jet Rescue, stated that she had to battle significantly just to make it through, and regrettably, there was a tragic incident during her journey back home.
As a diligent follower of the developments, I can share that the ongoing investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues. A preliminary report disclosed by the agency on March 6, as reported by NBC Philadelphia, suggests that the cockpit voice recorder, often referred to as the “black box,” failed to record any flight audio during the incident. It’s speculated that this device may have been malfunctioning for quite some time prior to the event.
9 travelers were en route from Unalakleet, Alaska, to Nome, approximately 140 miles distant, when their Bering Air Cessna Caravan experienced an accident roughly 40 minutes into the journey.
On February 7, three bodies were uncovered near debris located about 34 miles southeast of Nome. The U.S. Coast Guard stated that they suspected the remaining seven individuals, including the pilot, were still inside the damaged aircraft, which was in a state that prevented access due to the plane’s condition at the time.
In a statement, Senator Lisa Murkowski referred to Alaska as a tightly-knit community, saying, “Whenever misfortune occurs, we’re seldom distant from those in Alaska who are affected personally. However, this closeness also means that we unite as one to mourn and recover.
The NTSB said it would be investigating the crash.
39 p.m., local time. This information was shared by attorney Worrick Robinson IV based in Nashville.
Neil was not onboard at the time.
The attorney referred to it as a “fast-changing scenario” that’s still being investigated, expressing that Mr. Neil is sending his sympathies to all those affected and expressing gratitude towards the first responders providing assistance at this time.
Initially, there were four individuals on the Learjet, but later, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) verified that the pilot perished in the incident. On the other hand, the co-pilot and a fellow traveler sustained severe injuries.
According to WMTV 15 News, an initial report published on March 3rd by the NTSB revealed that surveillance and cell phone videos captured the jet’s back left landing gear appearing to be at an angle or crooked as it neared the runway in Scottsdale.
In addition, the report mentioned that this very same flight team had previously encountered a problem during their landing in McAlester, Oklahoma, on June 20th, 2024.
According to the report, a mechanic carried out regular maintenance and extra checks on the aircraft in December. Another mechanic who worked on the landing gear mentioned that everything seemed normal, however, the left landing gear required an unusually large amount of lubricant.
Delta Flight 4819, departing from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, experienced an emergency landing with a flip onto its back at Toronto Pearson International Airport, resulting in a fire due to the incident involving 80 passengers on board.
According to Deborah Flint, the president and CEO of Toronto Pearson, everyone managed to make it through safely, and 21 individuals received medical attention for injuries that were not immediately life-threatening.
In a heartbeat, I found myself suspended at an unusual angle, completely sideways. As I glanced below, I saw sparks flying and what seemed like parts of the vehicle grinding against the ground. The incident unfolded swiftly, leaving us dangling upside down from our seat belts.
To put it in my own words as an over-the-moon fan, let me tell you this: The disembarkation process was remarkably organized. It wasn’t the chaos you’d expect once the plane came to a halt, but more like a well-coordinated dance. As we all began to realize, for the most part, we were safe and unscathed because fortunately, there weren’t any serious injuries.
Flint stated that the event transpired under clear weather, with the Canadian Transportation Safety Board currently examining the situation.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Arizona Time, two small, single-engine aircraft – specifically, a Lancair 360 MK II and a Cessna 172S – had an unfortunate midair collision at the Marana Regional Airport, which is located close to Tucson, Arizona.
In simpler terms, the Cessna safely touched down, but the Lancair had an accident close to runway 3, striking the ground, and afterwards, a fire broke out that tragically took the lives of at least two individuals, as reported by the NTSB.
As per the FAA report, each aircraft had two passengers on board. The male and female passengers in the Lancair were subsequently recognized as the victims who passed away.
In a statement issued through AZFamily, Marana Regional Airport Superintendent Galen Beem expressed sympathy towards everyone affected by this incident. He described it as an extraordinary situation that has occurred at our town’s Marana Regional Airport. The superintendent is thankful for the prompt action taken by the Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District in response to the event.
On its journey from Newark to Indianapolis, the FedEx Flight 3609 encountered a bird soon after takeoff, forcing it to perform an urgent landing.
Despite the intense and alarming images of the Boeing 767 emitting flames during takeoff, the aircraft managed to touch down securely at Newark Liberty International Airport at precisely 8:07 a.m. Eastern Time. Remarkably, all three individuals on board the cargo flight emerged unscathed from this extraordinary event.
According to their statement to NBC News, the FedEx B767 team reported an emergency and successfully landed back at Newark, having managed an engine malfunction that included a fire. They expressed gratitude towards the swift response of the flight team and emergency services.
As a die-hard air travel enthusiast, I’d like to share an intriguing piece of information: Aviation guru John Cox enlightened NBC News about how marvels of modern flight like the Boeing 767 are designed to keep flying even if one engine fails. They’re certified for such a scenario!
Well, let me tell you as a die-hard enthusiast, it feels like dealing with the usual hiccup of an engine malfunctioning, leaving us running on one powerhouse. But don’t fret! We’ve got procedures in place for such situations, and our pilots have been drilled to handle them. It ultimately leads to a secure touch-down, so no need to worry!
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2025-03-08 16:18