If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines. They’re terrifying. Grainy videos of wings clipping, news tickers screaming about mid-air collisions, and a general sense that the sky is, quite literally, falling. But when you look at the raw data for how many airplane crashes this year 2025 has actually seen, the reality is a lot more nuanced than a thirty-second TikTok clip.
Aviation is weird. It’s the only industry where a single bad day can make the entire world forget about ten years of perfect safety.
Honestly, 2025 has been a heavy year for the news cycle. We started the year with some high-profile tragedies that shook public confidence. By the time we hit the mid-year mark, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had already logged 24 significant commercial accidents. That’s roughly half of what we saw in the entirety of 2024. But here’s the kicker: while the number of accidents isn't necessarily spiking compared to historical averages, the number of fatalities is way up.
The Reality of How Many Airplane Crashes This Year 2025
Numbers don't lie, but they sure do like to hide the truth. If you’re asking about the total count, the NTSB in the United States alone was investigating 140 crashes by mid-March. Most of those? You never heard about them. They were small Cessnas in cornfields or private pilots clipping a fence.
When people search for "how many airplane crashes this year 2025," they aren't usually looking for the hobbyist who forgot to check his fuel gauge in rural Nebraska. They want to know about the big jets.
The global picture is dominated by a few massive, tragic events. The deadliest by far was the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad back in June. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner—a plane generally considered the gold standard of modern engineering—went down shortly after takeoff. It took 242 lives on board and 19 more on the ground. It was the first-ever fatal hull loss for the 787. That single event did more to change the "fatality risk" statistics for the year than a hundred small general aviation mishaps combined.
Major Incidents That Defined the Year
- The Potomac River Mid-Air Collision (January 29): This was a nightmare scenario. An American Eagle regional jet (Flight 5342) collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter near D.C. All 67 people on the jet and three in the helicopter were lost. It was the first major U.S. commercial accident in 16 years, ending a massive "safety streak."
- Med Jets Flight 056 (January 31): A Learjet 55 acting as a medical transport crashed into a residential neighborhood in Philadelphia. A pediatric patient, her mother, and the crew died.
- Delta Connection Flight 4819 (February 17): This one looked horrific on camera—the plane actually flipped upside down in Toronto—but miraculously, all 80 people survived. It’s a testament to modern cabin safety, even if the footage was haunting.
- UPS Flight 2976 (November 4): A cargo MD-11 lost an engine on takeoff in Louisville. These cargo "hull losses" often get buried in the news because there aren't 200 passengers involved, but they matter for safety data.
Is Flying Actually Getting More Dangerous?
Basically, no. But it feels like it.
The IATA accident rate for the first half of 2025 sat at around 1.23 per million sectors. To put that in perspective, you could fly every single day for about 15,000 years before you’d statistically be involved in a fatal crash.
The "vibe" is off because 2020 through 2023 were statistical anomalies. During the pandemic, there were fewer planes in the air, which meant fewer opportunities for things to go wrong. Now that we are back to—and exceeding—pre-pandemic flight volumes (over 45,000 flights a day handled by the FAA), the raw number of incidents is naturally creeping back up to "normal" levels.
But "normal" still includes accidents.
One thing experts are watching closely this year is the "personnel factor." The NTSB has noted that in about 81% of general aviation accidents, human performance was a factor. We're talking about pilot fatigue, training gaps, and the ongoing global pilot shortage. It’s not just about the planes; it’s about the people flying them and the mechanics fixing them.
What the Data Tells Us
If you look at the 10-year average, we’re actually seeing a downward trend in "Controlled Flight Into Terrain" (CFIT)—which is when a perfectly good plane is flown into the ground due to pilot disorientation. That’s a huge win for technology.
However, "runway excursions"—planes sliding off the end or side of the runway—remain the most common type of accident. Whether it's bad weather or "unstable approaches," landing is still the most precarious part of your trip.
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The Boeing and Airbus Shadow
You can't talk about how many airplane crashes this year 2025 without mentioning the manufacturers. Boeing has had a rough ride. The Air India crash put the 787 under a microscope, and the industry is still grappling with the fallout from the 737 MAX issues of previous years.
But it isn't just a Boeing problem.
The industry is facing a massive supply chain crunch. Parts are taking longer to arrive. Engines are being pushed to their limits. When you combine that with "GNSS jamming" (GPS interference) which has increased significantly in 2025 due to global conflicts, pilots are sometimes flying with less reliable tech than they had five years ago.
Actionable Steps for Anxious Travelers
If the stats don't calm your nerves, here is what you can actually do to feel more in control:
Fly "Mainline" and IOSA Carriers
Statistics show that IATA member airlines and those on the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) registry have significantly lower accident rates than non-registered carriers. In 2025, the accident rate for IOSA carriers was nearly three times better than those not on the registry.
Choose Non-Stop Flights
Since most accidents happen during takeoff or landing (the "critical phases of flight"), fewer takeoffs mean less statistical risk.
Pay Attention to the Briefing
It sounds cheesy, but in the Delta Flight 4819 crash in Toronto, people survived because they knew where the exits were and they left their luggage behind. When a plane is upside down and filling with smoke, you don't have time to find your laptop.
Check the Equipment
If you're truly nervous, apps like FlightRadar24 let you see exactly what aircraft type you're flying. Modern "next-gen" aircraft (A350, A220, 787) have safety systems that are light-years ahead of the older 1990s-era jets still in some fleets.
The bottom line for 2025? It’s been a loud year. The tragedies have been visual and visceral. But the math hasn't changed. The sky is still the safest place to be, even if the news makes you want to stay on the ground.
Next Steps for Your Safety
- Research your airline: Check the IATA IOSA Registry to see if your carrier meets the latest global safety standards.
- Monitor Real-Time Data: Use tools like the Aviation Safety Network to see factual reports rather than relying on social media headlines.
- Stay Informed on Tech: Read up on how "GPS spoofing" is being handled by airlines if you are flying over high-conflict zones.