Global bizjet accident fatalities drop significantly in first half of 2024

A separate incident occurred on February 9 when both engines failed on a chartered Bombardier Challenger 604 approaching Naples Municipal Airport in Florida. The crash resulted in the deaths of two pilots working for Ace Aviation Services under Part 135 regulations. A flight attendant and two passengers survived with minor injuries.

On March 10, an Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 Westwind Astra crashed during approach at Ingalls Field Airport in Hot Springs, Virginia. The accident resulted in five fatalities: two pilots and three passengers. SkyJet Elite operated this as a Part 91 IFR personal flight.

Outside the United States, there was one non-U.S.-registered business jet accident resulting in two fatalities, down from three accidents claiming 15 lives during the first six months of 2023. On January 20, two out of six people aboard a Russian-registered Dassault Falcon 10 died when it crashed on an ambulance flight in Afghanistan.

U.S.-registered business turboprop incidents resulted in nearly as many fatal accidents as last year but saw fewer fatalities. Four Part 91 mishaps caused seven deaths in early 2024 compared to five accidents causing seventeen deaths last year; this includes five deaths from one Part 135 accident.

For non-U.S.-registered business turboprops, nine crashes led to thirty-six deaths during the first half of this year compared to twenty-eight fatalities from eight crashes last year. Among these fatal incidents, five involved private flights; two were charter flights, one was associated with skydiving operations, and another was part of a police mission.