Globalair.com had 564,587 views of its articles in 2025. Following business aviation, crashes, updates to ATC infrastructure, pilot laws and more, we have focused on providing up-to-date and relevant news to our readers.Here are the most viewed articles from Globalair.com in 2025:
10. Former student pilot sentenced for stealing private aircraft in GeorgiaFormer student pilot Rufus Crane reportedly stole a Bonanza A36 aircraft from the Perry-Houston County Airport (PXE) and flew to the JAARS-TOWNSEND Airport (N52) at approximately 12:42 a.m. on May 4, 2024. He stopped at an airport in South Carolina for refueling on the return flight and intended to fly back to Perry, but according to the court statement, it was too foggy for him to safely land the aircraft. Crane instead flew to the Cochran Municipal Airport (48A), refueled, then returned the aircraft to its hangar at around 11:01 a.m. on May 5 once the fog had cleared.
In addition to flying a stolen aircraft with no pilot’s license, Crane also turned the transponder of the Bonanza off, so the aircraft did not send signals to ATC on its location, altitude or speed. He pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen aircraft on June 11, 2025.
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9. Learjet crashes into parked G200 after landing gear failure, killing 1A Learjet 35A (N81VN) veered off of the runway after landing at the Scottsdale Airport (SDL) on Monday, crossing the taxiway and hitting a parked Gulfstream G200 (N199DF). Mötley Crüe member Vince Neil owned the plane, but he was not on board.
The FAA said the Learjet crashed into the G200 on the ramp around 2:45 p.m. local time. Four people were on board the Learjet, and one was on board the Gulfstream. One member of the flight crew was killed, while another crew member and two passengers were seriously injured. They were transported to Valley hospitals for treatment. Another individual refused medical treatment.
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8. NTSB: Senator failed to use runway, landing lights before crash that killed 4The NTSB released its final report on the Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee (N7153R) crash that killed North Dakota state Sen. Doug Larsen, his wife and two young sons on Oct. 1, 2023, near Moab, Utah. The report said that the pilot did not use the pilot-controlled runway lights and turned off the airplane landing lights after takeoff, losing visual reference to the horizon and resulting in his spatial orientation and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
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7. Man sues Cessna 172 owner over leaded avgas use, low-flyingA man in Washington state sued a Cessna 172D owner for choosing to use leaded fuel when unleaded alternatives are available, repeatedly flying low over his home, and causing him to experience severe panic attacks. The plaintiff, Scott Iceberg, filed the nuisance and public nuisance lawsuit in the Superior Court of Washington for Snohomish County on Jan. 1 against FLYBOYS, LLC, asking for money damages and declaratory relief.
The suit describes Iceberg as a disabled resident in Arlington, Washington, who has been diagnosed with and currently suffers from ulcerative colitis and is substantially limited concerning his immune function. Because of this, he has an elevated risk of developing blood cancers such as lymphoma and/or leukemia. The defendant, a Washington LLC, owns and operates a single-engine Cessna Skyhawk 172D (N539MT). The suit alleges that the aircraft owner chooses to fuel the plane with leaded aviation fuel, “even though unleaded aviation fuel is widely available.” The defendant is said to fly thousands of miles per year, “spewing lead everywhere it flies,” including directly over the Iceberg’s house.
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6. U.S. Senators push to raise pilot retirement age alongside new ICAO ambassadorSens. John Thune, Marsha Blackburn and Mark Kelly are pushing for the Trump administration to support raising the international mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots. The current age for retirement is 65, but there have been efforts to raise it to 67. Supporters of raising the retirement age believe that raising the retirement age could preserve pilot experience, reduce the number of accidents and keep the U.S. in its leadership role in civil aviation. There were efforts to raise the age to 67 in 2023 in the U.S., but it was voted down by Congress. ICAO rules prohibit pilots over 65 from operating flights in most countries. Countries that do allow pilots over the age of 65 to fly limit the pilots to only flying domestic flights.
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5. Atlanta airport loses federal funding due to refusal to remove DEI policesThe Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) lost its federal funding for continuing to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies. A statement from DOT Secretary Sean Duffy in April stated that any policy or program that prohibited classification, including DEI policies, violates federal law. Recipients of federal grants will lose its funding if any policies, programs and activities are considered discriminatory. The airport should have received $57 million from the FAA for multiple construction projects, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but ATL leaders refused to remove its DEI programs and did not sign the new grant agreement. The airport has forfeited access to that grant money and now approximately $37.5 million in federal funding has been lost. The projects included taxiway pavement replacement, terminal restroom renovations and a safety project for the north airfield and are worth more than $50 million. The City of Atlanta could potentially recoup about $19.6 million in future federal funding if policies are amended.
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4. Parachute not deployed in Cirrus SR22 crash that killed family of 4
A Cirrus SR22TT crashed in North Carolina in July, killing all four people on board. The aircraft’s pilot had advised a local FBO about a loss of communication and navigational equipment about 5 to 6 miles from the airport. Shortly after, engine issues were reported to the FBO. The aircraft was found approximately 1 mile away from the Raleigh Executive Jetport (TTA). “It does not appear the parachute deployed,” Enders said. “We’re not certain why yet. Sometimes, that’s an altitude thing. There’s many factors that could play into that, but it does not appear that the parachute deployed.”
The occupants were identified as Travis and Candance Buchanan and their children, Aubrey and Walker.
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3. FAA warns airports against selling only unleaded aircraft fuelThe FAA released a Qandamp;A statement in June over Grant Assurance 40, which prohibits airports from restricting the sale of 100LL until a suitable alternative fuel meets the required criteria and is approved. The statement confirms that any airport that sold 100LL at any point in 2022 can not prohibit or restrict the sale of 100LL now. Banning the use of an FAA-authorized fuel at a federally obligated airport may place the sponsor in violation of Grant Assurance 22, Economic Nondiscrimination or 23, Exclusive Rights, even if the airport banned 100LL before 2022. The FAA clarifies that there is currently no alternative fuel that meets the criteria to replace 100LL, as it would have to be authorized for all types of aircraft. It promises to release more information once a suitable fuel is found.
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2. Stopping the Skid: How a HondaJet group is reeducating its pilots for safer landingsA pilot attempted to land a HondaJet on a 5,000-foot runway at just after midnight on May 18, 2023, at the Summerville Airport (DYB) in South Carolina. The HondaJet overshot the runway, slid down an embankment and stopped approximately 360 feet away from the runway’s end. The six people on board escaped unharmed, just before the jet erupted in flames and burned up. That incident was the eighth in 14 months involving HondaJets overshooting runways. The HJOPA (HondaJet Operators andamp; Pilots Association) launched its Proficient Pilot Program (P3), designed specifically for HondaJet pilots, to negate this problem for pilots.
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1. Loose plug found in crash that killed aerobatic legend Rob HollandOn April 24, 2025, an MX Aircraft Tech PTY LTD MXS (N530RH) crashed on approach to the Langley Air Force Base (LFI) in Hampton, Virginia, killing aerobatic pilot Rob Holland. In the preliminary report, the NTSB said a counterweight plug on the specially modified plane was not installed and was located behind the wreckage.
The aviation community mourned after losing 50-year-old aerobatic legend Holland. He began his love for aviation as a young airshow fan in New England, earning his pilot’s license while still a teen, according to his website. Holland began flying aerobatics almost immediately and worked a plethora of jobs within the industry, building flight time and experience as a corporate pilot, commuter pilot, banner tower, flight instructor, ferry pilot and while operating his aerobatic flight school.
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