After several recent aviation disasters, fears about the safety of air travel in the United States have once again gripped Congress and the public. Incidents with both commercial and private aircraft have made headlines nearly every week during the last month. This increase has led to serious conversations about aviation safety in the present. This report details just a few of these alarming incidents that have been allowed to happen, from dangerous aborted landings to midair collisions and fatal crashes.
Just last week, two commercial aircraft were forced to go around on their landings at Reagan National Airport. This occurred in part because an Army Black Hawk helicopter was operating too close to the Pentagon. The incident was an excellent opportunity to test safety alarms. The presence of military helicopters in civilian airspace can pose a deadly risk to commercial aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must thoroughly examine the circumstances that led to this happening so we can ensure it never happens again.
In early February, a Japan Airlines plane was involved in a closer call while taxiing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. While no one was injured, the aircraft did clip the tail of a parked Delta Airlines plane. Incidents like this, however not unusual, serve as a reminder of the dangers that exist even on the tarmac of crowded airports.
Concluding an extremely dangerous year for aviation, just a week later, an American Airlines plane erupted in flames after landing at Denver International Airport. The smoke from the fire injured 12 passengers, all of whom required medical treatment. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Federal investigators are still looking into whether mechanical failure or human error was at fault for the fire.
In Southern California, two small aircraft collided recently near San Diego. This disturbing trend has increased the region’s already serious aviation safety concerns. Each one of these incidents is a sobering example of the hazards that general aviation aircraft encounter, particularly in challenging weather situations.
Just a week ago, the aviation community was reeling from the tragic helicopter crash that occurred in New York on April 10. The helicopter departed from a downtown heliport but failed to reach its destination safely, resulting in numerous fatalities. At the time, this accident was the deadliest aircraft accident in the United States since November 12, 2001. It has raised questions as to pilot training and regulatory oversight in the burgeoning world of urban air traffic.
When a private jet tragically crashed into a San Diego neighborhood during dense fog in September, 8 people were killed. All six people on board died in the crash. The loss of visibility was a critical factor in the crash, highlighting the need for strict weather checks before any flight operations.
In India, an Air India flight crashed into a medical school, tragically killing at least 240 people. This incident has sparked international discourse on aviation regulations and safety measures in various countries, as global air travel continues to expand.
In March, a FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at a busy airport in New Jersey following a bird strike that caused an engine fire. Luckily, injuries to passengers were not reported, but this collision serves as an ongoing reminder for the dangers and risks of wildlife interactions around airports.
February also brought us the news of two small planes hitting each other midair near an Arizona airport, killing both pilots. While these midair collisions are very unusual, they highlight the need for robust air traffic management systems and clearly defined pilot communication standards.
Additional incidents included a small plane crashing into the ocean shortly after takeoff in San Diego, which resulted in six fatalities, and a single-engine plane that burst into flames in a retirement community’s parking lot near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where all five occupants perished.
In 2018, a vacant sightseeing helicopter broke apart in mid-air before plunging into the Hudson River. This tragic crash killed six and injured many more. That’s when a medical transport plane struck a Philadelphia neighborhood in a fiery crash. Tragically, all six occupants of the helicopter perished as well as two people on the ground.
Finally, in Boca Raton, Florida, a third small plane crash killed three and left one injured. These repeated accidents have led to calls for improved safety protocols and oversight in both commercial and private aviation sectors.
The recent spate of aviation accidents highlight serious concerns with safety, enforcement of public standards and regulations that govern our air travel. Policy makers must be willing to regularly rethink their approaches. This too will advance safety procedures and lower risk not only for commercial aircraft but private flights as well.
