Some carriers have a more turbulent history than others.
Stepping onto a plane involves a certain amount of trust, relying on the airline’s commitment to safety above all else. While commercial air travel is statistically safer than driving, the reality is that not all airlines uphold the same rigorous standards. Certain carriers have unfortunately been associated with tragic incidents over the past decade that give passengers pause.
This isn’t about scaring anyone away from flying, but about providing context based on publicly available incident reports. Understanding an airline’s recent history is a reasonable step for any traveler to take before booking a ticket.
1. A catastrophic 737 Max failure put this Indonesian airline in the spotlight.
Lion Air became a household name for the worst possible reasons following the crash of Flight 610 in October 2018. The brand-new Boeing 737 MAX plunged into the Java Sea just minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, tragically killing all 189 people on board. The investigation pointed to a catastrophic failure of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, a new flight control system on the aircraft that the pilots had not been told about.
The incident exposed critical flaws not just in the aircraft’s design but also in communication between Boeing and the airlines, as mentioned in Family Travel Genie. While this was a manufacturing and design issue, the event shattered public confidence and placed intense scrutiny on the operational and maintenance procedures of the airline. The crash was a pivotal moment in modern aviation history, highlighting a chain of failures that led to a devastating outcome.
2. The second 737 Max crash led to a global grounding.
Less than five months after the Lion Air tragedy, the world watched in horror as history repeated itself. In March 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, another nearly new Boeing 737 MAX, crashed shortly after leaving Addis Ababa, claiming the lives of all 157 passengers and crew. The flight data recorder revealed a terrifyingly similar struggle between the pilots and the automated MCAS system that doomed the earlier flight, according to SafeWise.
This second, nearly identical disaster confirmed a deadly systemic flaw and forced aviation authorities worldwide to ground the entire Boeing 737 MAX fleet for nearly two years. For Ethiopian Airlines, a carrier with a generally modern fleet and a strong reputation in Africa, the crash was a devastating blow. It underscored that even well-regarded airlines could fall victim to fundamental design flaws beyond their immediate control.
3. Flying in Nepal’s mountains proves consistently perilous for this airline.
Nepal’s challenging mountainous terrain and unpredictable weather create some of the most difficult flying conditions on earth, and Tara Air’s safety record reflects these immense risks. The airline, which operates short-haul flights to remote airstrips, has suffered multiple fatal accidents in the last decade. A crash in February 2016 killed all 23 people on board, and another tragic incident in May 2022 resulted in the loss of 22 lives.
These incidents often involve small propeller aircraft navigating through treacherous mountain passes where weather can change in an instant. While the skill of the pilots is not in question, the combination of difficult geography, variable weather, and an aging fleet creates a high-risk environment, as shared in Travel Pirates. The recurring nature of these accidents has put Tara Air and the broader Nepalese aviation sector under intense scrutiny from international safety bodies.
4. A shocking crash in a residential area marked a low point.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) faced a major tragedy in May 2020 when Flight 8303 crashed into a residential neighborhood in Karachi during its final approach. The Airbus A320 was attempting a go-around after a botched initial landing attempt when it lost power in both engines. The crash resulted in the deaths of 97 of the 99 people on the aircraft, as well as one person on the ground.
The subsequent investigation revealed a startling degree of human error, with the pilots reportedly distracted and not following standard procedures during the landing. The incident also brought to light a wider scandal concerning “dubious” pilot licenses in Pakistan, which led to the airline being banned from flying to Europe and the United States for a period. This event severely damaged the carrier’s reputation on the world stage.
5. This carrier’s 2021 crash highlighted issues in Indonesia’s aviation sector.
In January 2021, Indonesia’s aviation safety record was once again in the news when Sriwijaya Air Flight 182, a Boeing 737-500, plunged into the sea minutes after departing from Jakarta. All 62 passengers and crew members were killed in the crash. Investigators looking into the disaster focused on the aircraft’s autothrottle system, which is believed to have malfunctioned, creating an asymmetry in engine power that the pilots were unable to correct in time.
The aircraft involved was 26 years old, drawing attention to the age of some fleets operating in the region. While older planes can be operated safely with rigorous maintenance, the incident raised questions about oversight and mechanical upkeep. The crash served as another grim reminder of the persistent challenges facing Indonesia’s aviation industry as it struggles to enforce uniform safety standards across its many domestic airlines.
6. A mysterious and terrifying nosedive remains a subject of concern.
One of the most horrifying and perplexing air disasters in recent memory involved China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 in March 2022. The Boeing 737-800 was cruising at a high altitude when it suddenly entered a near-vertical dive, plummeting into a mountainside in southern China at incredible speed. All 132 people on board were killed instantly in the high-energy impact, which left a crater in the earth.
More than three years later, the official cause of the crash remains shrouded in mystery, as a final report has not been released by Chinese authorities. Flight data recorders recovered from the site reportedly suggested the dive may have been intentional, pointing away from a mechanical failure. This lack of a clear explanation or resolution leaves a deeply unsettling cloud over the incident, creating anxiety for travelers.