The aviation industry is considered one of the safest modes of transport, but when tragedies occur, they leave an indelible mark on the global conscience. In 2025 alone, the world witnessed several catastrophic aviation disasters, from the tragic Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash to deadly mid-air collisions and fiery runway mishaps. Based on factual reports and real-time Google search trends like “recent plane crash today,” “aviation accident 2025,” and “Air India crash,” this article presents the top 10 most devastating plane crashes in recent years.
The most heart-wrenching crash in 2025 was the Air India Flight AI171 tragedy, which occurred on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying over 240 passengers, crashed shortly after takeoff and slammed into a doctors' hostel in the Meghani Nagar area. With only one known survivor, this incident stands as the deadliest aviation disaster in Indian history. The flight was reportedly carrying many medical students and healthcare workers, and investigations are ongoing. This crash has surged as one of the top global search trends under keywords like "Air India plane crash," "AI 171 Dreamliner tragedy," and “Ahmedabad aviation accident.”
The second deadliest incident occurred in the United States on January 29, 2025, when a regional American Eagle jet collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Sixty-seven people, including civilians and military personnel, lost their lives. This rare and deadly mid-air collision raised new concerns about civil-military air traffic coordination. It remains one of the most searched aviation stories under terms like “Washington mid-air crash” and “Black Hawk plane collision.”
Next is the Jeju Air Boeing 737 crash in Muan, South Korea, on December 29, 2024, which killed 179 out of 181 people onboard. The aircraft reportedly skidded off the runway, caught fire, and exploded. This has become South Korea's deadliest crash in decades and remains a hot topic with search keywords like “Jeju Air crash,” “Boeing 737 fire,” and “South Korea aviation disaster.”
In Brazil, a Voepass ATR 72 turboprop plane crashed on August 9, 2024, near the city of Vinhedo, São Paulo, killing all 62 onboard. Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft may have experienced icing, leading to a stall in poor weather. This crash brought renewed scrutiny to regional air carriers and older aircraft operating in difficult conditions. The event continues to trend under terms like “Voepass crash” and “Brazil ATR accident.”
Back in March 2022, China Eastern Flight MU5735 shocked the world when its Boeing 737-800 plunged vertically into the mountains of Guangxi, killing all 132 people aboard. Black box data hinted at deliberate inputs leading to the dive, but the cause remains officially undetermined. This crash still garners millions of monthly searches under “China Eastern crash,” “737 nosedive China,” and “Guangxi aviation tragedy.”
Nepal faced its worst aviation disaster in years with the crash of Yeti Airlines Flight 691 on January 15, 2023, in Pokhara. All 72 people aboard the ATR 72 died when the plane stalled and crashed near the Seti Gandaki River. Horrifyingly, the crash was partially livestreamed by a passenger on Facebook, making it one of the most widely viewed aviation tragedies. The incident ranks high in searches like “Pokhara plane crash,” “Nepal ATR 72 crash,” and “Yeti Airlines tragedy.”
In another tragic event from Nepal, a Saurya Airlines CRJ200 crashed during a test flight in Kathmandu on July 24, 2024, killing 18 people. Only the pilot survived. This domestic jet accident highlighted growing concerns about aircraft maintenance standards and operational safety in Nepal’s regional airlines. It continues to appear in search trends as “Nepal plane crash 2024” and “CRJ200 Kathmandu.”
Iran experienced tragedy on February 18, 2025, when an Aseman Airlines ATR 72 went down in the Zagros Mountains, killing all 65 onboard. The aircraft, operating in poor weather conditions, lost communication with air traffic control shortly before the crash. It was one of the oldest ATRs still in operation in the region. The crash brought renewed discussions on aging aircraft and appears in trending search terms like “Iran plane crash 2025” and “Aseman ATR crash.”
In Russia, a Saratov Airlines Antonov An-148 crashed shortly after takeoff near Moscow on February 11, 2025, killing all 71 passengers. Preliminary data suggests a failure in the aircraft’s pitot tubes, leading to incorrect speed readings and a fatal stall. It remains widely discussed under “An-148 crash Russia” and “Saratov plane crash.”
Though older, the Metrojet Flight 9268 bombing over Sinai, Egypt, on October 31, 2015, is still frequently searched due to its link with terrorism. The Airbus A321 exploded mid-air due to a bomb planted on board, killing all 224 people. This incident remains a grim reminder of aviation security threats and is commonly searched under “Sinai A321 bombing” and “Metrojet terrorist attack.”
These tragedies, especially the recent ones in India, South Korea, and the United States, have reignited concerns about aviation safety, pilot training, aircraft maintenance, and air traffic management. With trending Google searches for terms like “aviation disaster today,” “latest plane crash update,” and “Dreamliner news,” it’s evident that public anxiety around air travel is growing.
Despite these events, flying remains statistically safer than any other form of transportation. But each crash underscores the importance of continuous improvements in safety protocols, technology, and regulatory oversight. As the world mourns these losses, the aviation community must act to ensure such tragedies become even rarer.
| # | Incident | News Article Title | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air India Flight AI171 – Ahmedabad, India (June 12, 2025) | A mother still does not know that her son and his family are dead in Ahmedabad air crash | Read on Economic Times |
| Father Killed in India Plane Crash... | Read on People.com | ||
| Lucky seven who failed to board ill-fated flight and lived | Read on TOI | ||
| 2 | Potomac Mid-Air Collision – Washington, D.C. (Jan 29, 2025) | American Airlines plane, Black Hawk crash near Washington, DC | Read on Al Jazeera |
| 3 | Jeju Air Flight 2216 – Muan, South Korea (Dec 29, 2024) | Jeju Air plane crashes while landing in South Korea | Read on Al Jazeera |
| 4 | Voepass Flight 2283 – Vinhedo, Brazil (Aug 9, 2024) | Early report shows history of Brazil Voepass ATR flight that crashed | Read on Reuters |
| 5 | China Eastern Flight MU5735 – Guangxi, China (Mar 21, 2022) | China Eastern crash: Plane nosedive deliberate – black box suggests | Read on BBC |
| 6 | Yeti Airlines Flight 691 – Pokhara, Nepal (Jan 15, 2023) | Nepal crash: Power cut mistake caused Yeti Airlines plane crash | Read on Reuters |
| 7 | Saurya Airlines CRJ200 – Kathmandu, Nepal (Jul 24, 2024) | Plane crash at Nepal's Kathmandu airport kills 18; pilot only survivor | Read on Al Jazeera |
| 8 | Aseman Airlines Flight 3704 – Iran (Feb 18, 2018) | Aseman Airlines crash: All 65 passengers killed in Iran crash | Read on Al Jazeera |
| 9 | Saratov Airlines An-148 – Russia (Feb 11, 2018) | Russian passenger plane crashes outside Moscow, killing 71 | Read on The Guardian |
| 10 | Metrojet Flight 9268 – Egypt (Oct 31, 2015) | Metrojet crash: Egypt plane 'brought down by bomb' | Read on BBC |
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