Since the start of the Trump administration, there have been no less than 154 aviation disasters, killing a total of 330 people. The American Airlines crash on January 29, 2025 at Reagan National Airport marked the first fatal commercial crash in the United States since 2009.
At the same time, the Trump administration has been undermining the staffing and capacity of federal agencies responsible for aviation safety, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The attacks are not limited to air traffic controllers—where there continues to be a significant, longstanding staffing shortage—but also include cuts to workers assisting with safety inspections, maintenance, and updating flight maps. The loss of these federal employees will have long running implications, making it “more difficult […] to do the actual safety oversight” according to David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Specialists Association union.
This tracker will be continuously updated to reflect any further cuts to these federal agencies, as well as any aviation disasters. Last updated: November 6, 2025.
Aviation Disasters During The Trump Administration:
Commercial Airlines
- January 29, 2025: A military helicopter collided with an American Eagle commercial flight at the Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, killing 67 people. (Source: NBC News)
- February 7, 2025: A Bering Air flight crashed near Nome, Alaska, killing 10 people. (Source: USA Today)
- February 17, 2025: A Delta Air Lines commercial flight from Minneapolis crashed and flipped over during its landing at Toronto Pearson Airport. There were no deaths, but at least 21 people were injured. (Source: New York Times)
- March 13, 2025: An American Airlines commercial flight made an emergency landing at Denver International Airport an hour after departing from Colorado Springs. The plane’s engine then caught fire on the tarmac, forcing passengers to evacuate. 12 people were taken to the hospital for minor injuries. (Source: ABC News)
- April 10, 2025: An American Airlines plane clipped the wing of a stationary plane on the tarmac at Reagan National Airport. At least 6 members of Congress were on board the plane that was clipped. The stationary plane was an American Eagle flight operated by Republic Airways, whose CEO Bryan Bedford was nominated to head the FAA. There were no injuries. (Source: NBC News)
- April 21: A Delta Airlines flight was evacuated on the tarmac of Orlando International Airport following an engine fire. The engine burst into flames shortly after the plane pulled out of the gates. All 282 passengers evacuated without injury. (Source: CNN)
- May 6, 2025: A United Airlines flight clipped the wing of another United Airlines plane as it left the gate at San Francisco International Airport. There were no injuries. (Source: ABC 7 News)
- October 2, 2025: Two Delta Air Lines jets collided at an intersection while taxiing at La Guardia Airport in New York. The wing of one plane was torn off, while the other sustained substantial damage to its nose and windshield. No major injuries were reported. (Source: CBS News)
- October 19, 2025: A United Airlines flight collided with an object, likely a weather balloon, while at 36,000 feet of elevation. The plane’s windshield was severely damaged and the flight was forced to make an emergency landing. No major injuries were reported. (Source: KUTV)
- November 5, 2025: A UPS cargo plane crashed during take off in Louisville, Kentucky after struggling to gain altitude when one of its three engines detached. The plane’s 38,000 gallons of jet fuel caused massive fires near the airport and severely damaged nearby businesses. The plane, which was 34 years old, underwent “heavy maintenance” in October. At least 12 people were killed and 15 were injured. Two people remain in critical condition from their burns. (Source: CNN)
Small Planes, Helicopters, and Military Vehicles
- February 2, 2025: A medical jet crashed in Philadelphia, killing 7 people. (Source: 6ABC Philadelphia)
- February 10, 2025: A private plane veered off the runway after landing and collided with a parked jet in Scottsdale, Arizona, killing one person. (Source: The Arizona Republic)
- February 10, 2025: A single engine plane crashed near the Doylestown Airport in Pennsylvania after a mechanical problem. The pilot was the only person on board and there were no injuries. (Soure: 6ABC Philadelphia)
- February 11, 2025: A single engine plane crashed in Hampton, New Hampshire. The pilot was the only person onboard and was not injured. (Source: NBC Boston)
- February 12, 2025: A US Navy jet crashed into the San Diego Harbor. The two pilots ejected and were not seriously injured. (Source: Los Angeles Times)
- February 14, 2025: A small plane crashed in Flagler County, Florida after leaving from the Sebastian Municipal Airport. The pilot was the sole passenger and died in the crash. (Source: Action News Jax)
- February 15, 2025: A single engine plane crashed shortly after take off from the Covington Municipal Airport in Georgia, killing both passengers. (Source: Fox 5 Atlanta)
- February 19, 2025: Two single engine planes collided at the Marana Regional Airport near Tuscon, Arizona. The pilot and a passenger of one of the planes were killed. (Source: CNN)
- February 20, 2025: A helicopter crashed in Booneville County, Idaho. The pilot was killed while the other passenger survived. (Source: USA Today)
- February 26, 2025: A single-engine plane crashed on a mountain in Vermont. All three people on board survived and were airlifted to the hospital with minor injuries. (Source: CBS News)
- February 28, 2025: A helicopter crashed near Uvalde, Texas, killing both the pilot and a passenger. (Source: Fox 7 Austin)
- March 1, 2025: A small plane crashed in Elbert County, Colorado, killing the pilot. (Source: KRDO 13 ABC)
- March 5, 2025: A small plane crashed near Whiskey Dick Mountain in Kittitas County, Washington, killing the pilot. (Source: Source One News)
- March 10, 2025: A medical helicopter crashed in Mississippi after a “flight control problem,” killing all three people on board. (Source: Associated Press)
- March 13, 2025: A Cessna Citation Jet crashed in Mesquite, Texas shortly after takeoff from Mesquite Metro Airport, killing the pilot. (Source: Dallas Morning News)
