The Learjet 60 plane crash in Florida last week claimed nine lives. Meanwhile, just days later, another plane crashed in the southern state. Now, experts have shared their opinions on why it feels like so many plane crashes happen, discussing the theory that flying is more dangerous today.
Today, with social media and easy access to the internet, we hear about plane crashes minutes after they happen, whether it’s a small plane in a distant town in Siberia or in the middle of a city.
Meanwhile, the tragic Florida plane crash last week that claimed nine lives has left many people wondering whether flying is becoming more dangerous.
Among the victims were pilot Jeff Gregory, 55, co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras, 20, and a family of four with two young children. The aircraft may have encountered turbulence and icing, which could have caused it to plunge from about 35,000 feet.
The tragedy has also drawn attention to other recent aviation accidents, raising questions about why so many crashes appear to be happening.
Now, aviation experts are sharing their thoughts. Luckily, their explanation may reassure some worried travelers.
Commercial flying is safer than ever, expert says
According to Jan-Arwed Richter, founder and CEO of the German Aviation Safety Bureau (JACDEC), there is little evidence that commercial flying is becoming more dangerous.
In fact, when speaking to the Daily Mail, he said it is the “safest era in aviation history” for passenger jets. Richter explained that air travel has increased dramatically over the past 25 years, while fatalities have fallen.
In total, around 1.7 billion passengers traveled by air annually at the beginning of the millennium. Today, that figure is approximately a staggering five billion.
Meanwhile, aviation fatalities fell from 1,155 in 2001 to 499 in 2025, according to figures cited in the report reported by the Daily Mail.
But while fatalities have dropped, the picture is different when comparing regular commercial jets and private jets. Jan-Arwed Richter warned that smaller aircraft and private jets can present different safety challenges.
“Commercial airlines operate under strict rules,” the founder and CEO of the German Aviation Safety Bureau explained, citing factors such as pilot training, regulated working hours, and regular aircraft inspections.
Human error is responsible for about 80% of aviation accidents, says expert
Meanwhile, private flights do not always operate under the same conditions. He also suggested that private pilots can face greater pressure to complete their journeys, even when weather conditions become difficult.
Murray Terwey, a flight safety expert at Edith Cowan University, also highlighted the differences between commercial and private aviation.
Speaking to the Mail, he said human error is responsible for around 80 percent of aviation accidents. He added that the differences are in regulatory oversight, pilot experience and the support available to flight crews.
“Private flights have lower levels of regulatory oversight and are operated by crews with less experience and support. They therefore have a much higher accident rate than commercial aircraft,” the expert told the Daily Mail.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still investigating the Florida Learjet crash. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s sudden descent, including the reported weather conditions.
Are you afraid of flying? Or do you have any tricks to overcome the fear? Please share your opinions and tips in the comments section.
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