Bizav Accident Fatalities Climb 24% in First Nine Months

Fatalities from turbine business airplane accidents worldwide increased nearly 24 percent in the first nine months versus the same period in 2024, according to preliminary data gathered by AIN. Twenty-five accidents involving business jets and turboprops accounted for 99 lives lost so far this year, up from 23 accidents resulting in 75 deaths through the third quarter of last year.

Notably, U.S.-registered business jets was the only segment among all turbine-powered business airplanes to record fewer accident fatalities year over year in the first nine months. Further, there were no fatal accidents of U.S.-registered business jets in the third quarter. In the first three quarters of last year, 11 people were killed in four accidents of U.S.-registered business jets (one under Part 135) versus eight fatalities from three accidents (all under Part 91) this year.

These U.S. accidents include a parked Gulfstream G200 struck by a U.S.-registered Bombardier Learjet 35A that veered off the runway while landing in Februay, killing the Learjet pilot. Another occurred on March 13, when a Cessna Citation CJ2 on a ferry flight made a right turn and climbed to about 950 feet after takeoff before it began a rapid descent and crashed, killing the sole-occupant pilot. On May 22, a Citation S550 was destroyed when it crashed on an approach, killing the pilot and five passengers.

Six accidents of non-U.S.-registered business jets claimed 21 lives in the first nine months, compared with just two accidents and four fatalities in the same period a year ago. This year’s accidents include: January 9, a privately-operated, Brazilian-registered Citation CJ1+, killing the sole-occupant pilot; January 29, a Venezuelan government-operated Citation SII, killing three; January 31, a Mexican-registered Learjet 55 air ambulance, killing six; June 3, a Venezuala-registered private Citation I, killing five; August 7, a Kenya-registered Citation 560, killing four; and September  24, a Venezuala-registered, government-operated Learjet 55, killing two.

In the first nine months of this year, 23 people were killed in seven accidents involving U.S.-registered business turboprops—including one under Part 135 and one under public/government operations—versus 15 fatalities in six accidents (all under Part 91) last year. Meanwhile, 47 people died in nine accidents involving non-U.S.-registered turboprop this year versus 45 fatalities from 11 accidents last year.