- March 14, 2025: A private plane crashed shortly after taking off from Pitt-Greenville Airport in North Carolina, killing at least two people. (Source: WRAL News)
- March 14, 2025: A helicopter crashed into the Mogadore Reservoir in Ohio after colliding with a high-tension wire, killing the pilot. (Source: 5 ABC Cleveland)
- March 16, 2025: A helicopter crashed in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, killing the pilot. (Source: Chatham Star-Tribune)
- March 19, 2025: A helicopter crashed after colliding with power lines near Dayton, Washington, killing the pilot. (Source: NBC Nonstop Local)
- March 20, 2025: A small plane crashed at the Barwick-Lafayette Airport in Georgia, killing both the pilot and a passenger. (Source: Local 3 News)
- March 22, 2025: An “experimental plane” crashed shortly after liftoff from Bob White Field Airport near Orlando, Florida. The pilot was killed in the crash. (Source: Fox 35 Orlando)
- March 29, 2025: A single-engine plane crashed into a house in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, causing both the plane and house to catch fire. The occupant of the house escaped unharmed but the pilot died in the crash. (Source: Minnesota Star-Tribune)
- March 30, 2025: A plane crashed in Franklin Township, New Jersey after the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control. The pilot died in the crash. (Source: Patch)
- April 1, 2025: A small plane crashed in Midvale, Ohio, killing the pilot. (Source: WJER Radio)
- April 2, 2025: A plane headed to the Houma-Terrebonne Regional Airport crashed near Raceland, Louisiana, killing both people on board. (Source: WDSU 6 News)
- April 8, 2025: A plane crashed in Haskell, Oklahoma, killing the pilot. (Source: Fox 23 News)
- April 10, 2025: A small plane crashed near Cape Fair, Missouri, killing one of two people on board. (Source: KFVS 12 News)
- April 10, 2025: A New York City tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River after appearing to lose its tail and main rotors, killing the pilot and a family of 5 from Spain. (Source: ABC News)
- April 11, 2025: A small plane crashed and burst into flames shortly after taking off from the Boca Raton Airport. The plane reported a rudder issue prior to crashing. The three people on board were killed. (Source: ABC News)
- April 11, 2025: A small plane crashed near Justin, Texas. The pilot was the only person on board and their health condition is unknown. (Source: NBC 5 DFW)
- April 12, 2025: A private twin-engine plane crashed in a field near Craryville, New York, killing all six people on board. (Source: BBC)
- April 15, 2025: Three people were killed after a single-engine plane crashed in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. (Source: Fox 4 News)
- April 18, 2025: A small plane crashed into a river near Fremont, Nebraska, killing all three passengers. (Source: ABC News)
- April 19, 2025: A single-engine plane crashed in Trilla, Illinois after departing from Menomonie, Wisconsin. All four passengers were killed. (Source: NBC News)
- April 24, 2025: A stunt pilot was killed in a crash at Langley Air Force Base days before he was scheduled to perform at the Air Power Over Hampton Roads air show. (Source: 3 WTKR)
- April 26, 2025: A small plane crashed near a rural airport in Sparta, Tennessee, killing 3. (Source: Fox News)
- April 28, 2025: A plane crashed in Nanwalek, Alaska, killing two and injuring a third. (Source: ABC News)
- April 29, 2025: A small plane crashed in Cottonwood, California, killing the pilot and injuring a passenger. (Source: ABC 7 KRCR)
- May 1, 2025: A small plane crashed in Grass Valley, California as it approached the Nevada County Airport, killing the pilot. (Source: CBS News)
- May 3, 2025: A single engine plane crashed in a Simi Valley, California neighborhood, damaging two homes in the area. Two people and a dog on board the plane were killed. (Source: ABC 7 News)
- May 4, 2025: A small plane crashed in a field in Ellsworth County, Kansas killing the pilot. (Source: 12 News Kansas)
- May 5, 2025: A private plane crashed in Ashland County, Ohio killing the pilot. (Source: Times-Gazette)
- May 9, 2025: The pilot of a small plane was killed in a crash near Big Creek, Idaho, after a likely engine failure on takeoff. (Source: Aviation Safety Network)
- May 10, 2025: A small plane crashed ten seconds after takeoff, killing the pilot and causing a fire near a neighboring home. (Source: Yahoo News)
- May 16, 2025: A small plane crashed in the woods in Alexandria County, New Jersey, killing the pilot. (Source: 6 ABC News)
- May 17, 2025: A plane crashed attempting to return to the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado after the plane door popped open, killing two. (Source: People.com)
- May 19, 2025: A helicopter crashed near the Prineville Airport in Oregon, killing one person and severely injuring another. (Source: KTVZ Local News)
- May 22, 2025: A private plane carrying six music industry professionals crashed into a neighborhood in San Diego, California after hitting a power line. All six people on board were killed. (Source: NBC 9 News)
- May 24, 2025: A small plane crashed in Hankamer, Texas, killing the pilot and his grandson. (Source: KHOU 11)
- May 25, 2025: A small plane crashed in Ashtabula County, Ohio, killing one and injuring another. (Source: WOIO News)
- May 26, 2025: A plane crashed in Oldham County, Texas after hitting a pole while descending to land. Two people were killed. (Source: KFDA 10)
- June 3, 2025: A small, vintage plane crashed while performing a go-around in Mocksville, North Carolina, killing two and injuring another. (Source: ABC 45 News)
- June 4, 2025: A helicopter crashed in Kuparuk, Alaska, killing two. (Source: US News)
- June 6, 2025: A crop duster crashed near the runway at Swan Lake Airfield in Arkansas, killing the pilot. (Source: ABC 7 News)
- June 7, 2025: A single engine plane crashed near Hinckley Airfield in Illinois, killing the pilot and injuring a 3 year old child. (Source: CBS News)
- June 8, 2025: A small private plane crashed off the coast of San Diego shortly after taking off from the San Diego International Airport, killing six people. (Source: Los Angeles Times)
- June 14, 2025: Two people were killed when a small plane crashed in the woods in Tabor City, North Carolina. (Source: WBTV News)
