Events per year 310 on record 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010
01 Fields and flying grounds1903–1918 · 1 OF 1 LISTED Grass fields, army aerodromes and the first flying schools. An airfield is wherever the ground is flat and the farmer agrees.
8 DEC Milestone United States Army becomes the operator.
02 The airport is invented1919–1938 · 6 OF 8 LISTED Terminals, control towers and radio arrive. Capitals are linked by scheduled services, and cities start to build municipal airports.
— Milestone Ford Motor Company becomes the operator. — Milestone Glenn L. Martin Company becomes the owner. 25 JUN Disaster 1930 Chicago Municipal Airport fire. 5 AUG Disaster Chicago and Southern Flight 4. — Milestone City of Los Angeles becomes the owner. 6 MAY Disaster Hindenburg disaster.
03 War1939–1945 · 7 OF 13 LISTED Thousands of military airfields are laid down in six years. Many of today’s airports began as one of them.
APR Milestone United States Army Air Forces becomes the owner. 23 DEC Disaster 1940 Floyd Bennett Field midair crash. — Milestone United States Navy becomes the owner. — Milestone United States Army Air Forces becomes the operator. 1 AUG Disaster 1943 St. Louis glider accident. 11 JUL Disaster Long Creek Air Tragedy Memorial.
04 Postwar and the jet age1946–1969 · 52 OF 60 LISTED Wartime fields pass to civil use and piston airliners fill them. From 1958 jets need longer concrete runways, and airports move further from the cities they serve.
6 JAN Disaster Pennsylvania Central Airlines Flight 105. — Milestone Baltimore becomes the owner. — Milestone Lubbock becomes the operator. 18 AUG Milestone United States Air Force becomes the operator. 18 SEP Milestone United States Air Force becomes the owner. 2 MAY Milestone County of Inyo becomes the owner. 1 NOV Disaster Eastern Air Lines Flight 537. 24 AUG Disaster United Airlines Flight 615. 16 DEC Disaster 1951 Miami Airlines C-46 crash. 22 JAN Disaster American Airlines Flight 6780. 11 FEB Disaster National Airlines Flight 101. 28 NOV Disaster 1952 Tacoma C-54 crash. 4 APR Disaster 1955 MacArthur Airport United Airlines crash. 2 APR Disaster Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2. 13 JUL Disaster United States Air Force Flight 441/13. 1 FEB Disaster Northeast Airlines Flight 823. 6 APR Disaster Capital Airlines Flight 67. 2 JUN Disaster Aeroméxico Flight 111. 15 AUG Disaster Northeast Airlines Flight 258. 3 FEB Disaster American Airlines Flight 320. 15 AUG Disaster American Airlines Flight 514. 21 JAN Disaster Avianca Flight 671. 4 OCT Disaster Aviation accident. SEP Milestone Martin Marietta becomes the owner. 17 SEP Disaster Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 706. 8 NOV Disaster Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8. 25 FEB Disaster 1962 Avensa Fairchild F-27 accident. 1 MAR Disaster American Airlines Flight 1. 30 NOV Disaster Eastern Air Lines Flight 512. 3 JUN Disaster Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 293. 29 NOV Disaster Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 831. 25 FEB Disaster Eastern Air Lines Flight 304. 24 DEC Disaster Flying Tiger Line Flight 282. 16 JAN Disaster 1965 USAF KC-135 Wichita crash. 28 JUN Disaster Pan Am Flight 843. 8 NOV Disaster American Airlines Flight 383. 11 NOV Disaster United Airlines Flight 227. 25 DEC Disaster Japan Airlines Flight 813. 28 FEB Disaster 1966 NASA T-38 crash. 22 APR Disaster American Flyers Airline Flight 280. 21 JAN Disaster 1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash. 22 NOV Disaster Japan Airlines Flight 2. 13 JAN Disaster Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 933. 18 JAN Disaster United Airlines Flight 266. 4 JUN Disaster Mexicana de Aviación Flight 704. 21 SEP Disaster Mexicana de Aviación Flight 801.
05 Wide bodies1970–1989 · 79 OF 94 LISTED The 747 makes mass travel ordinary. New sites are chosen for size, not proximity.
