Plane Incidents on the Rise?
Air travel—often seen as one of the safest methods of long-distance transportation—has come under speculation following a string of air-travel-related incidents over the past few months. Although each occurred for different reasons and on different airlines, it's undeniable that the increase in concerns is justified.
“I don’t often travel by air, but I do think the number of accidents occurring so close to each other is kind of weird,” said Thomas Rennhack, 10.
Jeju Air Flight 2216 - December 25, 2024
While attempting to land at Muan National Airport on December 29, 2024, Jeju Air Flight 2216 landed hull-first on the runway, skidded for a few moments, and exploded upon hitting a barrier. Of the 181 passengers, 179 died, with only two crew members surviving what, according to Reuters, is the “deadliest air incident on South Korean soil.” Preliminary reports suggest that a bird strike may have caused the incident, but the investigation is ongoing.
Air Busan Flight 391 - January 28, 2025
South Korea suffered another aviation incident just days after the Jeju Air disaster, when an Air Busan plane erupted into flames due to a portable lithium battery exploding on board. According to CBS News, all 176 passengers and crew survived, with only seven individuals sustaining injuries.
2025 Potomac River Mid-Air Collision - January 29, 2025
On the night of January 29, an American Airlines passenger jet collided with an American Black Hawk military helicopter near the Potomac River, close to Reagan National Airport, killing everyone aboard both aircraft. The helicopter, which was conducting a training flight, appeared to be 200 feet higher than expected, putting it in the American Airlines flight path, according to CBS News. President Donald Trump commented on the tragedy, blaming the Biden administration for diversity initiatives and calling for further investigations into the incident.
Bering Air Flight 445 - February 6, 2025
Bering Air Flight 445, a small passenger plane carrying 10 people, crashed in western Alaska, killing all on board. The plane, making a routine flight from Unalakleet to Nome, disappeared from radar and was later found drifting on a sheet of ice. The wreckage was lifted by helicopter for analysis, but little information about the findings has been released to the public.
Delta Connection Flight 4819 - February 2025
While landing at Toronto Pearson Airport, Delta Connection Flight 4819 flipped over due to snowy winds of up to 40 mph. The plane sustained minimal damage, and all 80 passengers survived, with only minor injuries reported, according to AP News. Canadian authorities have launched an extensive investigation into the incident.
Although these incidents occurred in close succession, there is no widespread cause for alarm. Most of the highlighted incidents, as well as other minor ones in recent months, have not been due to mechanical failures but rather human error and weather conditions—such as the Delta Airlines incident and the mid-air collision—while others remain under investigation. According to CNN, “It appears that last month there was a record low number of airplane accidents nationwide when combining private and commercial airline flights.”