- June 18, 2025: A small plane crashed near Tuscon, Arizona during a training exercise, killing two. (Source: KOLD 13 News)
- June 19, 2025: The pilot and a passenger died in a small plane crash in Beverly, Massachusetts, shortly after taking off from Beverly Regional Airport. (Source: Boston 25 News)
- June 19, 2025: Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund died in a small plane crash near Billings, Montana. (Source: KTVQ 2 News)
- June 20, 2025: A small plane crashed into a boat dealership in Broadway, North Carolina during a training exercise, killing the pilot and a passenger. (Source: Fox 8 News)
- June 23, 2025: A small plane crashed in Montrose, Colorado after departing from the Montrose Regional Airport, killing two. (Source: ABC 8 News)
- June 25, 2025: The pilot of an instructional flight was killed in a crash in Dunlap, Tennessee. A passenger was also seriously injured in the crash. (Source: Local 3 News)
- June 26, 2025: A helicopter crashed in the mountains near Meeker, Colorado, killing the pilot. (Source: The Denver Post)
- June 28, 2025: Two people were killed in a plane crash in a corn field near Capron, Illinois. (Source: WIFR News)
- June 29, 2025: A plane carrying six people crashed shortly after takeoff near the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Ohio. All six people, including two crew members and four passengers, were killed. (Source: CBS News)
- June 29, 2025: A pilot was killed after crashing his experimental aircraft in Zeeland, Michigan. (Source: WOOD TV)
- July 1, 2025: An experimental aircraft crashed in Guthrie, Oklahoma, killing the pilot. (Source: Guthrie News Page)
- July 2, 2025: A small plane crashed in a field in Gallatin, Tennessee, killing the pilot. (Source: The Tennessean)
- July 2, 2025: A skydiving plane crashed near the Cross Keys Airport in Gloucester County, New Jersey, injuring 14 people on board. (Source: Fox 29 News)
- July 7, 2025: A family of four was killed in a small plane crash in Sanford, North Carolina. (Source Sandhills Sentinel)
- July 6, 2025: One person died in a small plane crash in northern New Mexico. (Source: KOAT 7 ABC)
- July 12, 2025: One person died in a small plane crash near Greeley, Colorado. (Source: Aviation Safety Network)
- July 12, 2025: A small plane crash near Hot Springs, South Dakota killed one person and seriously injured another. (Source: Chadron Radio)
- July 13, 2025: A small plane crashed near the Needles Airport in California, killing two. (Source: Fox 5 Vegas)
- July 16, 2025: A small plane crashed in Olympic National Park near Quinault, Washington, killing one and injuring two people. (Source: ABC News)
- July 16, 2025: A plane belonging to the CEO of Scripps Research Institute went missing and presumably crashed in the Pacific Ocean after flying nearly 500 miles off the coast of San Diego. The pilot was cleared for landing at San Diego Montgomery-Gibbs Airport before becoming unresponsive and flying in a straight line west over the ocean. The pilot was the sole occupant and is presumed dead. (Source: NBC 7 San Diego)
- July 17, 2025: A small plane crashed after takeoff from Yellowstone Airport in Montana, killing three. (Source: Aviation Safety Network)
- July 19, 2025: A small plane crashed into a farm field near Meadow Grove, Nebraska, killing one. (Source: KTIV News)
- July 19, 2025: Two small planes collided at Hollister Municipal Airport in California, significantly damaging one of the planes and injuring one pilot. (Source: KSBW Action News)
- July 20, 2025: One person died in a small plane crash in a field near Lancaster Airport in Pennsylvania. (Source: WGAL News 8)
- July 21, 2025: A small plane crashed en route to Lowell City Airport in Michigan, killing two. (Source: WOOD TV)
- July 21, 2025: A jet fighter training plane crashed near Granite Falls Municipal Airport in Minnesota after experiencing engine issues and subsequently striking power lines. One person was killed and another seriously injured. (Source: Minnesota Star Tribune)
- July 22, 2025: A crop dusting plane in Ogle County, Illinois crashed after flying erratically and hitting multiple transmission lines, killing the pilot. (Source: WIFR News)
- July 23, 2025: A helicopter crop dusting a sugar cane field in Thibodaux, Louisiana crashed after striking a power line, killing the pilot. (Source: WDSU News)
- July 25, 2025: A small plane crashed at the Dillingham Airport in Alaska, killing the pilot. (Source: Alaska News Source)
- July 26, 2025: A private plane crashed off an airstrip near West Glacier, Montana, killing two. (Source: Flathead Beacon)
- July 26, 2025: A private plane crashed off the coast of Pacific Grove, California, killing all three occupants. (Source: KSBW Action News)
- July 27, 2025: A small plane crashed into a residents yard in Nampa, Idaho, killing three people. (Source: KTVB 7)
- July 28, 2025: A small plane crashed near New Underwood, South Dakota, killing one and seriously injuring another. (Source KBHB Radio)
- July 30, 2025: A small plane crashed near the Indy South Greenwood Airport in Indiana, killing one. The pilot was attempting to be the first Vietnemese woman to complete a solo flight around the world. (Source: Indy Star)
- July 30, 2025: A small plane crashed at the Block Island State Airport in Rhode Island, killing one and injuring two. (Source: WJAR 10)
- August 1, 2025: A small plane crashed in Rochester, New York after experiencing engine surges, killing one and seriously injuring another. (Source: Rochester First)
- August 1, 2025: A glider plane crashed in Morgan County, Utah, causing a wildfire and killing the pilot. (Source: Fox 13 News)
- August 1, 2025: A small plane crashed into the woods near Hornel, New York, killing one. (Source: The Evening Tribune)
- August 5, 2025: A medical transport plane crashed in Chinle, Arizona, killing four people. (Source: AZ Central)
- August 7, 2025: A helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River after colliding with a power line in Alton, Illinois, killing two. (Source: ABC 7 Chicago)
- August 7, 2025: A private plane crashed into a cornfield in Augusta, Arkansas, killing the pilot and injuring his grandson. (Source: ABC 7 News)
- August 11, 2025: A single engine plane crashed into a field in Monticello, Iowa, killing one. (Source: Des Moines Register)
