2026 Ranking of 9 Major US Airlines for Safety
Discover the safest airlines in the USA - a 2026 overall rating by AirAdvisor. Explore the top airlines for safety in the US and see where all the main ones rank.
Anyone who is planning to book a flight likely has the question of „What is the safest airline?" cross their mind. If you can choose an airline with a recently flawless safety record, why wouldn't you? We reviewed all the International Air Transport Association (IATA) statistics available on accidents that occurred in 2025. We found that:
- The worldwide airline industry experienced 40 passenger airline accidents in 2025.
- 5 of these accidents had fatalities - 386 people in total.
- None of the US airline accidents had any fatalities.
- Three of the US-based major passenger airlines were involved in at least 2 accidents in 2025 (7 in total).
Read on for more details about the individual accidents and which airlines had a perfect accident-free record in 2025.
The Safest Airlines in the US
According to IATA, these 6 airlines did not have any accidents in 2025. So, it's nearly impossible to determine which is the safest airline among them. Here they are in alphabetical order:
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines was completely accident-free in 2025, but the same can't be said for 2023. They had a single accident on August 20, 2023. The accident occurred on flight 1288 from Seattle to Santa Ana when the landing gear punched through the plane's wing.
No doubt that this was a scary experience with sparks flying due to the damage, and the passengers experienced a definite hard landing. Luckily, there were no fatalities - it was just the plane that experienced substantial damage and was likely related to Tropical Storm Hilary.
Before the 2023 incident, we have to go way back to December 26, 2005, to find an Alaska Airlines accident. The incident involved ground damage and was also non-fatal.
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air had zero accidents in 2025, and Allegiant's most recent accident dates back to March 29, 2007. It involved the plane's landing gear and resulted in significant damage, but there were no fatalities. It's good to know that even ultra-low-cost carriers take safety extremely seriously, and you don't have to spend a fortune for a safe flight.
Delta Air Lines
Completely accident-free in 2025, Delta Air Lines had 2 notable non-fatal accidents in 2023. The first was on June 28 on flight 1092 from Atlanta to Charlotte. The plane had an issue with the nose landing gear and had to land using only the main gear and the actual nose of the plane. Remarkably, there were no injuries.
The second accident was on July 24 for a flight intended to go from Milan Malpensa Airport to New York's JFK Airport. The plane was significantly damaged during a hailstorm and had to make an emergency landing in Rome.
Although not specifically classed as an accident, as the plane had already landed, on May 6, 2024, Delta flight 604 from Cancun to Seattle was involved in a scary safety issue when a fire broke out under the cockpit once grounded at Sea-Tac Airport.
The 189 passengers had to leave their belongings and slide urgently down the evacuation chute. Although no injuries were reported, this was not the welcome home the vacationing passengers expected. Upon initial review, it is thought that the fire started due to a spark when the plane plugged into the airport's ground power after landing.
This incident would have caused a severe delay to the passengers on board and the passengers waiting for the onward flight. If you've ever experienced a flight delay of 3 hours or more, it's worth determining if you're eligible for flight delay compensation from the airline.
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Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines was also accident-free in 2025. Their most recent accident occurred on September 23, 2021, and involved a tail strike on landing. The accident was non-fatal but did result in plane damage.
If you're unaware of the term, a tail strike, although somewhat self-explanatory, happens when the empennage (the stabilizing structures at the aircraft's tail) or the tail itself hits the ground or a stationary object.
JetBlue Airways
Although JetBlue did not have any accidents in 2025, the most recent one was in 2022. The plane suffered a tail strike during takeoff from Colorado's Hayden-Yampa Valley Airport. After the tail strike, the plane did take off but made a hard right-hand turn, which would have been very unpleasant for anyone on board. The plane was able to continue its ascent, but for safety reasons, it was diverted to Denver International Airport, where it was able to land without incident.
JetBlue is a well-regarded discount airline that's one of the most comfortable airlines to fly in the US, so it definitely has other positives. In fact, JetBlue tops our list of the best US airlines for 2026.
Southwest Airlines
In the case of Southwest Airlines, they are also among the airlines with zero 2025 accidents. This low-cost carrier's most recent accident was on June 17, 2019, and wasn't a danger to the passengers on board. The accident occurred when a catering truck struck the plane.
Passengers would have encountered a significant delay while a new plane was being located.
If we go just a little further back, Southwest Airlines is the only carrier on our list that had a fatal accident. On April 17, 2018, on a flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Dallas, an engine exploded in mid-air. Tragically, there was one fatality, and 7 others sustained injuries. Before this accident, the last time a passenger died on a US airline was in 2009.
