Australian aviation expert reveals theory behind string of plane incidents

A string of terrifying plane crashes in recent weeks has travellers across the world on edge. Now, an Aussie expert has a theory that will do little to settle their nerves.

Worries over the safety of planes and North American skies are under the spotlight after a series of aviation disasters, most recently the Delta plane flipping upon landing in Canada.

But while some experts suggest the apparent uptick in crashes is the result of “random clustering”, an Australian aviation expert with more than 30 years experience believes the incidents could come down to a tumultuous window of two years.

The dramatic scene of the Delta aircraft flipping on the tarmac and captured on video by air traffic controllers remains under investigation by the Canadian Transportation Safety Board.

Images and video of the accident showed the CRJ-900 aircraft catch fire when it hit the tarmac and proceeded to turn sideways while sliding across the airfield, losing its tail and both wings along the way.

Are there actually more crashes in 2025 that previous years? Picture: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Eventually, the aircraft flipped over entirely before coming to a halt. Passengers on the plane were filmed dangling upside down, suspended by their fastened seatbelts.

In the days prior to the crash, snow and ice coated the tarmac, with powerful and blustery winds engulfing the region.

But Toronto International Airport Fire Chief Todd Aitken said the day the aircraft landed, the runway was dry, and there were no concerning crosswind conditions.

As the investigation continues, authorities will consider the weather conditions, as well as the possibility of human error or an aircraft malfunction as they try to determine why the aircraft flipped.

Aviation expert Neil Hansford believes this particular crash will ultimately come down to pilot fault — and that the Covid years that engulfed the world has a lot to answer for when it comes down to what experience is left in the air.

Australian aviation expert Neil Hansford has weighed in on why we have seen a string of aviation incidents in 2025. Picture: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images/AFP.

“You want to go back and look at the effect of Covid,” Mr Hansford, who has more than 30 years experience in the aviation industry, told news.com.au.

“That two years really precluded pilot training, and it wasn’t only the pilot training that didn’t get done … but the older folk chose to either be furloughed or retire.

“So a lot of experience at the top end of the scales disappeared out of the industry … you lost a hell of a lot of training too.”

Researcher Dr. Rajee Olaganathan from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, released a string of findings in 2022 around the relationship between the Covid shutdown and pilot skill.

Her findings essentially focused on how those two years had an “alarming impact” on pilot proficiency.

“What surprised me was the level of skills deterioration over such a short duration,” said the study’s principal investigator, adjunct professor Dr. Rajee Olaganathan, citing a 50 per cent increase in pilot errors following the pandemic-related shutdown of summer 2020.

“Skill knowledge is acquired slowly through related experience and practice. When flying hours are reduced, it will have an effect on the pilots’ skills.”

Delta Airlines plane that crashed and injured at least 18 passengers at Toronto Pearson International Airport this week. Picture: Katherine KY Cheng / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.

There’s an investigation underway about how this crash happened. Picture: Katherine KY Cheng/Getty Images/AFP.

The highest reduction in global flight operations during the pandemic occurred in May 2020, when services reduced 70.6% compared to the level of service one year prior. In the United States alone, that translated to a total of 532,834 fewer flights than in May 2019.

“Covid has got a lot to contribute to worldwide standards,” Mr Hansford said.

“In Australia we are well through it and well on the other side, particularly because we don’t have the weather excesses.

“Because of the size of the country, we fly a lot of sectors and people have to get a lot of experience. That’s why you find Australian pilots, everywhere you go, the Aussie expertise is sought after,

“It’s hard to get a licence here. We are so strict on our student pilot standards to get their commercial pilot licence. Virgin and Qantas, they have such high standards.”

“But losing those two years to Covid, has put a load on all levels of training whether it be manual training or pilot training. The world lost two years.”

Jason Matzus, a lawyer at Matzus Law, had his own theory on the string of aviation incidents seen in 2025.

Speaking to the US Sun, Mr Matzus said that the apparent uptick in crashes is the result of “random clustering”.

“Naturally, recent plane crashes such as the Delta plane flipping on landing in Toronto and the midair collision at Reagan National in DC, have raised public awareness and concerns about the safety of flying,” he said.

“While these events are tragic, the likely explanation is simply ‘random clustering,’ which occurs when multiple crashes occur over a short period.”

He said the coverage of the crashes warps our general perception and causes us to think there is an increasing trend in plane crashes.

“When in reality these crashes, despite being so close together, are merely coincidental and not caused by a systemic safety issue,” he added.

“Our perception of an increasing trend is often amplified by media coverage.

“The reality remains that air travel is statistically the safest form of travel and the spate of recent crashes isn’t necessary indicative of an actual increase in frequency of plane crashes.”

– with The US Sun