Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

Here's a look at recent airplane tragedies, mishaps and close calls

News

Here's a look at recent airplane tragedies, mishaps and close calls
News

News

Here's a look at recent airplane tragedies, mishaps and close calls

2025-03-15 01:09 Last Updated At:11:05

DENVER (AP) — An American Airlines plane that caught fire after landing in Denver, sending 12 people to the hospital, is the latest in a string of aviation incidents that are fueling safety concerns about flying.

Incidents have ranged from the midair collision that killed 67 people near Washington in January to an airliner clipping another in February while taxiing at the Seattle airport.

Federal officials have tried to reassure travelers that flying is the safest mode of transportation, and statistics support that. But the cascade of headlines about things going wrong on airplanes is drawing increasing attention.

Here is a look at some of the recent tragedies and mishaps:

— Two small planes collided in midair near an Arizona airport in mid-February, killing two people who were on one of the aircraft. Following the collision, one plane landed uneventfully but the other hit the ground near a runway and caught fire. The crash happened at Marana Regional Airport near Tucson.

— A small commuter plane crashed in western Alaska in early February, killing all 10 people on board. The crash was one of the deadliest in the state in 25 years. Radar data indicated that the plane rapidly lost elevation and speed. The Coast Guard was unaware of any distress signals from the aircraft.

— A medical transport plane that had just taken off plummeted into a Philadelphia neighborhood in late January, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board said its cockpit voice recorder likely hadn't been functioning for years. The crew made no distress calls to air traffic control.

— The collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter above the nation's capital killed everyone aboard both aircraft in late January. It was the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground.

— A jetliner operated by Jeju Air skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in late December in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people aboard were killed in one of that country’s worst aviation disasters.

— The American Airlines plane that caught fire at Denver International Airport on Thursday had been diverted there because the crew reported engine vibrations. While taxiing to the gate, an engine caught fire, prompting slides to be deployed so that passengers could evacuate quickly. The people taken to hospitals had minor injuries.

— A single-engine plane carrying five people crashed and burst into flames on Sunday in the parking lot of a retirement community near a small airport near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Everyone on board survived. Three people were taken to an area burn center.

— A Delta Air Lines jet flipped over while landing at Toronto’s Pearson Airport in February. All 80 people on board survived, but some people received minor injuries. Witnesses and video from the scene showed the plane landing so hard that its right wing was sheared off. Investigators said that when trying to determine the cause, they would consider the weather conditions and the possibility of human error.

— A FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at a busy New Jersey airport earlier this month after a bird strike caused an engine fire that could be seen in the morning sky. The plane landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. There were no reported injuries.

— Pilots on a Southwest Airlines flight that was about to land at Chicago’s Midway Airport were forced to climb back into the sky to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway in late February. Video showed the plane approaching the runway before it abruptly pulled up as a business jet taxied onto the runway without authorization, federal officials said.

— In early February, a Japan Airlines plane was taxiing on the tarmac of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport when it apparently clipped the tail of a parked Delta plane. There were no injuries reported.

— In early January, passengers panicked when a man aboard a JetBlue plane that was taxiing for takeoff from Boston's Logan International Airport opened an exit door over a wing, trigging an emergency slide to inflate. Other passengers quickly restrained the man and the plane didn't take off.

In this image taken from video provided by Justus Rainey, passengers move away from a plane as smoke surrounded the aircraft, in Denver, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Justus Rainey via AP)

In this image taken from video provided by Justus Rainey, passengers move away from a plane as smoke surrounded the aircraft, in Denver, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Justus Rainey via AP)

In this image taken from video provided by Justus Rainey, passengers move away from a plane as smoke surrounded the aircraft, in Denver, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Justus Rainey via AP)

In this image taken from video provided by Justus Rainey, passengers move away from a plane as smoke surrounded the aircraft, in Denver, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Justus Rainey via AP)

Next Article

PHOTO COLLECTION: Europe Canada

2025-03-18 16:49 Last Updated At:16:51

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney is greeted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he arrives in London on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney is greeted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he arrives in London on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney is greeted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he arrives in London on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney is greeted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he arrives in London on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives to10 Downing Street to meet Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Monday, March 17, 2025.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives to10 Downing Street to meet Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Monday, March 17, 2025.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves 10 Downing Street after a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Monday, March 17, 2025.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves 10 Downing Street after a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Monday, March 17, 2025.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, reflected in a mirror, speaks to media during a press conference at Canada House in London on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, reflected in a mirror, speaks to media during a press conference at Canada House in London on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

King Charles III, left, holds an audience with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, at Buckingham Palace in London, England, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP, Pool)

King Charles III, left, holds an audience with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, at Buckingham Palace in London, England, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP, Pool)

Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, right, and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, attend a meeting in 10 Downing Street, London, England, Monday March 17, 2025. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP, Pool)

Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, right, and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, attend a meeting in 10 Downing Street, London, England, Monday March 17, 2025. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP, Pool)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, tours Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, tours Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, is greeted by President of France Emmanuel Macron as he arrives at the Palais de l'Elysee in Paris, on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, is greeted by President of France Emmanuel Macron as he arrives at the Palais de l'Elysee in Paris, on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney attend a joint statement Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla; Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney attend a joint statement Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla; Pool)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana Fox Carney tour Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana Fox Carney tour Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney shake hands after a joint statement Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla; Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney shake hands after a joint statement Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla; Pool)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana Fox Carney tour Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana Fox Carney tour Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana Fox Carney tour Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana Fox Carney tour Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney attends a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla; Pool)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney attends a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla; Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, welcomes Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, welcomes Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana Fox Carney tour Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and wife Diana Fox Carney tour Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and President of France Emmanuel Macron shake hands after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l'Elysee in Paris, on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and President of France Emmanuel Macron shake hands after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l'Elysee in Paris, on Monday, March 17, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Recommended Articles
Hot · Posts