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It was a difficult year for aviation.
Air travel in 2025 has been anything but routine, with passengers facing an unprecedented series of crises. From deadly plane crashes to government shutdowns, technical failures, and even a rat infestation, the skies have been fraught with anxiety. As the Department of Transportation (DOT) campaigns for a return to the golden age of flying, travelers are left wondering when—and if—air travel will feel safe and enjoyable again. Here are the year’s most unsettling aviation incidents that shaped public perception.
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American Airlines Mid-Air Collision
The year began with devastating images of a passenger plane colliding with a military jet. The mid-air accident involved an American Airlines regional jet and a Black Hawk helicopter; there were no survivors. Authorities searched the debris on the Potomac River with little success—67 people died. This was the worst major aviation disaster in the U.S. in decades.
Related: Washington Plane Crash Has Chilling Echoes of 46-Year-Old Accident
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Delta Plane Crash
A few weeks after the January collision, a Delta plane overturned while landing in Toronto. The incident was terrifying for passengers and onlookers, but all 80 passengers survived. At least 18 people were injured in the crash, which occurred after a snowstorm. Delta offered each passenger $30,000 in compensation, while a crew member sued the carrier for $75 million for alleged safety failures.
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Air India Crash
One of the worst disasters in recent memory occurred when an Air India passenger plane bound for London crashed with 242 people aboard. Only one passenger survived—a miracle, as he walked away with minor injuries. The plane had just taken off when it fell from the sky and hit a medical college hostel, also killing people on the ground. Photographs of the wreckage lodged in a building sent chills to viewers.
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U.S. Shutdown Meltdown
In October, the federal government shut down after failing to reach a spending agreement, resulting in the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Federal employees were furloughed, and 1.3 million were forced to work without pay, including air traffic controllers and airport employees. Airports experienced extensive delays and disruptions as controllers began calling in sick, ultimately affecting more than 10,000 flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reduced flights to maintain safety, and the Trump administration announced $10,000 bonuses for those who worked every day during the shutdown.
Related: Travels Delays Mount as Air Traffic Controllers Call Out Sick
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Aviation Cyber Attack
A cyberattack on a third-party provider that handles check-in and boarding crippled airports across Europe. Collins Aerospace suffered a ransomware attack, affecting operations internationally in Berlin, London, and Brussels. Other European airports reported minor issues, raising questions about system security.
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European Power Failure
A power failure in Spain and Portugal brought both countries to a standstill—the worst blackout in two decades, caused by overvoltage. Everything was affected, from elevators to card payments, as people struggled to function without electricity. Public transportation collapsed, and airports had to cancel flights, stranding passengers across Europe.
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Stowaway Death
Occasionally, a stowaway breaches security and hides in an aircraft’s landing gear. Survival is extremely rare, and this year, a stowaway was found dead on an American Airlines flight from Europe to Charlotte, North Carolina. Stowaways face extreme cold (minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit) and a lack of oxygen at 30,000 feet—conditions that are typically fatal.
Related: Is Sneaking Onto a Plane Ever Worth the Risk?
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Rat on Plane
Travelers accept many inconveniences when flying, from cramped seating to mediocre food, but a rat aboard a plane is not one of them. A rodent that boarded a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Aruba turned the trip into a nightmare and resulted in the cancellation of the return flight. Incidents like these are rare, but they can ruin the flying experience.
Related: Nightmare Flight Over the Atlantic as Rat Stowaway Scurries Through Cabin