— Milestone Listed as Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. 15 FEB Disaster Dominicana DC-9 air disaster. 14 NOV Disaster Southern Airways Flight 932. — Milestone Maryland Aviation Administration becomes the operator. 24 JUN Disaster Prinair Flight 191. 8 DEC Disaster United Air Lines Flight 553. 29 DEC Disaster Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. 31 DEC Disaster 1972 Puerto Rico DC-7 crash. — Milestone Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission becomes the owner. — Disaster National Airlines Flight 27. 2 JAN Disaster Pacific Western Airlines Flight 3801. 26 FEB Disaster 1973 DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Learjet 24 crash. 31 JUL Disaster Delta Air Lines Flight 723. 6 JAN Disaster Commonwealth Commuter Flight 317. 27 FEB Disaster An-24 incident at Gambell, Alaska. 11 SEP Disaster Eastern Air Lines Flight 212. 24 JUN Disaster Eastern Air Lines Flight 66. 30 AUG Disaster Wien Air Alaska Flight 99. 6 OCT Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places contributing property. 12 NOV Disaster Overseas National Airways Flight 032. 30 DEC Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. — Milestone Lansing becomes the owner. — Milestone National Aeronautics and Space Administration becomes the operator. — Milestone Lansing becomes the operator. 5 APR Disaster Alaska Airlines Flight 60. 27 APR Disaster American Airlines Flight 625. 13 JAN Disaster Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1045. 27 MAY Disaster Aeroflot Flight 331. 23 SEP Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 11 FEB Disaster Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314. 1 MAR Disaster Continental Airlines Flight 603. 25 SEP Disaster Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182. 26 SEP Disaster Air Caribbean Flight 309. 19 OCT Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 29 MAR Disaster Quebecair Flight 255. 25 MAY Disaster American Airlines Flight 191. 30 MAY Disaster Downeast Flight 46. 17 JUN Disaster Air New England Flight 248. 31 OCT Disaster Flight 2605 by Western Airlines. 11 APR Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 10 DEC Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 27 JUL Disaster Aeroméxico Flight 230. 13 JAN Disaster Air Florida Flight 90. 23 JAN Disaster World Airways Flight 30. 9 JUL Disaster Pan Am Flight 759. 14 AUG Disaster 1982 IAI Arava 201 crash. 22 NOV Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 11 JAN Disaster United Airlines Flight 2885. 2 JUN Disaster Air Canada Flight 797. 8 JUN Disaster Reeve Aleutian Airways Flight 8. 23 DEC Disaster 1983 Anchorage runway collision. 22 MAR Disaster Pacific Western Airlines Flight 501. 5 APR Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 21 JAN Disaster Galaxy Airlines Flight 203. 4 FEB Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 14 FEB Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 2 AUG Disaster Delta Air Lines Flight 191. 12 DEC Disaster Arrow Air Flight 1285R. 18 JAN Disaster 1986 Aerovias Guatemala air crash. 15 JAN Disaster Skywest Airlines Flight 1834. 4 MAR Disaster Northwest Airlink Flight 2268. 7 JUN Milestone Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority becomes the owner. 7 JUN Milestone Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority becomes the operator. 20 OCT Disaster 1987 Ramada Inn Corsair crash. 19 JAN Disaster Trans-Colorado Airlines Flight 2286. 19 FEB Disaster AVAir Flight 3378. 31 AUG Disaster Delta Air Lines Flight 1141. 10 NOV Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 1 JAN Milestone Listed as Listed in the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places. 19 JUL Disaster United Airlines Flight 232. 3 SEP Disaster Cubana de Aviación Flight 9646. 21 OCT Disaster Tan-Sahsa Flight 414. 26 DEC Disaster United Express Flight 2415.
06 Built on water1990–2009 · 69 OF 85 LISTED In East Asia, where there is no land left, it is made: airports on artificial islands and reclaimed sea. Elsewhere, old city airports close.
