A recent incident involving an American Airlines flight has raised concerns about aviation safety, but experts say it’s still safer than it was decades ago. On March 13, Flight 1006 was diverted from its destination after the crew reported engine vibrations, and the engine caught fire upon landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation found that a damaged fan blade, loose airflow control component, and fuel leak were the causes of the incident. The report did not provide a reason for the fire, as the NTSB is still investigating.
Despite this incident, air travel remains safer than ever. According to Cary Grant, an associate professor of aeronautical science, the engine issues with Flight 1006 are rare, and the CFM56-7B engine is extremely reliable.
Grant pointed out that the rarity of such incidents, combined with decreasing aviation accident rates, suggests that air travel is actually safer than ever. “The data does not support that air travel is riskier,” he said. “It’s actually just the opposite.”
In fact, Boeing reported a significant decline in fatalities and accidents in 2024, with a 40% decrease in total accident rates and a 65% decline in fatal accident rates over the past 20 years. This comes despite an increase of 20% in flights during the same period.
The incident highlights the importance of ongoing safety measures and investigations into aviation incidents. However, it also serves as a reminder that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation, with millions of hours of flight time logged every year without major incidents.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/06/06/american-airlines-plane-fire-national-transportation-safety-board-engine-parts-backward