BUTUAN CITY – A series of deadly plane crashes in 2025 has already shaken the aviation industry, despite the fact that the year is still in its early stages.
According to reports from Bombo Radyo Butuan, at least 117 people have lost their lives in air accidents since January of this year, not including the deadliest aircraft accident from December 29 of last year – the Jeju air crash. As the industry struggled to cope with the devastating Washington D.C. crash that claimed 67 lives, a Delta Airlines flight went down at Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada, overturning on the runway in a fireball this week.
Then, just days later, two planes collided mid-air near Arizona’s Marana Regional Airport on Wednesday. The collision led to one of the planes bursting into flames upon impact, killing both individuals aboard.
The Philippines has not been exempt from this year’s aviation tragedies, as both a military plane and a private helicopter crashed in February.
Despite the increase in aviation accidents in the United States and other countries since the beginning of the year, air travel remains safe, according to Denmark Suede, Bombo International Correspondent in Australia and an aviation expert. He further stated that in the past year, only 318 people worldwide lost their lives due to commercial air travel, this represents only 1.77% when compared to the 18,000 fatalities from land travel—just in the United States.
Here are some of this year’s notable aviation mishaps:
February 19, 2025 – Arizona: Two small planes, a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II, collided midair near the airport.
While the Cessna was able to land safely, the Lancair crashed near another runway and caught fire, leading to the deaths of both occupants on board.
February 17, 2025 – Toronto, Canada: A Delta Air Lines Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The plane, coming from Minneapolis, flipped onto its back on the snowy runway, resulting in significant damage. However, all 80 passengers and crew members survived the incident, though 18 people were injured and taken to local hospitals.
Preliminary reports indicate that harsh weather conditions, including blowing snow and strong winds, may have contributed to the crash.
February 10, 2025 – Arizona: Just ten days prior to a fatal air accident at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona, Two small planes collided mid-air near the area, resulting in two fatalities. According to investigations, a Bombardier Learjet 35A veered off the runway after landing at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona and collided with a parked Gulfstream 200 business jet.
The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. local time, when the Learjet’s left main landing gear failed upon landing, leading to the collision. Tragically, the pilot of the Learjet, 78-year-old Joie Vitosky, was killed on impact. Two other occupants of the Learjet were seriously injured and sent to local trauma centers, while a fourth person refused treatment at the scene.
The airport was temporarily closed following the crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Luckily, Motley Crüe singer Vince Neil, the owner of the Learjet, was not on board at the time of the incident.
February 6, 2025 – Maguindanao del Sur Province: a Beechcraft King Air 300 aircraft contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense crashed into a rice field in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.
The plane was on a routine mission providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of the Philippine government.
Tragically, all four people on board—one U.S. Marine and three defense contractors—lost their lives. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command are conducting investigations to determine the cause of the crash.
February 6, 2025 – Alaska: On the same day as the Philippine Aviation suffered the loss of many lives due to its military aircraft mishap, a Bering Air Cessna 208B Grand Caravan crashed into sea ice approximately 34 miles southeast of Nome, Alaska. The aircraft, en route from Unalakleet to Nome, experienced a rapid loss in elevation and speed before disappearing from radar.
Tragically, all 10 people on board, including one pilot and nine passengers, lost their lives.
February 1, 2025 – Guimba, Nueva Ecija: The Philippine aviation industry also suffered from a tragic helicopter crash that occurred in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on the first day of February, claiming the life of its 25-year-old pilot Captain Julia Flori Po. The helicopter was identified as RPC 3424, it was en route from Manila to Baguio and had made a refueling stop in Binalonan, Pangasinan. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced engine difficulties and crashed into a swamp in Barangay San Miguel.
Despite rescue efforts by local residents and authorities, Captain Po was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. The incident has deeply affected the local community and the aviation industry, as Captain Po was a well-respected pilot and the daughter of Lionair Incorporated owner Archibald “Archie” Po.
January 31, 2025 – Philadelphia: On January 31, 2025, a Medevac Learjet 55 crashed in the Castor Gardens neighborhood of Philadelphia shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The jet, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport with a young patient and her mother on board. The crash resulted in the deaths of all six people on the plane and one person on the ground, while injuring 24 others. The aircraft struck multiple buildings and vehicles, causing fires and explosions.
January 29, 2025 – Washington, D.C.: A mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter resulted in the deaths of all 67 people on both aircraft. The bodies of those killed in the mid-air collision between the two aircraft have been recovered after the crash sent the aircraft into the Potomac River. The commercial flight, traveling from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three U.S. Army soldiers onboard. Emergency responders, including police divers and boats, quickly arrived at the scene.
The Philippine National Police was also saddened by the confirmation that one of the passengers on the commercial plane was a Filipino officer. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that a Filipino police official was among those killed in the collision between a commercial flight and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C. During a press conference, PNP Spokesperson Lt. Col. Randulf Tuano identified the victim as PNP Chief of the Supply Management Division, PCol. Pergentino Malabed, Jr. The PNP confirmed that he was on official travel for a pre-delivery inspection of 2,675 units of all-purpose vests during the accident.
January 29, 2025 –Caracas, Venezuela: Just as the same day as the Washington D.C. aircraft tragedy, a Venezuelan government plane crashed in Caracas, the capital and the largest City in the South American country, claiming the lives of three people. The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was carrying Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at the time. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff, with initial reports indicating that engine failure may have been the cause. The incident sparked concerns over the safety and maintenance of planes used by the Venezuelan government.
January 29, 2025 –South Sudan: On the same day as the previous two, a tragic crash occurred involving an Eagle Air Beechcraft 1900D aircraft in South Sudan. The plane was operated by Eagle Air on behalf of Light Air Services and it crashed shortly after taking off from GPOC Unity Airstrip in Rubkona County, Unity State.
The aircraft was en route to Juba International Airport when it went down, killing 20 of the 21 people on board. The sole survivor, South Sudanese engineer Emmanuel Maker, was critically injured and taken to a hospital in Bentiu.
Preliminary reports indicate that a wing may have snapped off, causing the aircraft to lose altitude. The passengers included 16 South Sudanese, two Chinese nationals, and one Indian national, all employees of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC).
January 7, 2025 – Rottnest Island, Western Australia: On January 7, 2025, a Cessna 208 Caravan 675 seaplane operated by Swan River Seaplanes crashed shortly after taking off from Thomson Bay on Rottnest Island, Western Australia.
The plane, en route to South Perth, went down into the Indian Ocean, killing three people—the pilot and two passengers. Three other passengers were injured, with varying degrees of severity, and were airlifted to hospitals in Perth. One passenger miraculously escaped without injury.
The accounts reported that the aircraft banked left immediately after takeoff, striking the water with its wingtip before nosediving. The wreckage was found at a depth of 8 meters, and rescue efforts were quickly launched by local authorities and civilian vessels.
