From fatal crashes and historic milestones to close calls and luxurious private jets, some aviation stories that unfolded in 2025 captured widespread attention across social media, driving views and sparking global conversations.
The following stories emerged as the most widely shared and engaged with aviation posts across GlobalAir.com’s social media platforms in 2025.
The most viewed story of the year on social media centered on cockpit audio from a JetBlue flight departing from Curacao, in which the pilot expressed frustration after a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker crossed its path without its transponder activated.
The pilot described it as a near midair collision. The recording has garnered over 690,000 views and counting across our Instagram and Facebook accounts.
RELATED STORY: ‘We almost had a midair collision:’ JetBlue pilot describes close call with Air Force refuelerComing in second was Cub Crafters’ record-setting flight, as the manufacturer’s Carbon Cub aircraft achieved a new altitude milestone of 37,609 ft above sea level. The flight now sets the unofficial world altitude record for Cub-type aircraft.The accomplishment drew widespread praise across the aviation community, highlighting innovation in light aircraft performance and backcountry aviation.RELATED STORY: CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL backcountry aircraft breaks 74 year altitude recordIn April 2025, the NTSB released its findings for a 2023 helicopter crash that killed a 93-year-old man. The NTSB said it was likely the non-certified pilot was conducting an engine ground run on his Robinson R22 Beta when it became airborne, hit terrain, and killed him. There was no record found of the pilot ever receiving a pilot certificate or documentation for flying helicopters.
The pilot had a previous stroke and Parkinson’s disease and was diagnosed with moderate senile dementia months before the crash.RELATED STORY: NTSB: 93-year-old non-certificated pilot likely conducting ground run when R22 became airborne, crashed
Several of the year’s biggest stories on social media involved fatal accidents. The death of Anh-Thu Nguyen prompted an outpouring of tributes from pilots, content creators, and aviation enthusiasts. GlobalAir.com interviewed her in July at Oshkosh, just a day before she embarked on a solo flight across the world, hoping to become the first Vietnamese woman to complete the journey.RELATED STORY: Pilot Anh-Thu Nguyen dies in plane crash at start of global solo flight
A few days later, news broke that Nguyen’s plane crashed in Indiana. She did not survive. Our story on her has since reached over 188,000 people on YouTube, honoring her legacy and influence in the aviation community.
In Mayfield, Kentucky, a business jet crashed into a house. The pilot of the Citation CJ4 was unable to stop the aircraft at the end of the runway, slid off it, went across a highway, and into a home.
The pilot and homeowner were thankfully both unharmed, but the home was left heavily damaged.
RELATED STORY: Citation CJ4 crashes into home in Mayfield, KentuckyThe fatal wingsuit accident involving experienced aviator Kirk Hawkins was the 6th biggest story on social media from GlobalAir.com this year.
Hawkins was the co-founder of ICON Aircraft. He had jumped from a helicopter in Switzerland alongside three other people, and he flew along the east ridge of the Eiger summit. He then collided with trees and fell.
RELATED STORY: ICON Aircraft co-founder Kirk Hawkins dies in wingsuit crash in SwitzerlandOther widely shared stories included a one-on-one interview with aviation designer Sarah Mespelt Larranaga. Larranaga has completed more than 100 full aircraft interiors and exteriors for private clients, including WWE Wrestling, New Balance, Rolex, Puma Basketball, and Estee Lauder. She is more recently known for her work designing celebrity Paris Hilton’s iconic pink Gulfstream G450. RELATED STORY: Meet the designer behind Paris Hilton’s custom pink jetIn Minnesota, a 1946 Stinson 108 was seized by the Red Lake Band of the Chippewa Indians after an engine failure forced the pilot to make a landing on the highway at the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The tribe passed an air ban prohibiting any aircraft from operating at an altitude below 20,000 feet over the area. The pilot was flying at 3500 feet.
RELATED STORY: AOPA requests federal assistance to retrieve seized aircraft from reservationAOPA is now stepping in, sending a letter to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy asking for help in recovering the aircraft.
In the world of seaplanes, Loch Lomond Seaplanes announced it had ceased trading after 20 years. Loch Lomond was the first scheduled seaplane operator in Europe since the 1950’s, flying passengers around scenic Scotland.
RELATED STORY: Loch Lomond Seaplanes suddenly ceases trading after 20 yearsThe Founder and managing director, David West, is hopeful he can bring the company back and resume flying passengers. He said the company was at risk of going into administration. The move to cease trading could be intended to give the company freedom from creditor enforcement actions while it restructures financially.
Lastly, on our list of the biggest social media stories from GlobalAir.com in 2025, we said goodbye to the last WWII ace fighter pilot.
Donald Melvin McPherson died August 14 at the age of 103. He served as a Navy fighter pilot against Japanese forces on board the USS Essex during the later years of the war. He enlisted at 18 years old in 1942 and flew as part of fighter squadron VF-83 in a F6F Hellcat.
To be considered an ace, a pilot must shoot down five or more planes.
RELATED STORY: Last WWII Ace fighter pilot in America dies at 103 years oldDuring his service, McPherson earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals. He later received a Congressional Gold Medal in 2015.
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