Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Gordon Gilbert

Five fatal business jets accidents claimed 12 people in the first three months versus four accidents and 11 deaths in first-quarter 2024, according to preliminary data gathered by AIN. U.S.-registered business jets fared better, with two fatal accidents claiming two people in the quarter versus three accidents and nine fatalities in the same period last year. But non-U.S.-registered business jets experienced a significant uptick in fatalities: 10 deaths in three accidents in the first quarter compared with two deaths in a single accident in the same timeframe last year.
On Jan. 9, 2025, a privately operated, Brazilian-registered <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2025-01-17/cessna-citation-cj1-overruns-runway-crashes-brazil">Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ overshot the runway</a> on landing, crossed a road, broke up, and burst into flames, killing the pilot. The four passengers were injured. Less than three weeks later, on January 29, a Venezuelan government-operated S550 Citation S/II crashed shortly after takeoff. All three occupants perished.
Two pilots and four passengers died when, on Jan. 31, 2025, a Mexico-registered Bombardier&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-01-31/medevac-learjet-crashes-after-takeoff-philadelphia">Learjet 55 air ambulance crashed shortly after takeoff</a> from a U.S. airport on a planned flight home. In addition to the six fatalities on the twinjet, one person on the ground was killed. The airplane was operating under FAR Part 129 as a foreign air carrier.
On Feb. 10, 2025, a parked Gulfstream G200 was struck by a U.S.-registered <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-02-10/landing-learjet-crashes-parked-jet-runway-excursion">Learjet 35A that veered off the runway</a> while landing. The Learjet pilot was killed. <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2025-03-03/ntsb-investigating-learjet-accident-scottsdale">Landing gear issues</a> were present. The other fatal accident in the first quarter occurred on March 13 on a planned ferry flight. After taking off, a Citation CJ2 made a right turn and climbed to about 950 feet before it began a rapid descent. The sole pilot aboard died in the crash.
Meanwhile, fatalities more than tripled from accidents of nonscheduled U.S.-registered business turboprops in the first quarter versus a year ago. Three fatal accidents claimed 10 people in the most recent quarter versus two accidents and three deaths in the first three months of 2024.
By far, the Jan. 29, 2025, crash of a Uganda-registered Beechcraft 1900D in South Sudan was the worst turbine business airplane accident of the first quarter: All 20 occupants perished when the turboprop twin crashed on takeoff. Another eight died in three more accidents of non-U.S.-registered business turboprops in the first three months of this year. Seven accidents and 26 fatalities occurred in the same period last year..
Although runway excursions (the most common type of airplane mishaps) have decreased in the last three first-quarter periods—from 23 in 2023 to 20 in 2024 to 17 this year—they can be deadly, as evidenced in two of the five fatal bizjet accidents in this first quarter.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Business Jet Accidents and Fatalities Rise Globally in First Quarter

Two of these five fatal business jet accidents were runway excursions

Two of five fatal U.S.-registered business jet accidents in the first quarter of 2025 were runway excursions.

Bizjet Accidents and Fatalities Rise Globally  in First Quarter

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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David Jack Kenny

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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