GAGANDEEP KAUR
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
AUDREY HESTER
STAFF WRITER
3/10/2025
While air travel has never been completely safe – and aviation accidents are certainly not unheard of – 2025 has seen a marked increase in fatal plane and helicopter accidents.
A Bombardier CRJ700 airliner and a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed over the Potomac river in Washington D.C. on Jan. 29, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft.
A Learjet 55 crashed in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, killing its six passengers and one person on the ground, as well as injuring at least 24 others.
On Feb. 17, a Bombardier CRJ900 airliner departing from Minneapolis overturned and crashed while making its landing at the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario, Canada. All 80 passengers and crew were luckily evacuated and survived, though 21 were injured, and it nonetheless remains another entry in a line of dangerous crashes in 2025.
None of these crashes have occurred in or near Alma, Mich. However, they still show an upwards trend of unsafe flights that could potentially impact anyone who happens to utilize air travel, regardless of where they live or where their destination lies.
“These crashes have the potential to affect everyone. If they become more frequent due to changes within the [Federal Aviation Administration] (FAA), the impact could extend beyond safety concerns. Increased restrictions on commercial flights could disrupt travel plans for students, especially those who fly home or study abroad,” said Victor Argueta-Diaz, Associate Professor of Physics at Alma College.
“Even though none of these crashes happened near the college, it is our responsibility to care for these tragic events. […] The ability to care for those you never knew is a fundamental part of the maturing process. […] These crashes have had an impact on my mentality about the safety of air travel. I am already a nervous flier and seeing these tragedies happen in quick succession leads me to believe that air travel is no longer safe,” said Blaze Rybicki (‘25).
“Even though these incidents haven’t occurred near Alma, they are still relevant to students because air travel is a common mode of transportation, and understanding potential safety concerns is important,” said Argueta-Diaz.
Statistically, fatal aircraft crashes happen hundreds of times a year—there were 261 fatal accidents in 2024, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. There have been 15 fatal accidents so far in 2025. While these numbers are no worse than they were last year, the circumstances of this year’s crashes are different: the CRJ700 crash was the first commercial airline crash since 2009, and the deadliest since a crash in November of 2001.
Something is shifting in the safety of air travel in the United States, and Alma’s students can still act and impact it despite their distance.
“Students can respond by staying informed and understanding the broader implications of these incidents. If FAA policy changes are a contributing factor, advocating for strong aviation safety regulations through petitions or contacting representatives could be impactful. For those who frequently travel, staying aware of airline safety updates and policies is also important,” said Argueta-Diaz.
“While there may not be direct action required, an informed and engaged student body can contribute to discussions on transportation safety and policy,” said Argueta-Diaz.
The Almanian: News 
Leave a Reply