Statistics show that planes are the safest form of transportation, but is that really true? We are barely two months into 2025, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that 13 fatal airplane accidents have occurred so far. It is evident that we are experiencing a turbulent start to the new year.
The first fatal crash of the year occurred on Jan. 29. An American Airl Lines flight with around 60 passengers on board collided with an Army Black Hawk Helicopter transporting soldiers. Both aircrafts fell into the Potomac River and all 67 passengers and pilots died.
Licensed commercial pilot and flight instructor Tanya Steele believes that this crash occurred due to pilot error on the helicopter’s part. “The air traffic control warned them about the plane and told them to stay away,” Steele said. “The helicopter pilot said that they saw the plane but ended up hitting it.”
On the American Airlines flight were a group of elite figure skaters, including world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, returning from a developmental skating camp. The NTSB is currently conducting an investigation of the crash, though neither of the flights’ black boxes were recovered, creating difficulty determining a cause.
“A black box is a recording device in every commercial airplane,” Steele said. “It is critical that they find the black box so they have the story of what happened. They are built in indestructible boxes, so if the plane is submerged in water the black box will probably stay intact, and it has a GPS and can be located.”
Just two days later on Jan. 31, a plane crashed in front of the Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia. Seven individuals lost their lives in the crash and several houses in the neighborhood were set aflame. Six of the people killed were aboard the medical jet, and one person was killed on the ground.
“Generally chains of events cause crashes, not one thing,” Steele said. “When they do investigations, it is
generally deemed as the pilots fault. But all of these other things happen too. The news doesn’t tell you everything.”
The NTSB released minimal information regarding the cause of that crash, suggesting that the cause has not yet been identified.
“It can take the NTSB 1-5 years to disclose information as to what happened,” Steele said. “We will have to wait for answers. They are collecting the wreckage, listening to the black box, talking to the air traffic controllers, and so on.”
On Feb. 17, a Delta Air Lines flight flipped upside down and lost a wing while landing at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada. At least 21 people were severely injured, but no lives were lost.
“They did a perfect approach to landing and everything was normal until they touched down,” Steele said. “On touch down, one of their tires could have exploded, which is something out of anyone’s control. A gust of wind could have raised the wing and caused the crash. An engine could have failed causing the wind to go out. The pilot could have done a bad, hard, or crooked landing. They could have slipped due to the ice and snow. A lot of things could have happened there.”
In the midst of these nerve-wracking events, president Donald Trump has begun firing hundreds of employees of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Those who lost their jobs held positions such as maintenance mechanics, aviation safety assistants, and management administrators.
With spring break coming up in a few weeks, the uncertainties surrounding air travel may impact peoples’ traveling plans. Steele, however, feels confident that flying is still the most reliable mode of transportation.
“The recent uncertainties surrounding air safety is making me rethink my flight over spring break,” said senior Talia Ehrlich.
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