Over the course of weeks, a series of serious airline accidents has made air safety a hot topic. Especially because unlike most of the high-profile crashes of recent years, these have occurred on home lawns.
First, an airborne collision occurred between an American Airlines commuter jet and an army helicopter in the country's capital, killing all 67 people on the two ships. The US aviation industry is now set to record a 16-year record run on commercial jets without a fatal crash.
It was then soon after that, two fatal accidents that took place in two fatal accidents (one in Philadelphia and one in Alaska), leaving a total of 17 people vanishing, causing anxiety. .
Maybe I was that wrong. The fact that everyone survived is a testament to the strength and airworthiness of the plane, and the professionalism of its crew.
Airplane pilot responds to images of Delta airplanes landing upside down in Toronto
Then, on February 17th, another shocking scene appeared from the scene of the Toronto airline collision. There, after a short flight from Minneapolis, Delta's regional jets were turned over on a snowy runway. Surprisingly, all 76 passengers and four crew members were evacuated safely, with several serious injuries reported. Still, the accident added to the impression that something was grossly wrying on aviation.
Industry officials and critics quickly took him to the airwaves to reassure the public. Jennifer Homendy, chairman of the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB), which investigates air force conflicts, highlighted the airline's strong safety records, and in contrast, more than 100 Americans every day in car accidents pointed out that it would die. In an interview with Fox News, she understands that watching news reports about these crashes may be “concerns”, but it is important to note that “air travel is extremely safe.” He said there was. (The investigation into the delta crash will be led by the Canadian Road Safety Board, as it was carried out in Canadian soils.)
“Walking Call”
The complete story behind this mass of incident may not be known for a while. A complete accident investigation can usually take up to 18 months. But judging by some of the commentary online, passengers are confused and probably get caught up in the airplane. But should they be?
Most aviation experts say there is no reason for the alarm. In fact, the reason why air attracts so much attention is very rare. Furthermore, finding the cause usually leads to reforms that make the system even safer. Still, there is some concern about whether industry and federal regulators were responding appropriately to warning signs, like reporting near misses at airports.
“This is a wake-up call,” said John Goglier, a former NTSB member and aviation safety consultant. “We were so satisfied.”
He added, “For a long time since that last big crash, the industry hasn't looked at the ball.”
That last fatal crash, a crash, occurred in 2009 when a continental air commuter plane run by local affiliate Corgan Air crashed outside Buffalo, New York, with all 49 people and one People were killed on earth.
Subsequent investigations, along with some highly publicized council hearings, unearthed inadequate training and stressful working conditions for commuter crews, and the pilots often start in the industry on commuter lines. This led to a series of reforms, including higher standards.
However, other red flags have not yet been fully resolved, such as staffing at major air traffic control centres and the wave of pilot retirements during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Goglia points out that the airport where the recent air collision occurred (Ronord Reagan-Washington National Airport) is famous for being one of the busiest airfields in the country. It also has a relatively short runway, “the pentagon is nearby, so you have all the restricted airspace” – for security reasons as it is close to major government and military sites It makes a pilot environment more challenging in the sense that it is limited to use. Nevertheless, council members recently voted to expand the number of flight operations at DC Airport. However, the clash has encouraged the airport to make changes, including new restrictions on military helicopter flights, including “it should never be allowed to get too close to busy airfields.”
What happens next?
As the various research progresses, it is important for travelers to keep things in sight, says William J. McGee, senior aviation and travel fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project. Even with recent accidents, he says, “This is still a very safe system.” “Now, there is an entire generation who can't remember the time when crashing air was much more common.”
That is also true on a global scale. For example, 2024 was the worst air safety of recent years, with 11 fatal accidents and a total of 318 kills (including 179 in a Korean Jeju Air Force clash), but that was the case in 2002. Compare and compare when 1,022 people die. A total of 33 accidents. And that was a lower flight than we have today.
“The safety issues are periodic, which is difficult to say, but given the enormous amount of air traffic in the country, it was probably postponed due to a major crash,” he said. says the company's pilots and aviation safety experts. It can be given a name.
Still, the chances of crashes have been dramatically improved due to technological advances and other reforms. For example, in that high crash toll in 2002, 50% of deaths were attributed to a phenomenon known as controlled flight and terrain (CFIT). Visibility. More recently, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, safety reforms, including new advanced navigation techniques, improved training and adjustments to the cockpit crew, have dramatically reduced CFIT crashes around the world.
In late 2023, when close calls at the airport dominated the headlines, the FAA responded with a ton of recommendations, including accelerated employment for controllers.
Airplane types have been the focus of the recent Boeing Max crisis, an aircraft grounded after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, but mechanically due to recent local jet crash crashes There was no suggestion that the issue was responsible. Both the DC and Toronto collisions included similar aircraft types, the Bombardier CRJ 700 and the CRJ 900, respectively. These are popular with small lines that partner with major lines. In these cases, it is an endeavored subsidiary of American Eagle and Delta. These Worker Hols are generally considered to be extremely reliable.
As one pilot said after seeing footage of a crash in Toronto, “a lot could have been wrong. Everyone survived, with the strength and airworthiness of the plane, as well as the crew. It is a testament to professionalism.
But ultimately, what these crashes show is that what the pilots add is that when it comes to aviation safety, “we must be constantly on alert and vigilant.”
This story was originally published in March 2024 and updated on February 19, 2025, and contains current information.
