Fatal Crash Archives - Aviation Today

5 Onboard Killed In Medical Evacuation Helicopter Crash At Al-Sarra Air Base In Libya

Aviation Today News Desk / February 10, 2026

Tripoli, Libya: Five people lost their lives when a helicopter crashed near Al-Sarra Air Base, close to Kufra in southeastern […]

Galveston, United States: New federal investigative findings reveal critical communication misunderstandings and extremely limited visibility as major factors immediately preceding the December 22, 2025, crash of a Mexican Navy medical flight in Galveston Bay that killed six people and left two seriously injured, according to the preliminary report released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The Beechcraft B300 aircraft, registered ANX1209 and operated by the Mexican Navy, was on a humanitarian medical mission coordinated with the Michou y Mau Foundation. The flight was transporting a severely burned pediatric patient from Mérida, Mexico, to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas, when it crashed into West Bay during its approach to Scholes International Airport shortly before 3:15 p.m. local time. According to the NTSB preliminary report, Houston Approach Control cleared the flight crew for an RNAV (GPS-based) approach to Runway 14 but did not clear the aircraft to land. The flight crew’s initial readback mistakenly stated they were “cleared to land,” prompting controllers to twice clarify that the aircraft was cleared only for the approach and not for landing. Controllers then directed the crew to contact the tower. Despite repeated clarifications, the crew’s responses indicated persistent misunderstanding. During the final stages of the approach, air traffic controllers issued multiple low-altitude alerts, but received no further communication from the flight crew before radar contact was lost. The preliminary report and weather observations confirmed dense fog and severely restricted visibility during the aircraft’s final descent. Controllers advised the crew that cloud ceilings near the airport were approximately 300 feet, a condition that significantly limits visual reference and places heavy reliance on instrument procedures. Local weather data and witness accounts indicate visibility at times was as low as approximately a quarter mile with heavy sea fog common along the Texas Gulf Coast under certain conditions further complicating the approach. The aircraft impacted the waters of West Galveston Bay approximately half a mile from the shoreline. Six occupants including the pilot, co-pilot, two flight crew members and two passengers were fatally injured. Two passengers, reported to be a flight nurse and the mother of the pediatric patient, survived with serious injuries. Search and rescue operations immediately following the crash involved the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Department of Public Safety, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and local first responders. The wreckage was located in shallow water, facilitating recovery efforts. The NTSB’s preliminary report is part of an ongoing investigation to determine all contributing factors. These factual reports do not assign probable cause but document the circumstances surrounding the accident based on available data, including air traffic control communications and radar information. Federal investigators will continue to analyze cockpit voice recordings, flight data, maintenance records and meteorological data. A final report typically released 12–24 months after an accident will include a probable cause determination and safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies.

Investigation

NTSB Preliminary Report Cites Miscommunication, Low Visibility In Galveston Bay Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / February 5, 2026

Galveston, United States: New federal investigative findings reveal critical communication misunderstandings and extremely limited visibility as major factors immediately preceding

Bogota, Colombia: A scheduled domestic flight operated by state-owned airline SATENA crashed in the mountainous Norte de Santander region of northeastern Colombia on 28 January 2026, killing all 15 people on board, authorities confirmed. The twin-engine Beechcraft 1900D turboprop, registered HK-4709, was flying as SATENA Flight 8849 from Camilo Daza International Airport in Cúcuta toward Aguas Claras Airport in Ocaña when it lost radio and radar contact with air traffic control at about 11:54 a.m. local time, roughly 12 minutes into the short domestic service. Search and rescue teams later located the wreckage on a cloud-covered mountainside near Curasica in the municipality of Playa de Belén, confirming there were no survivors among the 13 passengers and two crew members. Among those killed were Diógenes Quintero Amaya, a 36-year-old member of Colombia’s House of Representatives representing the Catatumbo region, and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate in the upcoming congressional elections, according to passenger lists released by SATENA. Colombian authorities and local media also reported that members of Quintero’s team were on board. SATENA said flight crews lost contact with the aircraft shortly before its scheduled landing in Ocaña. The plane’s emergency locator transmitter did not activate, which delayed initial detection of the crash site. Once located, national authorities, including the Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aerocivil), the Colombian Aerospace Force, and military personnel, coordinated search and recovery operations in difficult terrain, hampered by dense fog and rugged mountains. No definitive cause for the crash has yet been released. Colombian aviation regulators have opened a technical investigation to determine the sequence of events leading to the accident and any contributing factors. Officials have not ruled out weather or terrain as influences, given the flight path over challenging mountainous territory near the Venezuela border. The Beechcraft 1900D involved was operated under a wet-lease arrangement by SEARCA on behalf of SATENA. The aircraft type is widely used on short regional routes for its capability to operate in and out of airports with limited infrastructure. The Cúcuta–Ocaña sector is a routine domestic service typically lasting under an hour. Radar data showed the aircraft climbed to approximately 12,900 feet before beginning its descent toward Ocaña, with its last known altitude recorded near 7,900 feet shortly before contact was lost. Colombian officials, including President Gustavo Petro, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, describing the crash as a national tragedy.

