US regional jets see rise in accidents amid safety concerns

This incident was described as "the first disastrous commercial aircraft crash in the US since 2009 and the most deadly since 2001." Air traffic controllers and pilots familiar with DCA airspace noted ongoing concerns about congestion and frequent near-misses.

Another near-miss happened on May 1 between a helicopter landing at the Pentagon and an Embraer E170 operated by Republic Airways approaching DCA. The event is attributed to possible miscommunication between air traffic control and flight crews, pending further investigation.

On February 17, Endeavor Air’s Delta Connection flight DL4819—a CRJ900—landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport during severe winter weather. The landing gear failed, causing the plane to flip onto its back after touchdown. Twenty-one people were injured but there were no fatalities.

In another case on April 30, smoke detected near the lavatory forced an Endeavor Air CRJ900 to make an emergency landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. All passengers and crew evacuated safely; initial indications suggested that someone may have triggered the detector by smoking onboard.

Recent weeks saw more ground incidents involving CRJ900s: two Delta Connection flights collided while taxiing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, resulting in significant damage but only one minor injury among those aboard both planes. Another Delta CRJ900 had previously struck its wingtip during a go-around at LaGuardia without causing harm.

At Omaha Eppley Airfield, an American Eagle flight was struck by a service truck after landing from Philadelphia International Airport; no injuries were reported despite visible damage to the fuselage.

Earlier in February, a United Express CRJ550 slid off a snowy taxiway at St. Louis Lambert International Airport after arriving from Washington Dulles International Airport. There were no injuries or significant damage reported.

Regional airlines historically face more incidents than larger carriers due to factors such as less pilot experience and operations at smaller airports with fewer resources for navigation and maintenance. However, advancements in training and technology have reduced overall accident rates globally over recent years according to data from organizations like IATA. Despite isolated high-profile accidents each year, aviation remains statistically one of the safest forms of travel worldwide.