A military crash reported Thursday morning at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia added urgency to questions about the rise in 2025 US air accidents.
The April 24 crash may be the latest on a growing list of accidents tracked by federal safety agencies.
An NTSB public relations expert said he issued a statement via email. The agency said it was investigating an experimental MX aircraft crash near Hampton, Virginia, with preliminary information showing that the plane crashed with an approach to Langley Air Force Base “under unknown circumstances.”
No immediate information has been released regarding casualties or causes. However, the Langley crash crash follows a year already marked by several famous incidents, including a fatal air collision near Washington, D.C. in January.
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Why is it important?
Aviation data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) compiled dozens of incidents in the first four months of the year.
Among the most serious collisions of the year was the January 29th collision involving a commercial jet and a military helicopter above the Potomac River. PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700, operated as American Airlines Flight 5342, collided with the US Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport. All 13 people on both aircraft were killed.
That January crash was the most fatal US plane crash since 2001, when the jet crashed into a New York City neighbourhood shortly after takeoff.
How many crashes have you had in 2025 so far?
The NTSB recorded 250 aviation accidents and accidents across the United States from January 1st to April 24th, 2025.
Of these cases, approximately 215 were fatal.
Until April 24, 2025, the NTSB recorded 182 exclusive plane incidents and accidents across the United States.
How many aviation accidents did you encounter in 2024?
NTSB data shows that there have been 1,199 aviation incidents and accidents throughout 2024, of which 180 were fatal.
What's next?
Air Force and NTSB investigators will release the results of a preliminary investigation into the crash at Langley Air Force Base within 30 days.
Meanwhile, federal agencies will continue to compile and review accident data to determine whether the 2025 rise signal broader systematic issues.