Aircraft Crashes

All 15 Aboard Die As SATENA Beechcraft 1900D Crashes In Northern Colombia

Aviation Today News Desk / January 30, 2026

Bogota, Colombia: A scheduled domestic flight operated by state-owned airline SATENA crashed in the mountainous Norte de Santander region of

Jakarta, Indonesia: Indonesian authorities confirmed on Friday that all 10 victims from the fatal crash of an Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) ATR 42-500 turboprop aircraft have been recovered, concluding a seven-day search and rescue operation on the steep slopes of Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi. The aircraft, registered PK-THT, disappeared from radar on January 17 while on a maritime surveillance mission for the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. It was en route from Adisutjipto Airport, Yogyakarta, to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar when contact was lost during its final approach. Rescue teams, comprising personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), military, police, and volunteers, faced rugged terrain, steep ravines, dense fog, and volatile weather throughout the operation. Bodies were found in scattered locations on the mountainside and transported to forensic specialists in Makassar for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) procedures. By Friday morning, the 10th and final victim had been located, marking the official end of the recovery phase. Authorities expressed condolences to the families of the victims and reiterated support for identification and repatriation processes. A key breakthrough in the investigation came with the recovery of the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) from the wreckage. A joint SAR team located both units intact in the tail section of the aircraft on January 21, despite adverse weather delaying initial access. Following extraction from the crash site, the devices were secured and transported to a checkpoint in Tompobulu village, before being handed over to the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), Indonesia’s official air accident investigation authority. Basarnas Chief Air Marshal Mohammad Syafii confirmed that the recorders will be analyzed to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the crash. Earlier in the response, the KNKT classified the crash as a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) incident, indicating the aircraft was under control when it impacted the mountain slope although classification does not imply pilot intent or assign fault. The investigation team has not yet publicly disclosed a definitive cause, citing the ongoing analysis of flight recorder data and other evidence. The ATR 42-500 turboprop was conducting a routine surveillance mission in support of fisheries and maritime resource monitoring when it vanished. Initial reports indicated 10 people on board, including seven crew members and three passengers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. The mountainous crash zone spans portions of Maros and Pangkajene and Islands regencies, complicating early rescue efforts and driving a multi-agency coordinated response.

Investigation

Search Ends After All 10 Victims Are Found In Indonesia ATR-42 Crash In Sulawesi Mountains

Aviation Today News Desk / January 25, 2026

Jakarta, Indonesia: Indonesian authorities confirmed on Friday that all 10 victims from the fatal crash of an Indonesia Air Transport

Chicago, United States: Two people died Wednesday afternoon when a small twin-engine airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from DuPage Airport, local officials confirmed. The airport, located about 29 miles west of downtown Chicago, was temporarily closed as emergency crews responded and investigators began preliminary inquiries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche aircraft departed DuPage Airport around 1:50 p.m. CST before plummeting to the ground near the runway area. Both occupants on board were adult males who were pronounced dead at the scene, according to airport officials. First responders from the West Chicago Police Department, the West Chicago Fire Protection District, and personnel from the DuPage Airport Authority were on site within minutes. Video footage circulated by local media showed significant damage to the aircraft wreckage in a snow-covered field adjacent to the airport. Airport authorities confirmed that the exact cause of the crash is not immediately known. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation to determine what led to the accident, with the NTSB expected to take the lead on technical analysis in the coming days. The DuPage Airport Authority issued a brief statement saying it was cooperating fully with federal investigators and that no further details would be released pending investigative findings. “Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” the statement read. Eyewitness accounts and local residents described a chaotic response as first responders secured the area and cleared debris. The FAA has stated it will review flight data and communication records as part of the investigative process. Officials have not yet released the names of the victims. The airport remains closed for part of its operations while teams continue documenting the scene and collecting evidence.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Killed In Twin-Engine Plane Crash After Takeoff At DuPage Airport In West Chicago

