Are Plane Crashes on the Rise? The Facts Behind Recent Aviation Accidents

Recent aviation accidents, including a midair collision in Washington, D.C., and a medevac jet explosion in Philadelphia, have raised public concern. Videos of plane crashes circulating on social media have led to claims of a sharp increase in aviation accidents. Some politicians have even linked the incidents to federal hiring policies.

However, aviation experts and federal data indicate that commercial flying remains statistically safe. While crashes are alarming, they are not occurring more frequently than usual. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) records over 1,100 aviation accidents annually, but most involve small private aircraft, not commercial passenger jets. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees around 45,000 flights daily, with serious incidents being rare.

Recent political claims about a surge in crashes under the Trump administration lack context. Data shows that similar or higher numbers of aviation accidents occurred during the first months of previous presidencies, including those of Biden and Obama. The NTSB classifies aviation incidents broadly, meaning not all reported events involve catastrophic crashes.

Historically, fatal commercial airline accidents in the U.S. are rare. From 2013 to 2022, passenger airlines recorded only 12 fatalities. Although aviation accidents receive significant media coverage, the overall safety record of the industry remains strong.

Experts caution against drawing conclusions from isolated events. Aviation safety remains a top priority, with investigations underway to determine the causes of recent crashes. While concerns are understandable, the data confirms that flying is still one of the safest modes of transportation.