A recent series of aviation accidents and near misses has raised public concerns about air travel safety.
The incidents causing the most alarm include a fatal collision near Washington, D.C., another accident in Philadelphia, and a further recent incident. There was also an incident involving a Japan Airlines plane taxiing in Seattle earlier this week and a United Airlines plane experiencing an engine fire during takeoff in Houston on Sunday.
Beyond these major events, several other incidents, such as the discovery of deceased stowaways on two aircraft and two additional flights, and a passenger incident on a plane taxiing in Boston, have added to public anxiety.
Consequently, many are questioning the safety of air travel.
Details of the most serious incidents
The January 29th collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter resulted in fatalities for all aboard both aircraft. This marked the deadliest such incident since November 12, 2001. There had been no fatal crashes involving U.S. airliners since February 2009.
Smaller aircraft accidents are, however, more frequent. For example, a single-engine Cessna went missing in Alaska on Thursday with ten people aboard; search efforts continued on Friday.
A Learjet crash in Philadelphia on January 31st resulted in the deaths of six people on board and one on the ground. The crash created a large fire.
How much cause for concern is there?
The rarity of fatal air crashes contributes to their impact. The safety record of U.S. airlines is notably strong, underscored by the extended period between fatal incidents.
However, recent fatal accidents have occurred internationally, including one in South Korea in December. There were also two fatal crashes involving Boeing 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019. A further incident involving a 737 Max occurred last January, raising further questions about the aircraft.
Federal officials have voiced concerns for years about an overburdened and understaffed air traffic control system, citing issues like low pay, long shifts, extensive training requirements, and mandatory retirements.
President Trump further emphasized these concerns on Thursday, attributing the mid-air collision to an “obsolete” air traffic control system and promising its replacement.
Despite these concerns, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently reassured the public on Fox News that air travel is significantly safer than car or train travel, citing statistics to support his claim.
Statistics from the National Safety Council and other sources support this assertion, indicating that the probability of dying in a plane crash is far lower than that of a car accident.
Ongoing Actions
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the recent accidents and near misses to identify their causes and prevent future incidents.
Initial findings regarding the mid-air collision have been concerning, but a comprehensive report will take more than a year.
While the NTSB consistently issues safety recommendations, numerous previous recommendations have been unheeded by government agencies and relevant industries.
Secretary Duffy acknowledged public concerns about the recent accidents and pledged to prioritize safety in the regulation of all transportation modes.
Duffy expressed confidence in the current and future safety measures and plans to enhance the system’s safety and efficiency further.
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