- August 11, 2025: A small plane lost control on the runway of Kalispell City Airport and caught fire after crashing into several stationary planes. The pilot and three passengers escaped without major injuries. (Source: NBC Montana)
- August 12, 2025: A single prop plane crashed off the runway of Ryan Field in West Glacier, Montana, killing one. (Source: KRTV 3)
- August 12, 2025: A small plane was reported missing and later discovered crashed in a rural area near Goodyear, Arizona, with the pilot dead. (Source: KTAR News)
- August 13, 2025: A single engine plane crashed in mountainous terrain near Des Moines, New Mexico, killing two. (Source: Yahoo News)
- August 14, 2025: A small plane crashed near Hulen, Oklahoma, killing one. (Source: KWSO News)
- August 17, 2025: A small plane crashed into the ocean shortly after taking off from Shelter Cove, California, killing the pilot and severely injuring a passenger. (Source: KRCR News)
- August 22, 2025: A 74-year-old Italian pilot was killed in a small plane crash during an attempted landing at Bangor International Airport in Maine. (Source: WABI News)
- August 23, 2025: The pilot of a small plane and a dog were killed in a crash near Milledgeville, Georgia after clipping a pole before hitting the ground. (Source: WMAZ News)
- August 25, 2025: A single engine plane crashed in Concordia, Kansas possibly due to a mechanical issue, killing the pilot. (Source: KMBC News)
- August 26, 2025: A small plane crashed near a highway in Los Banos, California, killing one. (Source: CBS News)
- August 27, 2025: A small plane crashed in a soybean field near Mosby, Missouri, killing a husband and wife. (Source: Fox 4 KC)
- August 27, 2025: Two people were killed in a small plane crash near Kearney, Nebraska after losing contact with air traffic control at Kearney Regional Airport. (Source: Nebraska Public Radio)
- August 31, 2025: Two small planes collided in mid-air while attempting to land at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport in Colorado. One person was killed, another was hospitalized, and two people had minor injuries. (Source: ABC 7 Denver)
- August 31, 2025: A small plane crashed near Alta Ski Area in Utah, killing one person and critically injuring another. (Source: Fox 13 Salt Lake City)
- September 1, 2025: A single engine plane crashed in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming, killing a 13-year-old girl and seriously injuring an 11-year-old boy and his parents. (Source: Sheridan Media)
- September 4, 2025: A small plane crashed near Cambridge Municipal Airport in Minnesota, killing one. (Source: CBS News)
- September 4, 2025: One person died in a small plane crash near Fryeburg, Maine. (Source: WMTW 8 News)
- September 4, 2025: A small plane crashed into an industrial area in Denver, Colorado, killing two and causing a fire in a nearby building. (Source: Colorado Public Radio)
- September 6, 2025: A helicopter crashed near Airlake Airport in Minnesota, killing two. (Source: People)
- September 11, 2025: A helicopter crashed near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, killing two. (Source: CBS News)
- September 13, 2025: One person was killed in a small plane crash in the mountains near San Jose, California. (Source: ABC 7 News)
- September 16, 2025: A plane experienced engine failure and crashed in Moriarty, New Mexico. One person was killed and another was transported to the hospital. (Source: KOAT News)
- September 18, 2025: A small plane piloted by country music singer Brett James crashed in Franklin, North Carolina, killing all three occupants. (Source: CNN)
- September 19, 2025: An amateur-built plane crashed near Ferndale Airport in Bigfork, Montana, killing one. (Source: Flathead Beacon)
- September 20, 2025: Two people were killed in a small plane crash near Louise, Texas. (Source: Fox 26 Houston)
- September 26, 2025: One person was killed after a single engine plane lost control and crashed near the Goheen Airport in Battle Ground, Washington. (Source: KOIN News)
- September 27, 2025: A plane crashed as it took off from the Kobelt Airport in Wallkill, New York, killing one. (Source: Pougheepsie Journal)
- September 28, 2025: A plane crashed and killed two people at David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport in Houston, Texas after having mechanical issues shortly after takeoff. (Source: Fox 26 Houston)
- October 5, 2025: A twin-engine plane crashed near Williston Regional Airport in Florida, killing all three people onboard. (Source: Fox 35 News)
- October 6, 2025: A medical helicopter crashed onto a freeway in Sacramento, California, killing a nurse and injuring two others. (Source: Sacramento Bee)
- October 6, 2025: A plane crashed into a marshy area and killed three people near Parkin, Arkansas. (Source: ABC 7 News)
- October 7, 2025: A pilot died in a single-engine plane crash near Beeville, Texas. (Source: South Texas News)
- October 11, 2025: A helicopter crashed near a parking lot in Huntington Beach, California, injuring five people. (Source: CBS News)
- October 12, 2025: Two people died in a plane crash near Hicks Airfield in Fort Worth, Texas. (Source: CBS News)
- October 13, 2025: Two people were killed in a single engine plane crash into a highway near Dartmouth, Massachusetts. (Source: CBS News)
- October 15, 2025: A small Canadian-registered plane crashed near Elko, Nevada. The number of passengers has not been reported, but there were no survivors. (Source: Channel 2 Now)
- October 16, 2025: A small plane crashed in the woods of Bath Township, Michigan, killing three. (Source: New York Times)
- October 17, 2025: A single passenger plane crashed at the Avery County Airport in North Carolina, killing the pilot. (Source: QC News)
- October 17, 2025: A pilot and his two daughters were killed in a twin engine plane crash in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. (Source: AV Web)
- October 19, 2025: Two people were killed in a small plane crash at the Erie Municipal Airport in Colorado. (Source: Denver Post)
- October 21, 2025: A small, twin-engine plane crashed in a field in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, killing three. (Source: Fox 26 Houston)
- October 21, 2025: A single engine plane crashed at Ruston Regional Airport in Louisiana, killing the pilot. (Source: KNOE News)