Aviation Today News Desk / December 18, 2025

Chicago, United States: Two people died Wednesday afternoon when a small twin-engine airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from DuPage Airport,

Tbilisi, Georgia: A Turkish Air Force C-130 Hercules military cargo aircraft crashed in eastern Georgia on Tuesday, killing all 20 military personnel onboard, according to Turkish and Georgian authorities. The aircraft was en route from Ganja, Azerbaijan, to Turkey when it went down in the Kakheti region near the Azerbaijan–Georgia border. The Lockheed C-130, a four-engine turboprop transport aircraft, reportedly lost contact with air traffic control shortly after entering Georgian airspace. Witnesses in the Sighnaghi Municipality described seeing the plane on fire before it crashed into hilly terrain. Rescue teams from Georgia’s Emergency Management Service and Turkish military units launched a joint search and recovery operation, later confirming that no survivors were found among the 20 people onboard. Georgia’s Interior Ministry said debris was scattered across a wide area, indicating the aircraft may have broken apart mid-air before impact. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with both countries cooperating on a joint technical inquiry. Preliminary assessments suggest the aircraft might have experienced an in-flight fire or catastrophic mechanical failure, though officials have not yet confirmed this. The Turkish Defence Ministry confirmed the tragedy, stating,“We have lost 20 of our heroic personnel aboard a military transport plane during duty. Search and rescue efforts have been completed in coordination with Georgian authorities.” Turkey has dispatched a high-level investigation team to Georgia, including defence and aviation safety experts, to coordinate recovery and analysis efforts. The governments of Azerbaijan and Georgia both expressed solidarity with Turkey. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev conveyed condolences to Erdoğan, stating,“We share the sorrow of our Turkish brothers and stand by them in this difficult time.” Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also confirmed his country’s full cooperation with Turkish officials in the investigation, adding that emergency response units “arrived at the site within minutes of reports of the crash.” The downed C-130 was reportedly an older model that had served in the Turkish Air Force for decades. The aircraft type, known for its durability and versatility, is used globally for military transport and humanitarian aid missions.

Aircraft Crashes

All 20 Onboard Killed As Turkish Military C-130 Cargo Plane Crashes In Eastern Georgia

Aviation Today News Desk / November 12, 2025

Tbilisi, Georgia: A Turkish Air Force C-130 Hercules military cargo aircraft crashed in eastern Georgia on Tuesday, killing all 20

Bunawan, Philippines: A Philippine Air Force helicopter carrying six personnel on a disaster-relief mission crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur on Tuesday, killing everyone on board, as Typhoon Kalmaegi devastated large parts of the country with torrential rains and powerful winds. The UH-1H Super Huey helicopter lost radio contact shortly after take-off from Davao de Oro province while en route to deliver aid to typhoon-hit areas. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that search-and-rescue teams located the wreckage in a mountainous forest near Bunawan town, where all six crew members were found dead. “The aircraft was on a humanitarian mission carrying relief goods for communities isolated by the typhoon,” the Philippine Air Force said in a statement. “Recovery and investigation teams have been dispatched to the site to determine the cause of the crash.” The crash occurred as Typhoon Kalmaegi locally named Tino lashed the central and southern Philippines, triggering landslides and floods that have killed at least 66 people nationwide, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Cebu province bore the brunt of the storm, with flash floods submerging entire neighborhoods and landslides cutting off key roads. In some low-lying areas, residents were rescued from rooftops after water levels rose overnight. Kalmaegi made landfall over Samar island late Sunday with sustained winds of 130 km/h and gusts up to 180 km/h, before crossing the Visayas region and moving into the South China Sea on Tuesday. Forecasters warned that the storm could strengthen again as it heads toward central Vietnam. The Philippines, which lies along the Pacific typhoon belt, experiences around 20 tropical storms each year. Scientists have long warned that warmer ocean temperatures may be intensifying the strength of such weather systems. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an immediate review of disaster-response coordination and aviation safety procedures following the fatal helicopter crash. “Our rescue workers risk their lives to help others. We must ensure their safety while they serve the nation,” he said in a televised briefing. As emergency teams continue to clear debris and restore access to isolated areas, authorities have urged residents to remain alert for further flooding, with several dams releasing excess water due to heavy rainfall. Kalmaegi is the deadliest storm to hit the Philippines this year and comes just weeks after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the same region, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

