Recent plane crashes raise concerns, but experts say flying is still safe
Samuel Kirk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A string of deadly plane crashes across the U.S. has sparked fresh concern over air travel safety, with some Yuma residents admitting they’re feeling uneasy about booking their next flight.
In 2025 alone, the United States has seen 19 fatal crashes involving planes, including a mid-air collision in January between a passenger jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River that killed 67 people, and a small plane crash in Copake, New York, that claimed six members of the same family.
Here in Yuma, Francisco Vegel says the recent headlines have made him wary.
“I don’t know what’s going on, it’s gotta be something ’cause too many planes are going down and that don’t happen very often,” Vegel said.
David Morales, another Yuma local, acknowledged the risks but urged people to consider air travel in the context of other forms of transportation.
“I mean, it’s important to be safe and find safe ways to travel just like in buses and cars too. I mean, accidents happen, but I still believe it’s a safe way to travel,” Morales said.
Aviation safety experts agree. Former Navy TOPGUN pilot Matthew “Whiz” Buckley says despite the recent tragedies, flying is still one of the safest ways to get around.
“The immediacy of the horror is a lot more front and center so that’s scary, but I remind people, approximately 120 people die every day in car crashes. You’re not seeing that number with planes,” said Buckley.
He added that the coverage of crashes can sometimes overshadow the broader reality: “It’s a shiny red ball right now and I get it…some of these mishaps tear at the heartstrings, but the data don’t lie. You can go look it up yourself and see.”
The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate each crash in detail, and regulators are reviewing safety protocols.
Still, aviation professionals emphasize that commercial air travel remains remarkably safe, especially when compared to everyday travel by road.