- October 22, 2025: A helicopter crashed in Ekalaka, Montana, killing four family members of an Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate. (Source: CNN)
- October 23, 2025: An unmanned eVTOL prototype built by start-up AIR crashed near Indiantown, Florida. In September, the FAA granted the prototype an experimental airworthiness certificate. No injuries were reported. (Source: Aviation International News)
- October 24, 2025: A helicopter crashed in Lincoln, Montana after hitting trees near the airport. The pilot was killed. (Source: KRTV Great Falls)
- October 31, 2025: One person was killed and another hospitalized in a small plane crash in Saratoga, New York. (Source: WRGB Albany)
- November 4, 2025: A small plane crashed in Anderson, Indiana, killing the pilot. (Source: WTHR News)
Near Misses, Miscellaneous
- February 25, 2025: An American Airlines flight diverted from its landing at Reagan National Airport in DC after air traffic controllers told the pilot to make another go-around to avoid colliding with a departing plane. (Source: New York Times)
- February 25, 2025: A Southwest Airlines flight diverted its landing to avoid colliding with a private jet on the runway after the jet pilot seemingly failed to follow instructions from air traffic controllers. (Source: CNN)
- March 28, 2025: A Delta flight departing from Reagan National Airport in DC received a collision warning alert after being cleared for takeoff. The flight was departing as a military jet was incoming at the same time, passing roughly 500 feet below the commercial airline. (Source: CNN)
- May 1, 2025: A military helicopter forced two commercial flights to abort landings and perform go-arounds at Reagan National Airport. The helicopter reportedly “took a scenic route around the Pentagon” in violation of safety standards according to FAA assistant administrator Chris Senn. (Source: NPR)
- May 13, 2025: Two commercial airplanes “nearly collided” after departing from San Francisco International Airport. A United Airlines flight flew into the path of a SkyWest flight without permission, causing the planes to come within just 280 feet of vertical distance. (Source: CBS News)
- July 2, 2025: A wing flap of Delta Airlines flight fell from the air and landed in a driveway near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The plane, a Boeing 737-900, was missing a wing flap when it landed at the Raleigh airport. No injuries were reported. (Source: The Hill)
- July 18, 2025: A SkyWest Airlines flight made an “aggressive maneuver” as it approached Minot International Airport to avoid a US Air Force B-52 performing a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair. According to the airline pilot, neither the Air Force base nor the air traffic control tower warned him of the B-52, causing the pilot to be caught by surprise when he spotted the bomber. The air traffic control tower at Minot is operated by contractors rather than FAA employees. (Source: NBC News)
- July 25, 2025: Shortly after taking off from Hollywood Burbank Airport, a Southwest Airlines flight was forced to descend 500 feet to avoid colliding with a decommissioned fighter jet heading towards Point Mugu Naval Air Station. One person was taken to the hospital upon landing and a flight attendant was treated for minor injuries. (Source: NPR)
- July 26, 2025: The brake system of an American Airlines flight caught fire on the runway of Denver International Airport, forcing passengers to exit via emergency slides. One person was taken to the hospital for a minor injury and another five people were treated for minor injuries at the airport. (Source: New York Times)
- August 23, 2025: An American Airlines flight bound for Phoenix was forced to land at Dulles Airport in Virginia after a passenger’s device caught fire and caused smoke in the plane. (Source: ABC News)
- September 17, 2025: A Spirit Airlines flight was warned by air traffic controllers to “pay attention” after the aircraft flew too close to Air Force One while President Trump was onboard. While the Spirit flight was 8 miles away at the time, a distance not considered to be unsafe by the FAA, the air traffic controllers urged the pilot to “Pay attention. Get off the iPad” and “turn 20 degrees right immediately.” (Source: BBC)
- October 2, 2025: Two Amazon delivery drones collided with a construction crane in Tolleson, Arizona. No injuries were reported. (Source: CNBC)
Trump Administration Actions Regarding Air Safety Agencies:
- January 20, 2025: FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker resigned under pressure from Elon Musk, leaving the administration without a leader until January 30, 2025. (Source: The Daily Beast)
- January 20, 2025: Trump issued an executive order instituting a hiring freeze for the federal government. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and lawmakers were reportedly not sure whether the freeze applied to air traffic controllers. (Source: Yahoo News)
- January 28, 2025: All 400 staffers of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) received the “Fork in the Road” email offering deferred resignation buyouts. The offers to NTSB staff were later rescinded and the agency was deemed exempt from the program. (Source: CNN)
- January 28, 2025: FAA employees, including air traffic controllers received the email offering deferred resignation. The Office of Personnel Management later said air traffic controllers were not eligible for the program. (Source: Associated Press)
- January 30, 2025: Trump named Chris Rocheleau acting administrator following the Reagan National Airport crash. (Source: Axios)
- February 1, 2025: The NTSB announced the agency would cease updating reporters via email regarding the Washington, DC and Philadelphia crashes. The NTSB stated it would provide updates via Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, instead. (Source: The Desk)
- February 2, 2025: Following the Reagan National Airport crash, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that controllers were exempt from the hiring freeze. (Source: Yahoo News)
