This past week was one of the most depressing weeks for aviation in recent memory as the United States had its first fatal aviation accident since 2009. However, that wasn’t the only news this week, so we have compiled the top travel stories for the weekly recap ending February 1, 2025.
American Airlines Regional Jet Collides With an Army Blackhawk Helicopter
The biggest aviation story of the week, and quite possibly the decade, is the collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Blackhawk helicopter. 67 people were killed when American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, from Wichita, Kansas collided with the helicopter on final approach to Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
While we still have more questions than answers regarding the accident, it broke a 16 year streak of fatal plane crashes for U.S. carriers and is the deadliest accident on American soil since 2001.
(Image: American Airlines)
Rumor Has It United is Looking to Acquire Some or all of JetBlue
Another bit of information that had the internet buzzing this week was United’s reported interest in JetBlue. While the Chicago based carrier responded to the rumors via an 8-K filing this week stating they were not planning on any acquisitions in the short term, the carrier didn’t completely shut down the rumors. The possibility of an asset sale from JetBlue to United is still on the table.
Delta Revealed as the New Anchor Tenant for Tampa Airport’s Airside D
Tampa International Airport is currently building a new terminal, or as they call it, an Airside. Airside D will be the new international terminal at the airport and will become the new home of Delta Air Lines. Airside D will also feature an 18,000 square foot Delta Sky Club with direct boarding available via the lounge for select flights.
Marriott Has Launched a Fast Track Promotion for Elite Status
Marriott introduced its first promotion of 2025 which is offering double elite night credit and 1,000 bonus points per night. This is a great way to quickly qualify for Marriott Bonvoy elite status. The promotion runs between February 11 and April 28, 2025. Registration is now open and runs through April 14, 2025.
Frontier Proposes, and Spirit Rejects, A Second Merger Attempt
Ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Frontier Airlines has proposed a second merger with bankrupt ULCC, Spirit Airlines. Leadership of the two airlines can’t seem to agree on a value, with Spirit executives rejecting Frontier’s proposal. However, given Spirit’s financial state, I don’t see a scenario in which this merger doesn’t end up happening.
Summary
It was a sad week in aviation with the loss of American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter. While the 67 lives lost are tragic, they will not have died in vain as this tragedy will rewrite the aviation rulebook to improve safety moving forward.
In addition to the accident, there was quite of bit of news that we covered as part of the February 1, 2025 weekly recap.
“United States had its first fatal aviation accident since 2009.”
This statement is not true.
There have been some non-fatal accidents. In 2020, a Delta 777 had a compressor stall over Los Angeles, injuring about 50 people. Alaska had a MAX 9 door plug blow out during flight.
There have been fatal accidents since 2009.
>>>>>In 2019, an Atlas Air 767 crashed on approach to Houston IAH, killing a passenger and the 2 pilots.
>>>>>In 2013, a UPS A300 crashed killing all 2 on board in Birmingham, Alabama
>>>>>IN 2010, a UPS 747-400 crashed on a Dubai-Cologne flight. That is not in the US but it is a US carrier.
>>>>>In 2018, a Southwest 737 had an uncontained engine failure causing a rupture in the fuselage window, sucking a woman out, who fell several miles to her death.
>>>>>In 2013, an Asiana 777 crash landed in SFO, split in 2 pieces, and a few passengers died.
What could be said is “since 2009, no airliner operating primarily as a passenger carrier and not a cargo airline has crashed killing all passengers aboard”