Are aviation incidents on the rise? By Aadit Ramadas

From unexpected mid-air drops to emergency landings, 2025 has already seen its fair share of aviation incidents. While commercial aviation remains one of the safest methods of transportation, a recent increase in high-profile incidents has prompted the question: Is flying becoming riskier, or are we just more aware of what happens in the skies?

Earlier this year, a LATAM flight experienced a sharp drop in flight after an instrument failure, which led to the deployment of cabin oxygen masks and injured passengers. Soon after, a United Airlines 737 Max lost fuselage paneling mid-flight. More recently, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed into a medical residence building immediately after takeoff, marking the first fatal incident for this aircraft. While these incidents may seem isolated, they have provoked the argument about whether aviation safety is beginning to decline.

However, it is important to consider these events in the context of increased global aviation traffic. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), global air traffic in 2024 had exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with revenue passenger kilometers rising to 104% of 2019 levels. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported that flight activity continues to rise globally, with demand. More traffic means more takeoffs, more landings, and more room for mistakes or accidents to occur. Even if the all-accident rate (accidents per flight) provided by IATA remains similar, the number of reported accidents is increasing, shaping public perception.

The aviation industry is also under pressure from personnel fatigue. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently faces a deficit of over 3,500 air traffic controllers, as confirmed by a Reuters report in June 2025. This is a 13% decline since 2013. As of late 2023, more than half of the US Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities were understaffed; this increased reliance on the few workers available led to a decreased margin for error for airlines and airports.

While cases of system failures and improper maintenance still occur, they remain relatively rare. Even modern aircraft like the Boeing 787 involved in the Air India 171 incident are not completely exempt from scrutiny. However, in this instance, thorough investigative efforts are underway. The FAA is actively supporting India’s investigative team to examine technical aspects, including potential power system issues and maintenance practices, with the goal of identifying the root causes and preventing similar incidents in the future.

These recent accidents have been used as fuel for the narrative of declining aviation safety on social media as well. According to Blackbird.ai, in 2024, there was a 64% increase in fear-based narratives connecting to air travel through viral videos and increased coverage. What may have been swept under the rug in the past, now appears faster than ever on passenger feeds and news. Every cabin shake, oxygen mask deployment or diverted landing shapes the opinion that flight safety is decreasing, even if the numbers say otherwise. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy recently acknowledged this concern on Meet the Press, stating that while overall incident rates remain stable, “the visibility and complexity of those that have occurred in 2025 warrant serious attention”.

As the aviation industry transitions to a more automated, digitized, and sustainable future, regulators and engineers are faced with having to balance both progress and precision. Despite the noise and doubts, the skies remain statistically safe to navigate. But in a society where news can spread across the world instantaneously, every emergency landing is a headline, and every slight cabin jolt is a viral clip. The challenges ahead for these global aviation companies isn’t solely to increase safety: it’s to also increase public trust and confidence in these complex systems and technologies that keep us in the skies.

At EcoAero, we believe that true aviation sustainability lies not only in reducing carbon emissions, but also reinforcing the safety and reliability of every flight that takes off. As the industry evolves, so too must our confidence in the systems that support it. The rare but impactful aviation accidents of 2025 thus far remind us that progress must be paired with accountability, transparency and public engagement. Aviation’s future is bright – but its success is dependent upon maintaining the trust of those it serves, one safe flight at a time.

Image courtesy of Boeing. Used for editorial purposes only. No commercial use.