Flight Safety Foundation Warns on Mixed-Use Airspace Risks
The Flight Safety Foundation is urging global aviation stakeholders to address rising safety risks in mixed-use airspace near busy airports, citing growing operational complexity and increased traffic from both traditional and emerging operators.
In its newly released 2025 Safety Report, the Foundation said demand pressures and system strain are reshaping aviation risk exposure. Although international airliner accidents declined in 2025 compared with the previous year, the report recorded 101 airliner accidents overall, including 12 fatal events that resulted in more than 400 passenger and crew fatalities and 33 additional deaths on the ground.
One of the most significant accidents highlighted was the January 29, 2025 midair collision between a PSA Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The accident underscored the hazards associated with congested, mixed-use airspace where commercial, military, general aviation and rotorcraft traffic operate in close proximity, increasingly alongside drones and other new entrants.
Flight Safety Foundation President and CEO Dr. Hassan Shahidi said the convergence of diverse aircraft types near high-density terminals represents a rising global challenge rather than a localized concern. He emphasized the need for effective civil-military coordination, improved situational awareness, interoperable surveillance and communications systems, and clear deconfliction standards.
To address the issue, the Foundation has launched an international task force to develop a Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Airborne Conflict. The initiative aims to strengthen coordination, oversight and accountability across sectors as traffic density and operational diversity continue to expand.
Beyond mixed-use airspace concerns, the Foundation is calling for stronger safety management systems, disciplined regulatory compliance and transparent accident investigation processes. Shahidi warned that aviation systems operating close to capacity have less resilience to absorb disruptions or unexpected hazards.
The 2025 Safety Report, based on data from the Aviation Safety Network database, analyzes airliner and corporate jet accidents by category, phase of flight and operational type. The Foundation said sustained progress in safety will depend on timely hazard reporting, data-driven oversight and rapid sharing of lessons learned across the global aviation community.
About Flight Safety Foundation (flightsafety.org)
Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence, and lead global aviation safety.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, Flight Safety Foundation