As of Feb. 19, there have been 94 plane incidents this year alone in the US. With spring break upcoming, many vacationers with flight plans are reconsidering the safety of their travel plans.
While some argue the concerns are a dramaticized reaction to President Trump’s new FAA implementations, the number of flight incidents have increased from years prior. In 2024, there were only 31 plane crashes at this point in the calendar year, leaving 2025’s incidents more than triple that of this point in 2024.
These statistics, inciting safety concerns for some, in addition to the 10% rise in airfare travel costs, are urging some travelers to reconsider the choice to fly for their spring break travels. “I am going on a cruise for spring break and we are flying to Florida. I am honestly a little apprehensive about the flight due to all of the crashes that have been on the news recently. Part of me wishes we were just driving to Florida so we didn’t have to worry about the flight safety,” senior Halima Talbi said.
For others, the incidents are not affecting their upcoming travel plans but are certainly inciting some concern for upcoming and future airfare travel. “With all of the recent planes crashing in the US I am so glad I am not going anywhere for spring break, as it seems so risky right at the moment. I will definitely be rethinking about flying in the future and trying to determine if it is the safest option,” senior Kaitlyn Merkel said.
The increase in crashes has been detrimental for the airlines as well. Many companies have seen dramatic drops in their stock shares, with American Airlines’ stock dropping up to 10%. For investors, the possibility of more flight incidents causing stocks to drop is greatly concerning.
However, flight incidents are somewhat unavoidable. With the magnitude of flights completed in any given time period, there will statistically be some number of flight incidents. On average, there are roughly 1200 flight incidents a year, and while it is entirely possible the number of incidents will average out over the year, it doesn’t quite help ease the fear of flying for some. “I know that the crashes are inevitable to a degree, but the consistency of accidents recently is making me consider if I ever want to fly in the future. I don’t think that flying would make any sense due to the safety concerns coupled with the cost,” Merkel said.
It is impossible to tell if the congestion of flight incidents over the past two months is a long or short term issue for travelers, but with upcoming spring break trips for many, the recent incidents are inciting concerns for many travelers.
