Has Air Travel Become More Dangerous in 2025?

Each of the four crashes was caused by different factors.

The Air India Flight crash remains under investigation, though speculation points to engine thrust or power issues, anomalies in aircraft configuration, or broader technical malfunctions.

The Delta Connection Flight crash was linked to a rapid descent and hard landing in gusty crosswinds, with a sink rate exceeding 1,100 ft/min, which is well above the landing gear’s 720 ft/min tolerance. This caused the right gear to fail, leading to wing detachment, a fuel spill, ignition, and subsequent fire.

The American Airlines collision with the Black Hawk helicopter occurred amid extremely congested airspace and narrow vertical separation between the descending plane and the helicopter. Contributing factors may have included operational air traffic control communication issues.

The Air Busan Flight accident resulted from a fire originating in an overhead bin. Preliminary evidence suggests that a portable battery in carry-on luggage was the ignition source.

In short, the most common causes of air crashes are pilot or operational errors, adverse weather, and system failures.

According to IATA’s Safety Report, human factors (pilot and crew error) dominate aviation incidents: 39 percent are linked to manual handling errors, 35 percent result from failing to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and 37 percent are due to situational awareness lapses.

Weather factors, such as turbulence, storms, and wind shear, account for about 22 percent of accidents.

Mechanical and technical problems, such as engine breakdowns or hydraulic malfunctions, also play a significant role, and environmental conditions often intensify their effects. According to the ICAO’s Safety Report, bird strikes were a recurring factor that led to aviation fatalities in 2024.

Following an aviation accident, a detailed process is initiated to uncover the causes, evaluate contributing elements, and establish measures to reduce the risk of future incidents. 

The investigation typically follows the framework outlined in ICAO Annex 13, which mandates that the state where the accident occurs is responsible for conducting the inquiry, though international collaboration is common. 

The process starts with gathering evidence from the accident site (wreckage, flight data recorders, and cockpit voice recorders). After that, experts examine the data and publish a final report that outlines findings.

The investigation always leads to concrete, documented actions—immediate safeguards, medium-term operational fixes, and longer-term design or regulatory reforms: Airlines and regulatory bodies update operational procedures, manufacturers may implement design changes, and aviation authorities introduce new regulations or amend existing ones to improve safety standards.

As for the 2025 crashes, stricter ground checks, regulatory audits, and new operational restrictions are all in play globally. 

For example, the new aviation safety legislation introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz mandates that all aircraft, including military helicopters, operating in controlled airspace must now be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology. 

ADS-B provides high-fidelity, real-time tracking and alerts to both pilots and ATC up to once per second, delivering far more precise surveillance than traditional radar systems.

The legislation also requires a nationwide review of Army helicopter routes near major airports.

Also in the US, the Big Beautiful Bill, passed on July 1, includes a $12.5 billion investment to modernize the FAA’s National Airspace System, covering radar modernization, runway safety tech, and advanced training for air traffic controllers. 

This investment is a result of the January 2025 collision near Reagan National Airport, which amplified longstanding concerns about the National Airspace System’s fragility. Government audits found that a large portion of the FAA’s infrastructure was decades old, deeming it unsustainable.

After the Air India crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered thorough inspections on all Air India 787s (fuel systems, hydraulics, flight controls, engine diagnostics) and added flight-control and power‑assurance checks.

It has never been safer, actually.

Over the past two decades, the total accident rate has declined by 40 percent, the hull loss rate by 55 percent, and the fatal accident rate by 65 percent, despite a 23 percent increase in departures.

IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, said: “Even with recent high-profile aviation accidents, it is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare. [...] Moreover, the long-term story of aviation safety is one of continuous improvement. A decade ago, the five-year average was one accident for every 456,000 flights. Today, the five-year average is one accident for every 810,000 flights.” 

Additionally, air travel is the safest mode of transportation. The fatality rate for US air travel is about 0.003 deaths per 100 million miles, compared to 0.57 for passenger vehicles. This means a person is 190 times more likely to die in a car accident than to experience a plane crash. 

So yeah, air travel remains safe, and that hasn’t changed in 2025. In fact, its safety is advancing thanks to ongoing technology upgrades, enhanced pilot training, and the implementation of stricter safety standards.

Flying remains one of the safest ways to travel, yet the overrepresentation of incidents in the media, coupled with availability bias, makes it feel riskier. 

Availability bias is a cognitive shortcut where people estimate the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind. If something can be recalled quickly (often because it's recent, dramatic, or emotionally charged), it tends to be perceived as more common than it actually is.

Aviation incidents dominate headlines and social feeds, while car crashes (which kill vastly more people daily) receive far less attention. Even though air crashes are exceedingly rare, this disproportionate attention creates the illusion that flying has become more dangerous.

For those seeking immediate, in-the-moment reassurance, initiatives like “Dial a Pilot” offer sessions with real pilots who can answer flight-related questions.

Among the more practical options are specialized programs that provide travelers with strategies to manage fear and anxiety. For example, some airlines like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer the initiative "Flight Without Fear," which is a several-week course that combines psychological support, flight education, personalized mentoring, and behind-the-scenes airport tours. 

Self-help techniques include mindfulness practices, controlled breathing methods such as box breathing, focusing on the positive aspects of flying (like visiting loved ones), and exposure therapy—from watching takeoff videos to VR simulations.

And if these tips are not enough, maybe some concrete figures will help: For perspective, the lifetime odds of being killed in a plane crash are about 1 in 11,240, compared with 1 in 5,186 for drowning in a pool and 1 in 1,577 for dying from a fall on the stairs.

So, flying is not just safe—it is safer than some everyday activities we rarely think twice about.