- February 14, 2025: Several hundred probationary FAA employees were fired. Among the terminated employees were workers who maintain air traffic control infrastructure and lawyers at the Aviation Litigation Division. The lawyers ensure that flight schools are adequately training pilots and can suspend licenses of pilots who have DUIs or engage in other reckless behavior. (Sources: CNN, Rolling Stone)
- February 16, 2025: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that people from Elon Musk’s SpaceX would visit Virginia’s air traffic control command center and advise on how to make a “modern and safer” system. (Source: X, formerly Twitter, @SecDuffy)
- February 25, 2025: The FAA installed Starlink equipment, a company owned by Elon Musk, and began testing use of Starlink terminals in FAA telecommunications at facilities in Atlantic City and Alaska. (Source: The Associated Press)
- February 27, 2025: Elon Musk tweeted requested that retired controllers consider returning to work. Federal law requires air traffic controllers to retire at age 56, or 61 at the latest with an exemption from the Transportation Secretary, and pass annual vision and hearing tests. The air traffic controllers’ union said only dozens of controllers will reach retirement age over the next year, while the shortage is in the thousands. (Sources: Axios)
- February 27, 2025: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan to “supercharge” hiring of air traffic controllers. The plan claims to increase starting salaries and “raise the bar on safety,” but will also “streamline” hiring by changing the FAA hiring process from an 8-step process to a 5-step process. The reduction in hiring phases will reduce the process by four months. (Source: Department of Transportation)
- March 6, 2025: According to reporting from the New York Times, Elon Musk and Secretary Duffy clashed in a cabinet meeting over cuts to the FAA. Secretary Duffy accused Musk and DOGE of attempting to fire air traffic controllers. Trump reportedly told Duffy to hire “geniuses” from M.I.T as air traffic controllers. (Source: New York Times)
- March 6, 2025: The FAA was forced to halt air traffic in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando following the explosion of a SpaceX rocket. SpaceX, which is owned by Elon Musk, was previously ordered by the FAA to launch a mishap investigation following a similar incident in January that resulted in debris raining on populated areas of Turks and Caicos. The investigation, which is still underway, aimed to “determine the root cause of the event, and identify corrective actions to avoid it from happening again.” The FAA allowed SpaceX to go ahead with its March launch despite the ongoing investigation. (Source: CNN)
- March 7, 2025: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of the collective bargaining agreement with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) transportation security officers. The agreement covered roughly 42,000 workers and included a pay raise. (Source: Federal News Network)
- March 11, 2025: Secretary Duffy announced the FAA is conducting an ongoing review of the use of “AI and advanced analytical tools” at airports to improve safety. (Source: Department of Transportation)
- March 12, 2025: The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) issued a warning to its members, which includes 2,000 FAA employees, that the water at the FAA headquarters was not safe for drinking due to lead contamination. (Source: Federal News Network)
- March 17, 2025: A court ordered the FAA to reinstate with back pay 132 of the probationary employees who were terminated on February 14th. In a statement confirming the reinstatement, David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, criticized the attacks on the FAA saying, “haphazardly eliminating positions and encouraging resignations creates a demoralizing effect on the workforce.” (Source: Professional Aviation Safety Specialists Union)
- March 17, 2025: President Trump nominated Bryan Bedford, CEO of Republic Airways, to head the FAA. In 2022, Bedford led Republic in an unsuccessful effort to get an exemption from an FAA rule that mandates pilots have 1,500 hours of flight time to become commercial airline pilots. Republic sought to have their pilots fly with about half the mandated hours. (Source: Politico)
- March 28, 2025: Acting FAA administrator Chris Rocheleau and NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy testified before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation. Rocheleau said the FAA is using AI to evaluate flight data and detect safety issues. Homendy said that the NTSB currently has 427 employees, but needs 485-500 workers to be fully staffed. (Source: ABC News)
- March 31, 2025: United Airlines received approval from the FAA to operate flights fitted with Starlink to provide internet service. (Source: Gizmodo)
- April 2025: The Department of Transportation renewed its offers of deferred resignations. Around 4,700 workers accepted the offer. Though it is unclear how many were employees of the FAA, roughly 80% of DOT workers are housed within the FAA. Approximately 700 FAA employees accepted the initial defer resignation offer in February. (Source: Politico)
- April 9, 2025: Tim Arel, the FAA’s head of Air Traffic Organization retired early, accepting the deferred resignation buyout. (Source: CBS News)
- April 24, 2025: Kelvin Coleman, the FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, accepted the deferred resignation offer. The FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation branch oversees commercial space launches and reentry licenses, including launches operated by SpaceX. (Source: Reuters)
- May 5, 2025: Newark Liberty International Airport experienced extensive delays and cancellations for over a week due to technical disruptions and staffing shortages. On April 28, air traffic controllers experienced a radar and communications blackout wherein the employees were unable to communicate or see aircrafts for 60-90 seconds. Several controllers took medical leave to process the traumatic event. (Source: ABC News)
- May 6, 2025: The FAA approved a SpaceX proposal to increase its annual rate of launches from Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX will now be permitted to conduct 25 launches annually, a dramatic increase from its previous 5 launch limit. (Source: Yahoo News)
- May 9, 2025: Newark Liberty International Airport experienced a second 90-second outage of radar and communications overnight. (Source: CNBC)
