By Christian Franklin
Story
In 2025, the United States has witnessed a concerning uptick in plane crashes, drawing attention from both the aviation industry and regulatory bodies.
While air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation, recent incidents have raised alarm among passengers, experts and lawmakers alike. Over the past few months, several high-profile crashes have occurred, leading to questions about the safety measures currently in place and what might be behind the rising number of accidents.
One of the most recent crash occurred on Feb. 12, when a small regional aircraft carrying 42 passengers went down shortly after takeoff from a regional airport in Texas. The crash resulted in 30 fatalities, with the remaining passengers suffering severe injuries. Just weeks earlier, another fatal crash took place in California, where a commercial jetliner experienced a mechanical failure, killing all 56 people onboard. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating both incidents, as well as several other near-misses that have occurred this year
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Experts are urging for a thorough review of aviation safety protocols. “The rise in incidents, while still statistically low, is deeply troubling,” said Dr. Laura Simmons, an aviation safety expert. “We need to take a hard look at aircraft maintenance, pilot training, and the integration of new technologies to ensure these tragedies don’t continue to unfold.”
There are concerns that issues such as aging aircraft, increased air traffic, and staffing shortages in the aviation industry could be contributing factors.
While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has pledged to enhance oversight and improve training programs, many are calling for a deeper investigation into whether these recent crashes signal a broader trend.
In response to the rising number of incidents, federal lawmakers have also called for increased funding for aviation safety and more stringent regulations. Some have even proposed changes to the certification processes for aircraft manufacturers and airlines, arguing that safety may be being compromised for the sake of cost-cutting measures.
As investigations continue into the causes of the crashes, many Americans are left wondering if recent events will prompt significant changes in how air travel is managed and whether more will be done to ensure the safety of passengers flying across the country. A Delta plane crashed and then flipped over in Toronto, Canada, on Monday. All 80 on board survived.