FSF Safety Report warns of increasing risk in mixed-use airspace near airports

Flight Safety Foundation has warned in its 2025 Safety Report that increasing operational complexity and growing demand from operators are putting more pressure on the aviation safety ecosystem.
The report shows there were 101 accidents involving airliners of all types in 2025 and that 12 of those crashes resulted in the death of one or more people. Over 400 passengers and crew and 33 people died in 2025 because of these airliner accidents, according to ASN. The Foundation claims that the industry must respond with clear standards, strong oversight, robust safety management and decisive safety leadership. Reducing the risk in mixed-use airspace would require effective civil-military coordination, improved situational awareness, updated surveillance and communications and clear deconfliction standards.
“This is not a localized issue; it is a rising global safety challenge as aircraft in the military, commercial, general aviation, and rotorcraft sectors, converge near high-density terminals alongside drones and similar new entrants,” said Dr. Hassan Shahidi, Foundation President and CEO. “Managing that convergence requires shared accountability: clear procedures, upgraded equipment, data-driven oversight and decisive action on recurring risk signals.”
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The Foundation has launched an international task force to coordinate the development of the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Airborne Conflict. It has asked industry stakeholders to focus on strengthening system capacity and durability to keep up with demand and on reinforcing the global safety learning cycle.