The Other 3 Airlines - Accidents in 2025
The final 3 airlines with the most recent accidents are ranked by the number of accidents during the period, and again, there were no fatalities.
American Airlines
American Airlines had 2 accidents in 2025:
- Engine vibrations that resulted in substantial damage on March 15, and
- A main gear collapse on takeoff on July 26.
While the July accident may sound serious, there were no fatalities, so the record is intact. Before these accidents, American Airlines had one on March 21, 2020, the result of a tail strike when the plane was landing. So, the airline had a solid 5-year accident-free record until 2025.
United Airlines
United Airlines also experienced 2 accidents in 2025:
- A tail strike during landing on July 2, and
- A cracked windshield on October 16.
United fared worse in 2023 and 2024, with a total of 6 different accidents. These accidents ranged from issues with the landing gear to tail strikes to runway excursion due to a main gear collapse.
Frontier Airlines - The Most Accidents in 2025
Frontier Airlines is technically the least safe airline in 2026. In 2025, the carrier had 3 separate accidents. And when you think that Frontier operates a fraction of the flights of Delta or American, you might feel concerned, but you don't need to be.
All of Frontier's accidents were non-fatal and involved:
- A tug strike to the side of the aircraft on January 20,
- A hard touchdown and go around on April 15, and
- A tail strike on go around on July 12.
So, although Frontier had the most accidents, it's still a safe airline. And when price is a factor, you can't beat this budget carrier, which was the top choice in our ranking for the cheapest airlines in the US this year.
Cancellations and accidents are always inconvenient and are sure to disrupt your travel plansLuckily, based on certain parameters, you can qualify for canceled flight compensation.Learn about your rights
AirAdvisor US Airline Safety Rating - Carriers with 2025 Accidents
Airline | Date | Reported incidents in 2025 | Fatal / non-fatal | Severity | Summary |
American Airlines | 3/15/2025 and 7/26/2025 | 2 | Non-fatal | Substantial damage | Engine vibrations / Main gear collapse on takeoff |
United Airlines | 7/2/2025 and 10/16/2025 | 2 | Non-fatal | Substantial damage | Tail strike during landing / Cracked windshield |
Frontier Airlines | 1/20/2025, 4/15/2025, 7/12/2025 | 3 | Non-fatal | Substantial damage | Tug strike to side of aircraft / Hard touchdown and go around / Tail strike on go around |
Our Data
To determine what is the safest airline in the US, we examined all the data published by IATA on the documented carrier accidents in 2025. Any airline with an accident-free record is at the top of the list in alphabetical order.
Of the 3 airlines with accidents, they are ranked by the number of individual events.
Flying with US Airlines Is Safe
Flying is the safest way to travel long distances, so don't let this discussion of accidents deter you from hopping on a plane. To give you an idea, in the 2025 IATA Safety Report, the annual accident rate was 1.32 out of every 1 million flights. That's accidents, not fatal accidents.
When we look at each airline's most recent accident history, the news is also very positive. Zero fatalities are the main thing, and the most common event, a tail strike, doesn't usually cause severe injuries, either.
Keep the AirAdvisor Safety Score in mind the next time you're booking a flight, but if you stick to any of the 9 airlines on our list, you can trust that safety is a number-one priority.
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FAQ
What is the safest airline in the US for 2026?
For 2026, six US airlines share the safest position with zero accidents in 2025: Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines. Because none of them recorded an incident, they are listed alphabetically rather than ranked against each other.
Which US airlines had accidents in 2025?
Three US airlines had reported incidents in 2025: American Airlines (2), United Airlines (2), and Frontier Airlines (3). All were non-fatal. Together they accounted for 7 accidents.
How often do US airlines undergo safety inspections?
US airlines are subject to continuous oversight by the FAA. Aircraft receive routine inspections before flights, scheduled maintenance checks, and more extensive inspections based on flight hours, cycles, or calendar intervals.
Which seat is the safest on an airplane?
The results from research on this are inconclusive, so there's no universally safest seat. The most important safety measures are wearing your seat belt, following crew instructions, and being familiar with emergency exits.
Are budget airlines less safe than full-service airlines?
No. Low-cost carriers must meet the same FAA safety requirements as traditional airlines. Ticket price reflects the business model and included services, not lower safety standards. This is shown in our data - even though Frontier had 3 accidents in 2025, Allegiant, JetBlue, and Southwest are varying degrees of budget airlines and experienced no accidents in the same period.
Author:
Amy LancelotteJob/Position: Senior Writer & Content Creator
Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with more than seven years of experience producing research-driven articles for global audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.
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