Taking a flight in an airplane, something frightening for many, has recently become even more unsettling for travelers. Headlines flash across screens sharing news of another plane crash, another near-miss and another moment of terror in the sky. With each report, many are questioning if plane crashes are happening more frequently or if there are suddenly more of them in the media.
David Enrich, with The New York Times, reported that airlines have struggled with understaffing, poor working conditions and outdated technology in recent years, all of which help prevent plane crashes.
“In 2023, close calls involving commercial airlines occurred, on average, multiple times each week,” Enrich said. “The vast majority of air traffic control towers in the United States — as many as 99 percent, by one measure — were understaffed in 2023.”
Controllers work long hours, dealing with bees and biting fleas while directing traffic. Air-conditioners go out, leaving the control rooms in extreme temperatures. These challenging working conditions add extra stress, which impacts their performance
Four major crashes have triggered the concern of American travelers.
First, on the night of Jan. 29, an American Airlines commercial plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter during takeoff in Texas, leading to multiple fatalities.
Then, on Jan. 31, a medical jet carrying five people burst into flames upon landing at Philadelphia International Airport, leaving no survivors.
Next, on Feb. 6, a passenger plane traveling over Alaska mysteriously disappeared from radar, sparking a search-and-rescue mission in harsh winter conditions. The next day the plane was found with no survivors.
Finally, on Feb. 17, A Delta Air Lines flight crashed, flipped and caught fire at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, causing minor injuries and significant flight disruptions.
Hannah Beth Chapman, a GCSU sophomore studying history, feels shaken by the news recently. Although she has never flown before, she would rather drive or take a train than an airplane right now.
“It has definitely made me more nervous to fly,” Chapman said. “It makes me question who is in charge of air traffic and why this keeps happening. I heard that Spirit Airlines is the only major airline without a crash.”
Students are divided in their thoughts between whether there are more crashes than recent years or if there are just more reports. Overall, most students are worried about flying right now.
“Seeing all the plane crashes has made me nervous because I feel like there is a higher possibility that I could be involved in a crash,” said Mason Pope, a sophomore at GCSU.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 63 plane crashes were reported in the U.S. during January 2025. So far, 37 Crashes have been reported for February 2025.
The National Transportation Safety Board provides details of plane crashes reported, dating back to 1982. January 2025 is reported to have the lowest amount of reported crashes ever. 80 crashes were reported in January 2024, showing a 21% decrease.
The media has created the illusion that planes are crashing more regularly, when there has been an overall decrease over the years. The spike in plane crashes in the media is likely due to the first couple of crashes being significant in deaths, sending a shock wave and fear through the U.S.
The reality is that flying remains one of the safest forms of transportation. The overall rate of plane crashes has decreased over the past few decades. But with more stories dominating the headlines, many travelers are left with the impression that the risks of flying are greater than they actually are.
Although crashes have not risen significantly, the alarming frequency of near-misses in recent years shows struggles within the air traffic control system. It has shown people the unmet needs of the air traffic control employees and the potential threat of a crash happening due to that. These issues show how important it is to improve working conditions and resources to keep air travel safe.