Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Gordon Gilbert

Fatalities from worldwide accidents involving nonscheduled turbine business airplanes fell 50% year over year (YOY) in the first quarter, according to preliminary data tabulated by AIN. In the first three months of this year, 23 people lost their lives in five fatal crashes versus 46 who perished in 12 turbine business airplane accidents in first-quarter 2025.
That said, six people died in one accident of a U.S.-registered business jet in the first quarter, compared with two fatalities in two crashes in the same period last year. On January 25, a Bombardier Challenger 650, planning a Part 91 flight, crashed during its takeoff roll at Bangor International Airport (KBGR) in Maine, killing the two pilots and four passengers.
The other four turbine business fatal accidents in the first quarter included a non-U.S.-registered jet and three turboprops. On January 28, a Bombardier Learjet 45XR on a charter flight and registered to an operator in India crashed short of the runway on its second landing attempt, killing all five onboard.
India was also the site for one of the three fatal business turboprop accidents in the quarter. Seven people aboard an Indian-registered air ambulance Beechcraft King Air C90A died when the turboprop twin crashed on February 23 while diverting from its originally planned destination.
On February 13, the four people aboard a U.S.-registered Epic E1000 were killed when the turboprop single crashed on an instrument approach to Colorado’s Steamboat Springs Airport (KSBS) in night VMC. The third fatal business turboprop accident in the first quarter occurred on March 22, when a U.S.-registered King Air B200 crashed after rapidly descending from cruise altitude on a Part 91 flight, killing the sole-occupant pilot.
While runway and taxiway excursions have steadily decreased over the past few years, this progress appears to have stalled; there were 18 such mishaps in the first quarters of this year and last year. This year, none of the events resulted in fatalities, which was not the case in the previous two first quarters. The pilot of a Cessna Citation CJ1+ was killed in a landing overrun in Brazil on Jan. 1, 2025, and two of the five fatal business jet accidents in the first quarter of 2024 were runway excursions.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Business Aircraft Accident Fatalities Drop 50% in First Quarter

Runway excursions continue to be a problem, however

Fatalities from worldwide accidents involving nonscheduled turbine business planes fell 50% year over year in the first quarter, according to preliminary data.

Bizav Accident Fatalities Drop 50% in First Quarter

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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.

Preliminary and final accident reports, April 2026

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: April 2026

Amy Wilder

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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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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