Plane Crashes in 2025, People Died By These Crashes

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Air travel is known to be the safest means of transportation, but accidents still happen. In 2025, several aviation incidents, including a devastating midair collision in Arizona and a deadly commercial plane crash in Washington, D.C., have raised concerns.

Despite such brushes, aviation experts still insist that flying is more the safer than many other means of transportation. Here’s a closer look at how many aviation accidents have occurred so far in 2025, how many of them have been fatal, and what the numbers say about the safety of commercial flying.

Two Die in Arizona Midair Collision​

On February 19, 2025, two small planes collided in the sky near Marana Regional Airport, about 20 miles northwest of Tucson, Arizona. Sadly, both were killed in each plane. The accident is the second deadly midair collision in this country in 2023.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local police said the crash occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. Investigators are still looking into possible causes, including pilot error, weather conditions, or mechanical failure.

Overview of the Aviation Accidents the Year 2025​

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says there have been 94 aviation accidents in the U.S. in 2023 to date. These accidents are classified according to their severity:

January Aviation Accidents: 63​

• February saw 31 more (though the latest updates are not in yet)
• Among these, 14 accidents have resulted in fatalities, including the latest midair collision in Arizona. This number might sound scary, but it should be noted that millions of flights are conducted safely every year.

Significant Plane Crashes in the U.S. in 2025​

In 2025, the U.S. experienced several major aviation disasters that resulted in mass casualties. The deadliest incident so far occurred on Jan. 29 in Washington, D.C., when a commercial jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Deadly Plane Crashes in 2025​

These are some of the deadliest crashes that have taken place this year:

January 29 – Washington, D.C.​

• An American Airlines regional jet with 64 passengers onboard collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which was carrying three crew members.
• The crash came near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after the jet took off from Wichita, Kansas.
• All 67 people aboard both planes were killed, putting it on track to be the worst U.S. aviation disaster in 15 years.

January 31 – Philadelphia​

• A medical transport plane crashed into a neighborhood in Philadelphia, where it was carrying a child patient and medical personnel.
• All six on board the Sikorsky S-76 and one person on the ground were killed.

February 6 – Alaska​

• The plane is a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan carrying 10 passengers that disappeared from radar while it was flying from the village of Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska.
• Following a long search, wreckage was found, and all 10 passengers were confirmed dead.

February 10 – Scottsdale, AZ​

• One killed, four injured when two private jets collided at Scottsdale Airport
• The crash occurred when one aircraft went off a runway and collided with the other on the ramp.

February 19 – Marana, Arizona​

• Two fatalities in midair collision of 2 small planes outside Marana Regional Airport.
• It was the second midair collision in the U.S. this year.

Deaths in Major Plane Crashes (2025)​

At least 87 people have died in the five major plane crashes that have hit the U.S. this year.

Are midair Collisions Common?​

Midair collisions are very uncommon but can be catastrophic when they occur. Based on that, between 2005 and late 2024, there were:

• 5,066 near-midair collisions for all aircraft types.
• 1,129 incidents involved at least one commercial aircraft, and averaged 56 per year.
• Stringent air traffic control rules, cutting-edge aviation technology and collision avoidance devices have made midair collisions extremely improbable but both human mistakes and unexpected events still create hazards.

Air Travel: Is It Safe to Fly in the U.S.?​

Yes. Flying is still the safest means of travel, despite recent tragedies.

But as the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) notes:

There were no deaths on large commercial airlines in the United States in 2023.

Most aviation deaths occur on small, private planes, commuter aircraft and air taxi services rather than commercial airlines.

By contrast, more than 44,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2022, so driving is far more dangerous than flying.

Why Is Flying on an Airplane Safe?​

Robust safety regulations in place: The FAA and NTSB have very strict safety protocols aimed at reducing risk.

Well trained pilots: Commercial airline pilots are well trained and are constantly assessed with respect to safety.

More efficient air space management: Advanced radar systems prevent accidents and allow for more seamless air travel.