12 U.S. States Where Flying Is the Most Dangerous
Crossing the country by plane is generally pretty smooth, but a few states throw some real curveballs into the sky. Factors like tricky weather, packed skies, and pilot experience all make some flights a bit more nail-biting. This article explores a few U.S. states where taking to the skies comes with a bit more risk.
New Hampshire
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Catching a flight over New Hampshire might reward you with postcard views, but the skies here are anything but carefree. The White Mountains carve up the landscape with steep, unforgiving peaks, and history is littered with stories like the 1959 Piper Comanche crash hidden in the Pemigewasset Wilderness.
Delaware
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Only pilots know flying over Delaware is a whole different story up there. Restricted zones pop up near President Biden’s Wilmington home, and sudden coastal weather changes make navigating the skies complicated. The 2014 Mooney M20 crash near Delaware Coastal Airport showed how even small mistakes can have big consequences.
California
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Flying over California means one stretch brings rocky peaks, and the next, coastal winds that change without warning. Toss in unpredictable weather, military airspace, and pop-up flight restrictions during exercises, and it is easy to see why California’s airspace keeps even the most experienced pilots sharp and on constant alert.
Hawaii
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Kauai’s wild beauty comes with a side of real danger once you leave the ground. Its steep cliffs and unpredictable weather make flying a serious challenge, even for seasoned pilots. From 1984 to 2022, Hawaii saw 54 commercial helicopter crashes, many linked to sudden storms and maintenance lapses.
Massachusetts
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Boston Logan’s crisscrossing runways demand split-second precision. Out beyond the airport, coastal fog creeps in without warning, and sudden rainstorms turn clear approaches into blind landings. The 2005 runway scrape between Aer Lingus and U.S. Airways showed how tight the margins can get.
Maryland
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Around Washington, D.C., layers of restricted zones hug the skyline and guard the White House, the National Mall, and the vice president’s residence. Pilots need security clearance and a flawless plan. With airliners, military choppers, and private planes all crisscrossing the same tight airspace, there’s no excuse for errors.
Rhode Island
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Rhode Island may be small enough to drive across in an afternoon, but flying above it is anything but simple. Thick coastal fog has a way of sneaking in, as it did in 1999 when a United 757 and a FedEx 727 almost had a runway disaster at T.F. Green.
Connecticut
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Flying in Connecticut demands considerable skill due to a confluence of factors: densely packed airspace that requires precise navigation, rolling hills that can deceptively impact altitude awareness, and rapidly changing weather conditions. The state’s aviation history includes stark reminders of these dangers. Worryingly, the skies over Connecticut have seen more than 30 reported near misses since 2000.
Alaska
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Small aircraft are not merely a convenience but a vital lifeline for remote communities scattered across Alaska’s vast and often inaccessible terrain. Despite advancements in navigation and weather technology, Alaska accounts for a disproportionately high percentage of aviation fatalities, representing 42% of all small commercial aircraft fatalities nationwide since 2016.
Texas
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The skies above Texas are as bustling and dynamic as its sprawling highways, and this constant flow of air traffic inevitably introduces significant challenges for pilots and air traffic control. In April 2025, a Southwest Airlines flight had to execute a rapid U-turn and make an emergency landing.
Arizona
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Arizona’s seemingly vast and inviting skies attract many pilots, drawn to the promise of clear weather and open horizons. However, this allure can mask underlying dangers. In November 2024, a HondaJet tragically crashed shortly after taking off from Mesa-Falcon Field. A Piper PA-24 had to make an emergency landing in a field just weeks later due to critical engine trouble.
North Carolina
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Cruising through the skies of North Carolina can unexpectedly turn turbulent, both in terms of weather and operational complexities. A Novant Health helicopter tragically crashed near Wilmington following a lapse in adherence to crucial flight procedures. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024 further revealed the potential for chaos in the skies.
Georgia
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Flying across Georgia has a notable unpredictability. Only recently, a Cirrus SR22 accident occurred while landing at Barwick-LaFayette Airport. Another small aircraft experienced a complete loss of power while flying over Savannah and ultimately ended up in a residential area.
Colorado
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The towering mountain ranges of Colorado can generate treacherous wind patterns and significantly limit emergency landing options. The sobering crash in November 2024 of a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 during a training flight in Larimer County shows the environment’s inherent risks, even for experienced pilots.
New York
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New York’s skies are a swirling maze of aircraft, and keeping order above the city is no easy feat. One Bell 206L-4 helicopter operated by New York Helicopter Tours plunged into the Hudson River after a long day of back-to-back flights. Between 2019 and 2023, close calls piled up near LaGuardia, JFK, and Republic airports.