A string of plane accidents and malfunctions over the past two months have made headlines and rattles for travelers across the US, but have you had more aviation accidents than last year?
Why is it important?
There have been at least four major aviation incidents over the past two months, and concerns and hesitations about flight safety have been rising among Americans.
The Trump administration is now being scrutinized by bringing hundreds of probation employees out just weeks after the most deadly US crash in nearly a quarter century.
What do you know
On Wednesday, two small planes collided in Arizona, with authorities reporting at least one death.
In a statement, the FAA told Newsweek: Lancair and two were on a Cessna 172. The FAA and NTSB will lead the investigation. ”
Aaron Schwartz/SIPA USA/AP News
The plane crashes in 2025 so far
So far, there have been 87 aviation accidents in the United States, according to data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reviewed by Newsweek. This number does not include newly reported Arizona conflicts.
Data shows that as of Wednesday there were 62 aviation incidents in January and 25 aviation accidents in February.
Newsweek contacted the NTSB and FAA via email Wednesday for comment.
Because Arizona is not included, there were 13 fatal plane crashes nationwide in 2025, occurring in Alaska, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, Virginia, Wyoming, Arkansas, California and Nevada.
The total number of incidents is lower than reported last year, but deaths from crashes have more than doubled in 2025 compared to 2024, with at least 85 people killed in crashes this year.
Of the fatal crashes, most planes have several people, with the biggest one being American Airlines' regional jet that collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC in late January . All 67 people on board were killed in the collision.
The second largest was a single-engine Cessna Caravan aircraft operated by Bering Air in Norm, Alaska. All 10 people on the flight were killed and later identified.
2024 total plane crash
According to NTSB data, there were 123 aviation accidents of various severity between January 1st and February 19th, 2024. There were 18 fatal cases, but 42 were reported as the death toll was lower than in 2025.
The incidents from January 1, 2024 to February 19, 2024 were not involved in planes on board with more than six people. The most important incident occurred on a Airbus helicopter on February 9, 2024, and all six were reported to have died.
Throughout the year, 1,415 aviation accidents were reported, including 257 fatal incidents. Of the 179 fatal incidents Newsweek has recorded, 306 people have reported deaths. The most fatal incident was a crash crash of a Pilatus aircraft at a recluse in Wyoming, killing six of the seven people on board, including the pilot.
Why do we seem to have more plane crashes this year?
An increase in the number of reported crashes, including large aircraft, is likely to contribute to the perception that there are more accidents this year.
Furthermore, the videos and photos of crashes and conflicts circulating on social media may amplify these concerns.
Is the plane safe?
Experts claim that flight is extremely safe.
“Aviation is the safest form of transportation,” NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendi said in a news briefing Friday.
“You're at a higher risk of getting in and out of the airport,” she said, highlighting that cars and road travel are the most dangerous form of transport in the United States,” 43,000 people each year, and our country I'm almost dying on the road. Aviation is very safe. ”
Nevertheless, an AP-NORC poll conducted between February 6th and 10 of 1,112 American adults found that confidence in air travel safety has declined. got it. 64% of US adults consider air travel to be “very safe” or “somewhat safe.” Percentage last year.
Approximately 20% of participants consider flights to be very or slightly unsafe compared to 12% in 2024.
Polls have an error of either positive or negative 4.1 percentage points.
What happened to the crash on a Delta plane in Toronto?
On Monday, a Delta Air Lines jet in Minneapolis turned its roof over while landing during extreme winds at Toronto Pearson Airport. All 80 people on board survived, with several injuries reported.
The CRJ-900, a widely used regional jet, was developed by the Canadian aerospace company Bombardier. It belongs to the same aircraft family as the CRJ-700, a model involved in an airborne collision near Reagan National Airport on January 29th.
What happens next?
The new administration recognizes the American aviation safety struggle that appears to have influenced the decision to exclude air traffic controllers from “buying” as part of an effort to cut the federal workforce.
The NTSB is investigating major plane crashes with more detail on what led to the catastrophe that is likely to emerge in the coming weeks and months.