- May 15, 2025: Air Traffic Control at Denver International Airport lost radio communications with pilots for roughly two minutes after both the main and back up frequencies went down. According to reporting from Denver7 Investigates, 20 pilots could not communicate with air traffic controllers during the outage. (Source: NPR)
- May 15, 2025: According to reporting from Government Executive, the FAA told employees that a total of 2,700 workers at the agency had accepted deferred resignation offers. (Source: Government Executive)
- May 15, 2025: Government Executive reported that FAA Acting Administrator Rocheleau told employees that the FAA “will be leaner in a year” and there may be additional layoffs. (Source: Government Executive)
- May 20, 2025: The FAA issued an interim order to limit the amount of arrivals and departures at Newark Liberty International Airport. There will be a cap of 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour until June 15, 2025 when runway construction is completed, at which point the limit will be raised to 34 arrivals and departures. The 28 arrival and departure limit will remain for Saturdays until the end of the year. (Source: FAA Newsroom)
- May 21, 2025: The FAA issued a ground delay at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport due to a staffing issue, causing delays for over 100 flights. Air traffic control towers at the airport are supposed to have 14 controllers, but reportedly only had 8-10 working at the time of the FAA order. (Source: Austin American-Statesman)
- May 29, 2025: The FAA renewed Boeing’s Organization Designation Authorization, which allows the company to conduct its own inspections and issue certifications. Boeing’s self-auditing has been under scrutiny after numerous safety concerns, including a plane door opening midflight due to missing bolts and whistleblower complaints of prioritizing speed over quality. (Source: The Hill)
- June 6, 2025: Trump signed an executive order to reverse the ban on civilian supersonic flights and instructed the FAA to establish standards to certify supersonic aircraft. Supersonic flights create a thunderous noise from its sonic boom, consume more fuel than traditional aircraft, and have emissions that remain for 20 times longer because the flights fly at higher altitudes. (Source: Gizmodo)
- June 16, 2025: Bryan Bedford, Trump’s pick to lead the FAA, lied for over a decade about having a certification to fly commercial aircraft. Bedford’s company biography listed him as a certified commercial airline pilot since 2010 and he implied as much during a talk at Liberty University in 2019. When pressed by Politico, the Department of Transportation admitted that Bedford did not have his certification, but had passed the written and oral exams to become a commercial pilot. (Source: Politico)
- June 20, 2025: Air traffic controllers at a radar center in Jacksonville, Florida experienced a brief radar outage after a contractor conducting a repair cut a fiber optic line. Service was not disrupted as the backup system kicked in. (Source: Associated Press)
- June 28, 2025: The FAA approved an American Airlines request to operate its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with a reduced staff, lowering its cabin crew members to seven from eight. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants criticized the approval as creating “unrealistic and unsafe” expectations for flight attendants. (Source: Simple Flying)
- July 9, 2025: The Senate voted to confirm Bryan Bedford as FAA administrator. Senator Jeanne Shaheen was the lone Democrat to vote in favor of his nomination. (Source: New York Times)
- July 16, 2025: The FAA modified a rule to reduce the mandatory rest period for air traffic controllers before a midnight shift. The new rule reduces the off-duty period from 12 to 10 hours and is set to take effect in 2026. (Source: Flying Mag)
- July 18, 2025: The FAA finalized its Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule. The rule change loosened regulations for sport pilots, allowing them to fly at night, operate helicopters, and conduct commercial activities including aerial photography and agricultural observation. (Source: General Aviation News)
- July 22, 2025: The FAA announced a one-year delay in implementation of a rule that would require a secondary cockpit barrier in new airliners. Airlines for America, the trade association representing airline industry, and airliner manufacturers Boeing and Airbus had pushed for a two-year delay. The Air Line Pilots Association opposed the delay, with President Jason Ambrosi saying the decision was “deeply disappointing and undermines our nation’s aviation security.” (Sources: Reuters, Simple Flying)
- August 4, 2025: During investigative hearings regarding January’s deadly mid-air collision that killed 67 people at Reagan National Airport, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy accused the FAA of stonewalling the Board’s investigation into the crash. Homendy and fellow Board member J. Todd Inman said the FAA spent months withholding documents regarding air traffic tower staffing, failed to share critical data on flight tracking technology, and created a culture that prevented employees from raising safety concerns due to threats of retaliation. (Source: New York Times)
- August 7, 2025: The FAA proposed a new rule to remove restrictions on drone operations. The rule would allow drones to be flown beyond an operator’s line of sight, up to 400 feet elevation, and carry a maximum of 1,320 pounds of cargo. The new rule would allow for increased commercial drone operations such as expanded drone delivery operations by companies like Amazon and Walmart. (Source: ABC News)
- August 9, 2025: The FAA proposed an extension to the cuts to air traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport amid continuing air traffic controller shortages and congestion issues. Originally reduced through the end of 2025, the FAA is considering extending the limitations to October 2026. (Source: NBC News)
- August 21, 2025: The FAA rejected a request from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to reclassify as a Class B airspace. Class B airspaces have stricter safety regulations, give air traffic controllers greater authority, and require increased pay rate for controllers and trainees. (Source: KUT News)
