Business Jet Accidents and Fatalities Rise Globally in First Quarter

Bizjet Accidents and Fatalities Rise Globally in First Quarter

Two of these five fatal business jet accidents were runway excursions

Jan.31 2025 Learjet accident — NTSB investigators documenting the Jan. 31 Learjet 55 crash in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

By Gordon Gilbert • Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

April 4, 2025

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 Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1+ overshot the runway 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.

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