Business Aviation Records Deadliest Year Since 2011

Business aviation safety suffered its worst year in more than a decade in 2025, with 143 people killed in 35 fatal accidents, according to preliminary data compiled by AIN. The death toll represents a 53.8% year-over-year increase and is second only to 2011, when 156 fatalities were recorded across the sector.

One of the most recent and high-profile incidents occurred at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, where a suspected landing gear failure caused a Learjet 35A to veer off the runway during landing and collide with a parked Gulfstream G200 on the ramp. The accident resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, underscoring persistent operational risks during approach and landing phases.

Globally, fatalities involving business jets surged 171.4% year over year, rising from 21 in 2024 to 57 in 2025. Turboprop-related fatalities also increased, climbing 19.4% from 72 to 86. In total, 104 business aircraft accidents were recorded last year—32 involving business jets and 72 turboprops—a 15.6% increase compared with 2024.

More concerning, the proportion of accidents that proved fatal rose sharply. Fatal business aviation accidents increased 29.6% year over year, involving 13 business jets and 22 turboprops, compared with eight jet and 19 turboprop fatal accidents in the previous year.

In the United States, the number of fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets declined slightly, from five to four, but the fatality count remained unchanged at 15. All four fatal U.S.-registered jet accidents in 2025 occurred under Part 91 operations, continuing a trend in which non-commercial flights account for the majority of deadly incidents. By comparison, one of the five fatal U.S. business jet accidents in 2024 occurred under Part 135 charter operations.

Outside the United States, the picture worsened dramatically. Fatalities involving non-U.S.-registered business jets jumped from six in 2024 to 42 in 2025, spread across nine accidents. Charter operations accounted for 21 deaths, or half of the non-U.S. business jet fatality total, highlighting elevated risks in certain operational environments.

Business turboprop operations showed a similar pattern. Fatalities involving U.S.-registered turboprops rose to 31 deaths in 11 accidents, up from 17 fatalities in seven accidents in 2024. Among these were one charter flight and one government public service operation. Meanwhile, non-U.S.-registered turboprop accidents resulted in 55 fatalities across 11 accidents, matching the previous year’s death toll but occurring in fewer events.

Taken together, the 2025 figures point to a troubling reversal in long-term safety trends for business aviation. While overall activity levels and mission complexity continue to grow, the sharp rise in fatal accidents—particularly outside the United States—has renewed calls for closer scrutiny of training standards, operational oversight, and risk management practices across both private and charter segments of the industry.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ainonline.com