Aviation

FAA reports multiple fatal general aviation incidents within 24 hours, reigniting safety concerns despite post-pandemic industry resurgence. Recent crashes involving a Beechcraft Model 95 in Colorado and a Cessna 172 in New Jersey, along with clustered accidents in Illinois, Nebraska, and New York, underline risks in maintenance protocols, pilot training, and retrofits. The US’s high infrastructure density (25 airfields/10,000 km² vs. Europe’s 9) supports economic efficiency but complicates oversight. Over two-thirds of active aircraft operate outside commercial safety frameworks, while aging fleets (avg. 38 years) face cost barriers to modernization ($300,000/cockpit). Congressional inquiries now address these systemic challenges amid expanded private flight activity (3.5M Q1 2025 hours, 22% higher than 2023).