Where Data Tells the Story
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The visualization above shows the airline with the most crashes. It is based on data from Curcio & Casciato as of 2025.
A widely cited ranking of airlines with the most plane crashes factors in more than just mechanical failures and pilot error.
Two of American Airlines’ crashes and two of United’s come from the September 11, 2001 hijackings, folded into the same tally as routine aviation accidents.
The tie at the top isn’t the whole story either. Two of aviation’s biggest mergers are hiding bigger numbers behind familiar airline names.
American Eagle, American Airlines’ regional affiliate, operates 5 of its own aircraft. Add that to American’s 11, and the “American” family total reaches 16, clear of everyone else on the list.
United Airlines tells a similar story. United, at 7 crashes, merged with Continental Airlines, at 5, back in 2012. Combine their histories and the total comes to 12, one more crash than the tie for first place between American and Air France.
Two other names on the list no longer exist as standalone carriers.
Continental is now part of United, and Indian Airlines, sitting at 4 crashes, merged into Air India back in 2011.