Accidents, Helicopter Crash

Six Killed as Philippine Air Force Helicopter Crashes During Typhoon Relief Mission

Aviation Today News Desk / November 6, 2025

Bunawan, Philippines: A Philippine Air Force helicopter carrying six personnel on a disaster-relief mission crashed in the southern province of

Helicopter Crash

Man Dead & 19-Year Old Critically Injured After Fatal Helicopter Crash at Bankstown

Aviation Today News Desk / October 3, 2025

Sydney, Australia: A fatal helicopter crash occurred at Bankstown Airport in Sydney’s south-west on Friday, when the helicopter Crashed into

Kentucky, United States: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report into the September 27, 2023, crash of a Piper PA-28-161 that killed a flight instructor and student pilot near Whitesville, Kentucky, concluding that the accident was caused by the instructor’s decision to continue flying into an area of severe thunderstorms. Investigators found the airplane suffered an in-flight breakup after encountering extreme turbulence inside convective weather. The Eagle Flight Academy aircraft departed Bowling Green-Woodhurst Airport at 9:55 p.m. for a night cross-country training mission intended to complete the student’s night-flying requirement. The 22-year-old instructor and 18-year-old student were on their first flight together. According to ADS-B data and air traffic control recordings, the aircraft climbed to 4,500 feet and was warned by controllers at 10:44 p.m. of “heavy to extreme precipitation” to its left. Two minutes later, the instructor requested an instrument flight rules clearance but continued circling in the weather and reported the airplane was “getting blown around like crazy” and in “pretty extreme turbulence.” Moments later, communications ceased. Radar data showed a right descending turn before the plane broke apart. The debris field stretched across 25 acres of wooded terrain. Post-accident examination revealed no mechanical failures. Investigators confirmed the aircraft exceeded its structural limits while penetrating severe weather. The NTSB cited the instructor’s decision-making as the defining factor: “The flight instructor’s improper decision to continue flight into a known area of thunderstorms resulted in an in-flight breakup.” The weather briefing obtained before departure included an active convective SIGMET warning of severe storms with tops to 42,000 feet, hail, and wind gusts up to 50 knots. The NTSB also highlighted the potential latency of weather radar images from cockpit and mobile applications, cautioning pilots that such data may be several minutes old and could under-represent the severity or position of fast-moving storms. Autopsies determined both occupants died of multiple blunt-force injuries. Toxicology tests were negative for the instructor. The student tested positive for cetirizine, an over-the-counter antihistamine, but impairment could not be determined.

Investigation

CFI’s Choice to Fly in Severe Weather Caused Crash that Killed Student and Self: NTSB

Aviation Today News Desk / September 11, 2025

Kentucky, United States: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report into the September 27, 2023, crash

On January 2, 2025, a Van's RV-10 aircraft crashed into a furniture warehouse near Fullerton Municipal Airport, California, resulting in two fatalities and 19 injuries. | Aviation Today

Airplane Crashes

Two Dead, 19 Injured in Fatal Aircraft Crash near Fullerton Airport, California

Aviation Today News Desk / January 4, 2025

Picture credits: CSB News Fullerton: On January 2, 2025, a Van’s RV-10 aircraft crashed into a furniture warehouse near Fullerton

Fatal Crash

5 Onboard Killed In Medical Evacuation Helicopter Crash At Al-Sarra Air Base In Libya

NTSB Preliminary Report Cites Miscommunication, Low Visibility In Galveston Bay Crash

All 15 Aboard Die As SATENA Beechcraft 1900D Crashes In Northern Colombia

Search Ends After All 10 Victims Are Found In Indonesia ATR-42 Crash In Sulawesi Mountains

Two Killed In Twin-Engine Plane Crash After Takeoff At DuPage Airport In West Chicago

All 20 Onboard Killed As Turkish Military C-130 Cargo Plane Crashes In Eastern Georgia

Six Killed as Philippine Air Force Helicopter Crashes During Typhoon Relief Mission

Man Dead & 19-Year Old Critically Injured After Fatal Helicopter Crash at Bankstown

Two Dead, 19 Injured in Fatal Aircraft Crash near Fullerton Airport, California

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