The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) series has had a particularly rough streak of bad luck in 2025. The CRJ900, specifically, has had a markedly bad year in terms of mishaps, including collisions and even a flip-over on landing. Meanwhile, the tragically fatal crash of American Eagle flight 5342 was being flown on a CRJ700 when it plunged into the Potomac River.
As the calendar eases through Fall, a total of 60 commercial aircraft crashes have been recorded in the United States, according to Fox News. The total fatality count has amounted to a staggering 188 souls. 2025 witnessed the most deadly single accident in US aviation history since 2009. The number of minor and serious but non-fatal injuries since the beginning of the year has surpassed 300 as well, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The causes of these accidents range as far and wide as the locations where the mishaps occurred, but a noticeable trend is that regional jets have had a consistently high share of accidents. The MHI (formerly Bombardier) CRJ900 has been especially prone to mishaps this year. With over two months left on the calendar, let’s review the most noteworthy accidents and tragic crashes of 2025.
The Tragedy Of Flight 5342
A CRJ700 operated by the regional service of American Airlines, known as American Eagle, collided midair with a US Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter this January. On January 29, flight 5342 of PSA Airlines, operating as American Eagle, was on final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The jet, OH5342, struck the helicopter and all 64 souls aboard, as well as the three soldiers flying the Blackhawk, perished when they tumbled into the Potomac River.
Flight 5342 was carrying 60 passengers and four aircrew, with international travelers and a 28-strong party of US figure skaters that had just completed a national-level training camp. The UH-60 was conducting a night vision goggle (NVG) training flight on a routinely flown military air corridor. It is believed that the helicopter was flying higher than the limit for that route, based on black box data recovered in the NTSB preliminary investigation.
This accident was the first disastrous commercial aircraft crash in the US since 2009 and the most deadly since 2001. It was the third hull loss of a CRJ700 since the type entered service. Air traffic control (ATC) professionals and pilots who have experienced the DCA airspace have said that it is dangerously congested, and the number of near-misses that occur is unacceptable.
That was highlighted by a near-miss on May 1, 2025, between another helicopter and a regional jet. Priority Air Transport (PAT) 23 was the helicopter landing at the Pentagon, while an Embraer E170 was flying for Republic Airways as flight 5825, according to KTVL 10. The jet was on approach to DCA, like OH5342 had been. The close call has been widely blamed on miscommunication between the helicopter pilot and ATC, pending a full investigation.
Delta 4819 Lands Shiny Side Down
A CRJ900 flown by Endeavor Air under Delta Connection failed to follow the old adage, “keep the shiny side up,” on Monday, February 17. Flight DL4819 landed under harsh winter conditions at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) when its landing gear failed, causing the jet to impact the runway after touchdown. As it slid down the tarmac, it rolled over and came to rest inverted.
The plane was inbound from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) with 76 passengers and 4 crew onboard. The accident was thankfully minor in terms of human casualties, with 21 injuries and no fatalities. The investigation is ongoing, but it’s believed that a hard landing caused the gear to fail.
The CRJ900 that crashed that day was a 16-year-old veteran of the Endeavor Air fleet and became the third hull loss since the type was introduced. The fiery crash completely destroyed the plane, which lost its right wing and crumpled the left. The tail was also partially separated by the rolling impact, but both engines remained attached to the fuselage, igniting the spilled fuel from the wing tanks.
Danger In The Air
On Wednesday, April 30, another CRJ900 flying for Delta Connection made an emergency landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) when it experienced one of the most dangerous in-flight emergencies: smoke and fumes. The Endeavor Air jet had departed New York JFK Airport (JFK) and the smoke detector near the lavatory was reportedly activated in the final stages of landing approach.
The four aircrew and 64 passengers were all safe upon landing and, after being evacuated on the tarmac, were taken to the terminal by bus. Since the smoke detector was near the lavatory, it’s possible that a passenger activated it by smoking. The foolish choice to break one of the most basic rules in commercial aviation led to a dramatic inconvenience for everyone involved.
Smoke and fumes is essentially an automatic emergency landing situation for any plane because of the extreme danger posed to the safety of flight. The pilots becoming incapacitated would cause a crash and kill all souls aboard. For that reason, the utmost caution must be exercised by aircrew in the event it is detected, and also, for that reason, it is extremely reckless and selfish for flyers to smoke in flight.
CRJs Striking Out Again And Again
Just in the last couple of weeks, a Delta Connection CRJ900 that had its tail sheared off by a Delta Air Lines widebody A350 got back in the air again. Almost as if cued by N302PQ returning to service, a pair of CRJ900s hit each other on the ground at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York. This follows an incident when another Delta CRJ900 struck its wingtip on the runway, also at LGA, back in March. Additionally, in the last 24 hours, since writing this piece, a CRJ900 flown by American Eagle was hit by a truck on the apron.
On Wednesday, October 1, flights DL5047 and DL5155 collided while taxiing. DL5155 suffered severe damage to its right wing and even lost its winglet. Meanwhile, DL5047 had its nose crushed by the impact, shattering the cockpit glass. The chaotic mishap put the two flights in the top five most tracked itineraries in the world as the aftermath was evaluated. There were a combined 93 aircrew and passengers on the planes, but fortunately, only one minor injury was reported.
The March incident was relatively benign by comparison, with ATC calling to let the Delta pilots know that sparks were seen coming off the wing after DL4814 performed a go-around. The jet landed without incident after its second landing attempt. The jet was another 16-year-old workhorse of the Endeavor Air fleet. On the other hand, the most recent involving American Eagle flight 5103 at Omaha Eppley Airfield in Nebraska, is reportedly severe.
Flight 5103 had just landed, inbound from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), when it was hit by a truck that punctured a hole in the fuselage, just behind the cockpit. No injuries were reported by the crew or passengers. Pictures of the PSA Airlines-owned jet, registered as N617NN, show a mangled crater in the aircraft’s skin from the lavatory service truck that backed into it.
Another CRJ Falls Victim
In February 2025, a United Express CRJ550 skidded off the taxiway at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and came to a rough stop in the grass. The aircraft had reportedly performed a safe landing inbound from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), but as it was taxiing to the gate, it went off the tarmac. The mishap is commonly referred to as a runway excursion.
The cause of the incident was deemed to be the snowy winter weather conditions. Fortunately, the plane suffered no major damage and no injuries were reported. The aircraft belongs to GoJet Airlines and serves the United Express regional network. The total headcount at the time of the incident was 27, including crew and passengers, as the Aviation Safety Network reports.
Are Regional Jets At Higher Risk?
Historically, regional airlines have experienced more incidents than major carriers. However, the gap has narrowed considerably as a result of modern safety measures. Compared to pilots at major airlines, who usually have more flight hours throughout their careers, pilots at minor carriers generally have less experience as they are earlier in their career path. That difference in skill does contribute to many incidents.
Compared to mainline carrier fleets, the planes themselves are often more susceptible to the effects of weather and other conditions as well. Compared to big hubs, regional aircraft frequently land at smaller airports with less advanced navigational aids and equipment for airfield maintenance. Lower-altitude flights subject aircraft to more challenging weather conditions, such as turbulence and icing.
Overall accident rates have decreased due to improved pilot training, sophisticated safety management systems, and technological developments. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the number of accidents worldwide has decreased over the last ten years. Ultimately, flying remains the safest mode of transportation in the world, despite a small number of dramatic and sometimes tragic mishaps occurring every year.