- August 26, 2025: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told employees that the FAA would relocate from its headquarters near the National Mall to the Department of Transportation headquarters in the Navy Yard of D.C. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represents FAA employees, filed a complaint with the Federal Labor Relations Authority as they were not given advanced notice of the change. (Sources: Politico, Government Executive)
- August 29, 2025: A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the FAA is critically understaffed with meteorologists. The FAA has only 69 meteorologists, well below the 90 that FAA and the National Weather Service agreed to in 2016. The report also found that the remaining meteorologists are suffering from “burnout, fatigue, and low morale.” The Department of Transportation said it expects to further reduce the number of aviation meteorologists at the FAA to 64 “due to factors including advances in technology.” (Source: New York Times)
- September 4, 2025: The FAA announced plans to propose changes to the certification process for new commercial airlines. Reuters reported that the agency characterized the move as deregulatory, saying it would reduce the number of “exemptions, special conditions, and equivalent level of safety findings required during the certification process.” (Source: Reuters)
- September 12, 2025: The Trump administration announced a new pilot program that will allow companies operating electric air taxis to conduct test flights, including those carrying cargo or passengers, before the vehicles are certified by the FAA. (Source: New York Times)
- September 13, 2025: A Wall Street Journal analysis found that incidents of exposure to toxic fumes on aircraft have “soared in recent years.” In extreme cases, pilots, cabin crew, passengers, and maintenance workers exposed to these fumes have suffered traumatic brain injuries, nervous system damage, chronic headaches, severe tremors, and more. The Journal determined there were 108 fume events per million departures reported to the FAA in 2024, over three times the FAA’s annual estimate of 33 per million. Internal data from the International Air Transport Association, an industry trade group, estimates that the real number of incidents might even be as high as 800 per million. According to the Journal’s analysis, Airbus aircraft account for a large percentage of the increased frequency, likely as a result of Airbus loosening maintenance rules in 2016 after airlines “complained that fume events were keeping aircraft out of service for up to days at a time.” (Source: Wall Street Journal)
- September 17, 2025: The Air Current reported that an internal FAA document estimated that Sec. Duffy’s effort to move FAA headquarters into the Department of Transportation headquarters could cost over $250 million. (Source: The Air Current)
- September 17, 2025: An FAA review of the January mid-air collision that killed 67 people found that Reagan National Airport was in “non-compliance” with the required distance limitations between aircraft landings. As a result, the air traffic controller on duty managed 29 separate aircraft in the 18 minutes leading up to the crash. Witness statements from air traffic supervisors revealed that American Airlines exploited lax FAA rules to schedule dozens of flights in 30 minute blocks, increasing the strain on air traffic controllers. (Source: Washington Post)
- September 29, 2025: The FAA granted Boeing the authority to perform final safety checks on its 737 MAX aircraft. The agency also raised production caps on the 737 MAX from 38 to 42 aircraft per month. The FAA previously rescinded Boeing’s safety check authority and instituted the production cap in response to two 737 MAX jets crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people and an incident in which an emergency exit panel flew off midflight in 2024. (Sources: Wall Street Journal, Associated Press)
- October 6, 2025: Airports across the country experienced travel delays due to a shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the government shutdown. (Source: New York Times)
- October 9, 2025: Secretary Duffy told Fox Business that air traffic controllers who called out sick during the shutdown could be fired and called them “problem children.” (Source: Politico)
- October 29, 2025: The NTSB issued an “urgent recommendation” regarding Bombardier Learjet airplanes. The Board urged the FAA to require Learjet operators to “comply with manufacturer service bulletins on landing gear” and told Bombardier to “revise procedures to include a post-maintenance visual check” of landing gear. Urgent recommendations “address immediate, critical issues that threaten lives of property.” The recommendation comes after February’s deadly crash of a Learjet on the runway in Scottsdale, Arizona. The NTSB said the FAA erred by not requiring inspections of Learjet landing gear in the aftermath of the crash. (Sources: NTSB, ABC News)
- November 3, 2025: Flight delays and staffing shortages related to the government shutdown peaked over the weekend, with 98 instances of impacted operations across the country from Friday to Sunday. (Source: CNN)
- November 5, 2025: Secretary Duffy announced that the FAA would cut 10% of traffic at 40 airports across the country beginning on Friday, citing pressure on air traffic controllers due to the shutdown. A day prior, Duffy blamed Democrats for the shutdown, claiming it would cause “mass chaos” if it continues for another week. (Sources: New York Times, Associated Press)
Key Trump Administration Officials in Aviation Safety
- Elon Musk, former head of the Department of Government Efficiency, CEO of SpaceX
- Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation
- Bryan Bedford, FAA administrator
- Chris Rocheleau, former acting FAA administrator
- Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
- Troy Meink, Secretary of the Air Force
- Gary Ashworth, former acting Secretary of the Air Force
- Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
Image Credit: “DCA Control Tower & Terminal C DCA 07 2010 9841” by Mariordo Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.