Unforeseen airline incident: 25 Delta Airline passengers needing medical attention due to extreme turbulence
In the skies above us, the year 2025 has been marked by a series of close calls and accidents in commercial aviation. Despite these incidents, it's important to note that the overall safety record remains remarkable, as highlighted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
On July 25, 2025, Southwest Flight 1496 performed a dramatic descent to avoid a collision with a Hawker Hunter jet, resulting in two injured flight attendants during its journey from Burbank to Las Vegas. A similar near miss occurred on July 18, when a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber and a SkyWest passenger jet came close to collision in Minot, North Dakota. Both aircraft managed to perform an aggressive go-around and landed safely.
Another close call took place on July 27, 2025, when American Airlines Boeing 737 aborted takeoff from Denver, Colorado, due to a landing gear fire. One passenger was hospitalized with minor injuries, while the remaining passengers were safely evacuated. The same day, American Airlines Flight 1665 (en route to Charlotte from Las Vegas) experienced an engine issue shortly after takeoff and returned safely to Las Vegas. No injuries were reported, and the investigation is ongoing.
Delta Airlines Flight 4819 (Toronto, Canada) experienced a more severe incident on July 27, 2025, when a Delta regional jet flipped over during landing on a Minneapolis to Toronto flight due to a broken landing gear. Eighteen passengers required treatment for injuries, but thankfully, there were no fatalities.
Other close calls include the Army Black Hawks violating separation standards near Reagan National Airport on May 1, 2025, causing at least two near misses with commercial flights.
Earlier in the year, there were other incidents that tested the limits of safety. On February 17, 2025, a Delta Airlines plane crash-landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport; passengers survived. February 12, 2025, saw a Navy fighter jet crash into San Diego Bay, but both pilots were rescued.
In addition, multiple engine shutdowns and Mayday calls between January and July 2025 involving commercial operators such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India, and Alliance Air indicate serious distress but resulted in no fatal outcomes.
According to the NTSB, out of 682 aviation accidents recorded so far in 2025, 551 were non-fatal. These statistics reflect numerous close calls in commercial aviation, such as JetBlue Flight 488's hydraulic issue at Orlando International Airport on June 24, 2025, which caused it to veer off into the grass, resulting in no injuries.
Ongoing National Transportation Safety Board hearings and legislative proposals are discussing the requirement for military and all aircraft to use ADS‐B tracking systems, aiming to improve safety and prevent future close calls and accidents.
FAA restrictions have also been placed on military helicopter operations near the Pentagon following the Army Black Hawks' separation violations incident.
While the number of non-fatal commercial aviation accidents in 2025 is concerning, it's important to remember that the overall safety record remains strong. The aviation industry continues to work tirelessly to ensure the skies remain safe for all passengers.
- The ongoing National Transportation Safety Board hearings and legislative proposals are addressing the need for military and all aircraft to use ADS-B tracking systems, hoping to improve safety, reduce close calls such as the Army Black Hawks' separation violations, and prevent future accidents.
- Apart from war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice, the year 2025 has seen an increase in close calls in commercial aviation, with many incidents like the hydraulic issue on JetBlue Flight 488, resulting in vehicles veering off tracks, but with no injuries or fatalities.
