Which plane kept crashing?

Popular culture. In September 2021, PBS released Boeing's Fatal Flaw, a Frontline documentary about how Boeing ignored critical safety issues with the 737 MAX resulting in the crash of two airliners.



The aircraft most notoriously associated with a series of fatal crashes in recent history is the Boeing 737 MAX. The plane was grounded worldwide for 20 months following two tragic accidents: Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019, which together claimed 346 lives. Both crashes were linked to a flawed flight control system called MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System), which repeatedly pushed the plane's nose down based on faulty sensor data. In 2026, the 737 MAX is back in service globally after extensive software redesigns and pilot retraining mandated by the FAA and other regulators. However, the model faced renewed scrutiny in early 2024 after a "door plug" blew out mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines jet. While it is now statistically considered a safe and highly scrutinized aircraft, its history of high-profile technical failures has made it a symbol of the immense challenges in modern aerospace engineering and safety oversight.

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Despite the FlyersRights concerns, the FAA, Boeing and many pilots deem the 737 MAX safe to fly and many airlines have the plane in service. “I can say categorically that the 737 MAX product is safe,” then-acting FAA administrator Bill Nolen told members of the US Senate Commerce Committee in March.

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Running since 1929, Hawaiian is among the oldest airlines in the world but, remarkably, it has never suffered a single fatal crash or hull loss.

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Boeing 717, 787, 747-800 and the Dreamliner 787 have been deemed as safest for their fatality free flight records. Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier's - 700/900/1000 models - were collectively marketed as CRJ series for regional flights. It gained popularity for providing air travel at lower cost.

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September 24, 2023 A single-engine Beechcraft BE23 crashed in a field near Roger M Dreyer Memorial Airport in Gonzales, Texas, around 7:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, September 24. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA and NTSB will investigate.

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The top 10 safest airlines 2023
  • Qantas.
  • Air New Zealand.
  • Etihad Airways.
  • Qatar Airways.
  • Singapore Airlines.
  • TAP Air Portugal.
  • Emirates.
  • Alaska Airlines.


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The truth is that the majority of aviation accidents happen on the runway during takeoff or landing, not while the airplane is cruising in the air. Three reasons why airport runway accidents are the most common of all aviation accidents: Takeoffs and landings are when planes are closest to the ground.

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It was found that Boeing had more accidents than expected, while Airbus had fewer (p = 0.015). In terms of fatalities, Boeing had more than expected, with Airbus fewer (p < 0.001). Looking at accidents alone, only the number of fatalities was statistically significantly different.

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On Average, 4 Planes Crash Every Day: Leading Causes of General Aviation Accidents, What You Need to Know. Plane crashes are more common than one might think. While commercial plane crashes draw more attention due to their size and recognizable names, general aviation accidents occur much more frequently.

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Reflecting this increase in miles flown, preliminary estimates of the total number of accidents involving a U.S. registered civilian aircraft increased from 1,139 in 2020 to 1,225 in 2021. The number of civil aviation deaths increased from 349 in 2020 to 376 in 2021.

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Your chances of being involved in a fatal plane crash are incredibly small – around 1 in 11 million, according to Harvard researchers. While your odds of being in a plane accident are about 1 in 1.2 million, survivability rates are about 95.7% – so the odds are with you no matter how you look at it.

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With a total of 583 fatalities, the crash remains the deadliest accident in aviation history. All 248 passengers and crew aboard the KLM flight were killed.

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Ecologically, and compared to previous generation wide-body aircraft, the Dreamliner has avoided more than 85 billion pounds of carbon emissions, achieved 20-25% greater fuel efficiency, realized 20-45% more cargo revenue capacity, and produced a 60% smaller airport noise footprint.

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The Boeing 787 has similar safety features to the 777, but also features improvements such as a wider and longer aisle space for passengers and smoother engine takeoff capability which can reduce air turbulence and improve safety during takeoffs.

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While the 787 Dreamliners have not been grounded, the FAA had ordered a halt to deliveries of the widebody jet between May of 2021 and July of 2022 as it looked into questions about quality control during its assembly process.

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