Aircraft tragedies in the past week :(

[missy]

What is going on?
First that awful helicopter crash killing an entire family of 5 from Spain and the pilot
Then the Boca Raton small plane crash a few days ago
And now the Upstate NY small plane crash killing a family of 6

Helicopter crash in Hudson River kills all 6 aboard

Six people died when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River Thursday afternoon. Officials said the dead included a family from Spain as well as the pilot.

www.cbsnews.com

3 victims in Boca Raton, Florida, plane crash identified

The small plane crashed into a busy street shortly after taking off from Boca Raton Airport, killing all three on board.

www.usatoday.com

6 members of the same family die in small plane crash in Upstate New York

The NTSB is investigating after a pilot requested a new approach to Columbia County Airport but plunged into a nearby muddy field.

abc7ny.com

"In the first quarter of 2025 alone, more than 170 aviation accidents occurred in the US with 22 resulting in fatalites and 109 deaths.

This is no coincidence. It’s the result of not proactively addressing the risks inherent in a system that was designed decades ago and is now under strain. Like road traffic, where more cars on the road lead to more accidents, the same principle applies to airspace. As traffic increases at already congested airports, so does the risk of mid-air collisions, near misses, and other dangerous incidents.

The aviation system is starting to crack under the pressure of rising traffic and inadequate airspace management tool
"

Statistically flying is one of the safest modes of transportation and these crashes did not involve larger planes but too many air accidents in the past week
And it seems these accidents were preventable but I guess we will see what the investigations show.
My heart goes out to all affected.

 

[Mreader]

I saw those stories and they’re just so awful! However, I think that what happens is when there is one tragedy, the media starts combing for stories that are similar and then it makes us sound as if every time you’re on a plane it’s going to crash.

I remember once summer there was a shark attack. Then all of these stories came out about a shark attack here and a shark attack there as if it were completely unsafe to go to the beach. Statistically, the numbers were not different from other summers. So I guess I’m hoping that’s the situation here.

 

[sledge]

The losses are tragic.

Where did the quote about “air traffic jams” being the culprit originated? I’d like to see the facts used for that article and make some challenges.

I’ve lost friends & colleagues to small plane crashes. The majority of the time it’s related to pilot error, faulty equipment and/or weather.

I was recently on a private plane with some colleagues and thought, “wow we are ****ed if the pilot has a heart attack” as this flight had no copilot onboard.

Anytime you go up on small private flights, your odds decrease.

 

[Karl_K]

Checked against other sources all had slightly different numbers because they were different end dates but its ballpark.
"How many plane crashes have occurred in 2024 and 2025?

Last year, there were 1,417 aviation crashes. In January, there were 80 crashes and 93 in February. There were 258 fatal plane crashes in 2024, with 19 in January and 12 in February. So far this year, there have been 99 aviation accidents, with 63 total crashes in January and 36 in February. Fourteen of these crashes were fatal, 10 in January and four in February."

Have there been more plane accidents this year than in 2024? Here's what the data shows

So far this year, there have been 99 aviation accidents, with 63 total crashes in January and 36 in February.

www.greenvilleonline.com

This source gets political so no links but has newer numbers.

Are there more plane crashes lately? 2024 plane crashes vs 2025 plane crashes​

There have been 298 aviation crashes in the U.S. in 2025, through April 2 (not including the NYC helicopter crash or Florida crashes). In 2024, there were 336 aviation crashes during the same time period.

How about deadly crashes? In 2024 through April 2, there were 66 fatal crashes. In 2025, considering the same time period, there have been 48 (not including the NYC helicopter crash).

 

[missy]

Where did the quote about “air traffic jams” being the culprit originated? I’d like to see the facts used for that article and make some challenges.

Sorry I will have to find the source. I couldn't link it because of the rules.
It is of course safer to take a commercial plane vs a small private one
And of course the statistics bear out that flying is safer than many other modes of transportation
I just felt very sad about all the recent air accidents and deaths

Checked against other sources all had slightly different numbers because they were different end dates but its ballpark.
"How many plane crashes have occurred in 2024 and 2025?

Last year, there were 1,417 aviation crashes. In January, there were 80 crashes and 93 in February. There were 258 fatal plane crashes in 2024, with 19 in January and 12 in February. So far this year, there have been 99 aviation accidents, with 63 total crashes in January and 36 in February. Fourteen of these crashes were fatal, 10 in January and four in February."

Have there been more plane accidents this year than in 2024? Here's what the data shows

So far this year, there have been 99 aviation accidents, with 63 total crashes in January and 36 in February.

www.greenvilleonline.com

This source gets political so no links but has newer numbers.

Are there more plane crashes lately? 2024 plane crashes vs 2025 plane crashes​

There have been 298 aviation crashes in the U.S. in 2025, through April 2 (not including the NYC helicopter crash or Florida crashes). In 2024, there were 336 aviation crashes during the same time period.

How about deadly crashes? In 2024 through April 2, there were 66 fatal crashes. In 2025, considering the same time period, there have been 48 (not including the NYC helicopter crash).

Thanks Karl. Any deaths are too many deaths
We will see how 2025 plays out
I wish they would ban sight seeing helicopters in NYC

 

[missy]

I saw those stories and they’re just so awful! However, I think that what happens is when there is one tragedy, the media starts combing for stories that are similar and then it makes us sound as if every time you’re on a plane it’s going to crash.

I remember once summer there was a shark attack. Then all of these stories came out about a shark attack here and a shark attack there as if it were completely unsafe to go to the beach. Statistically, the numbers were not different from other summers. So I guess I’m hoping that’s the situation here.

Ha I am still wary of going into the ocean because of "Jaws"
A great movie and I probably should stop watching it every few years LOL

 

[missy]

Where did the quote about “air traffic jams” being the culprit originated? I’d like to see the facts used for that article and make some challenges.

The Hill

 

[Karl_K]

Thanks Karl. Any deaths are too many deaths
.......
I wish they would ban sight seeing helicopters in NYC

Yes, any is to many, but not realistic.
Nothing is ever going to be 0 risk.
They are actually safe statistically. The number of accidents per flight hour for helicopters tours is actually very good.
Could be better of course.

 

[sledge]

Every single action we take has associated risk. Just some people choose to ignore it or totally unaware.

Even laying in bed is risky. Once a high school buddy had gotten up to start his day and a car crashed into their house, directly in his room and on top of his bed. A few seconds snoozing and he probably wouldn't have been able to tell the crazy story.

Had another buddy laying in bed with his wife. Some people were shooting guns in the distance. They hear a noise and feel something hit the bed. They found a bullet they think fell from the sky and landed between them.

Most of us choose not to think in these terms though. It’s the things that scare us — planes, rollercoasters, gun fights, etc that stick in our heads.

The losses are truly tragic but as Karl pointed out it seems the numbers for 2025 are slightly less than 2024. For the friends & colleagues I’ve lost in plane crashes, while not what they ever expected, I don’t think they would have changed what put them in that position. They were just living their best life before things unexpectedly went wrong.