Planes Crash: Air Disasters of the Last 90 Days

Over the last 90 days alone, there have been more than five air disasters worldwide in which no one survived. Perhaps those who avoid flying know something we don't. But we know the facts.

South Korea, December 29, 2024 – Boeing 737-800

A Jeju Air plane flying from Bangkok to Muan crashed while landing at Muan International Airport. Onboard were 181 people, including six crew members; 179 of them perished, with only two crew members surviving. Preliminary reports suggest that the landing gear failed to deploy during the landing attempt, causing the aircraft to overrun the runway, collide with a concrete barrier, and catch fire.

Possible Causes:

Birds: A few minutes before the crash, pilots were warned about a potential collision with a flock of birds. This may have caused damage to the landing gear system.

Weather: At the time of landing, the airport area was experiencing fog and high humidity, which may have complicated the landing.

Acting President Choe San-mok (the president is currently under arrest) declared a week of mourning and promised a thorough investigation into the causes of the disaster.

Kazakhstan, December 25, 2024 – Embraer 190

On December 25, 2024, an Embraer 190 plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan. There were 67 people onboard, of whom 38 died, including both pilots and one flight attendant. Twenty-nine passengers survived, sustaining various injuries.

Approximately 40 minutes after departure, while approaching Grozny, the crew reported losing GPS navigation due to interference and encountering foggy conditions near the airport. Eighty-one minutes into the flight, passengers heard an explosion and noticed fragments hitting the aircraft. The pilots suspected a bird strike and requested a route change, but they were denied permission to land at Russian airports. They issued a distress signal and directed the plane toward Kazakhstan.

Possible Causes:

Birds: As in the South Korean disaster, birds were initially blamed. However, this theory was soon dismissed in favor of a grim truth: the plane was brought down by a missile.

Missile Strike: Post-crash examinations revealed holes and fragments of foreign metallic objects on the fuselage, which were inconsistent with bird strike damage but resembled the aftermath of an anti-aircraft missile hit. According to Euronews on December 26, Azerbaijani officials determined that the plane was struck by a Russian missile during an attempt to repel Ukrainian drone attacks on Grozny Airport. Azerbaijani investigators concluded that the plane was hit by a Russian Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile. Later, fragments of a Russian Pantsir missile were found inside the fuselage.

On December 29, President Aliyev stated that Russia had accidentally shot down the plane, accusing them of attempting to cover up the incident. He demanded full admission of guilt, punishment for those responsible, and compensation for the families of the victims.

Washington, USA, January 29, 2025, Bombardier CRJ700

On January 29, 2025, at around 9:00 PM local time, an American Airlines passenger plane operating a flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter over the Potomac River, near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The plane carried 60 passengers and 4 crew members, while the helicopter had 3 military personnel onboard. All 67 people died.

Possible Causes:

Technical: Senator Ted Cruz stated that the helicopter's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, which provides precise data about the aircraft's location and speed, had been turned off. Since the flight was not related to national security, this raises questions.

Altitude: According to data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the helicopter was flying at an altitude of about 91 meters, exceeding the 61-meter limit for this route.

Following the crash, the FAA imposed restrictions on helicopter flights near Ronald Reagan National Airport, closing certain routes for helicopters except those used by police, medical services, air defense, and presidential transport. Additionally, the FAA began reviewing other airports with high levels of mixed helicopter and airplane traffic to identify potential safety issues.

Philadelphia, USA, January 31, 2025, Learjet 55

A medical Learjet 55, operating a flight from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, crashed shortly after takeoff, hitting a residential area near the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue. Onboard were six people: two pilots, two medics, an 11-year-old patient, and her mother. All of them died in the crash.

The aircraft belonged to the Mexican company Jet Rescue Air Ambulance and was transporting the girl to Mexico after four months of treatment. The crash occurred less than a minute after takeoff; the plane reached an altitude of about 1,625 feet (495 meters) before it began a rapid descent. Upon impact, the plane collided with a car, killing the driver, while two passengers were hospitalized in serious condition.

The crash caused a massive fire that damaged several homes and cars. A total of 24 people were injured, five of whom were hospitalized, with three in critical condition.

Possible Causes:

Oxygen Tank Explosion: Since the plane was on a medical flight, it carried oxygen tanks. The combination of oxygen and fuel might have caused a powerful explosion, which is considered a possible reason for the crash.

Technical Issues or Pilot Error: Other possibilities being considered include potential technical malfunctions of the aircraft or errors by the crew. However, confirmation of these theories requires detailed investigation results.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the causes of the crash. Rescuers recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the ground proximity warning system, which were sent to the NTSB laboratory in Washington for analysis

São Paulo, Brazil, February 7, 2025, King Air F90

On February 7, 2025, a small airplane crashed into cars in São Paulo, Brazil. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least two people, with two others injured. The causes of the crash are still under investigation.

Philippines, February 6, 2025, Beechcraft King Air 350

On February 6, 2025, a plane crash occurred in the southern Philippines, claiming the lives of one American serviceman and three Pentagon employees.

Busan, South Korea, February 6, 2025, Airbus A321

On February 6, 2025, an Airbus A321 operated by Air Busan caught fire at Busan International Airport. Onboard were 169 passengers and 7 crew members. Everyone was successfully evacuated, with three individuals sustaining minor injuries. The fire is believed to have started in the rear section of the plane. The incident occurred a month after the Muang airport crash.

Possible Causes:

Technical Issue: A potential short circuit or another technical problem causing the fire is being considered.

Violation of Safety Procedures: A human factor related to improper handling or failure to follow safety protocols has not been ruled out.

South Korean aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, suspending the operation of this aircraft model until the causes of the fire are clarified. Air Busan is cooperating with authorities and providing all necessary information for the investigation.