3 DEC Disaster Aviation accident. 3 DEC Disaster Wayne County Airport runway collision. 1 FEB Disaster USAir Flight 1493. 3 MAR Disaster United Airlines Flight 585. 5 APR Disaster Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2311. 21 MAY Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 10 JUL Disaster L'Express Airlines Flight 508. 22 MAR Disaster USAir Flight 405. 7 JUN Disaster American Eagle Flight 5456. 8 JUN Disaster GP Express Flight 861. — Milestone Ames Research Center becomes the owner. 31 MAR Disaster Japan Airlines Flight 46E. 6 APR Disaster China Eastern Airlines Flight 583. 14 APR Disaster American Airlines Flight 102. 12 JUL Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 23 MAR Disaster Green Ramp disaster. 1 JUL Milestone Ames Research Center becomes the operator. 2 JUL Disaster USAir Flight 1016. 8 SEP Disaster USAir Flight 427. 13 DEC Disaster Flagship Airlines Flight 3379. 28 APR Disaster Faucett Peru Flight 705. 22 SEP Disaster 1995 Alaska Boeing E-3 Sentry accident. 12 NOV Disaster American Airlines Flight 1572. 6 JUL Disaster Delta Air Lines Flight 1288. 19 NOV Disaster United Express Flight 5925. 31 JUL Disaster FedEx Express Flight 14. 16 DEC Disaster Air Canada Flight 646. 3 JUN Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 20 NOV Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 1 JUN Disaster American Airlines Flight 1420. 10 JUN Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 21 DEC Disaster Cubana de Aviación Flight 1216. — Milestone County of Stanislaus becomes the owner. 16 FEB Disaster Emery Worldwide Flight 17. 5 MAR Disaster Southwest Airlines Flight 1455. 24 MAR Disaster Air Caraïbes Flight 1501. 29 MAR Disaster 2001 Avjet Gulfstream III crash. 3 AUG Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 12 NOV Disaster American Airlines Flight 587. 9 OCT Disaster Northwest Airlines Flight 85. 8 JAN Disaster Air Midwest Flight 5481. 26 MAR Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 7 JUL Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 24 AUG Disaster Tropical Airways Flight 1301. 26 AUG Disaster Colgan Air Flight 9446. — Milestone MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport becomes the owner. 2 JUN Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 14 OCT Disaster Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701. 14 OCT Disaster MK Airlines Flight 1602. 19 OCT Disaster Corporate Airlines Flight 5966. 2 AUG Disaster Air France Flight 358. 8 DEC Disaster Southwest Airlines Flight 1248. — Milestone Ak-Chin Indian Community becomes the owner. 7 FEB Disaster UPS Airlines Flight 1307. 27 AUG Disaster Comair Flight 5191. 11 OCT Disaster 2006 New York City plane crash. 17 NOV Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 22 JAN Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 31 JUL Disaster East Coast Jets Flight 81. 2 OCT Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 4 NOV Disaster 2008 Mexico City Learjet crash. 8 DEC Disaster 2008 San Diego F/A-18 crash. 15 JAN Disaster US Airways Flight 1549. 12 FEB Disaster Colgan Air Flight 3407. 8 AUG Disaster 2009 Hudson River mid-air collision. 22 DEC Disaster American Airlines Flight 331. 25 DEC Disaster Northwest Airlines Flight 253.
07 Hubs2010–2026 · 44 OF 49 LISTED Gulf and Asian hubs grow to the top of the rankings. Historic fields become parks and housing.
7 APR Disaster United Airlines Flight 663. 16 AUG Disaster AIRES Flight 8250. 16 DEC Milestone Listed as Listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. 14 FEB Disaster Central American Airways Flight 731. 18 MAY Disaster Omega Aerial Refueling Services Flight 70. 4 JUL Disaster Missinippi Airways Cessna 208 crash. 20 AUG Disaster First Air Flight 6560. 16 SEP Disaster 2011 Reno Air Races crash. 7 OCT Disaster FlyMontserrat Flight 107. 23 JAN Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 1 JUL Milestone Connecticut Airport Authority becomes the owner. 6 JUL Disaster Asiana Airlines Flight 214. 7 JUL Disaster 2013 Rediske Air DHC-3 Otter crash. 14 AUG Disaster UPS Airlines Flight 1354. 30 OCT Disaster 2014 Wichita plane crash. 10 NOV Milestone Planetary Ventures becomes the operator. — Milestone Space Florida becomes the operator. 5 MAR Disaster Delta Air Lines Flight 1086. 29 MAR Disaster Air Canada Flight 624. 7 APR Disaster Central Illinois Regional Airport crash. 29 OCT Disaster Dynamic Airways Flight 405. 29 MAR Disaster 2016 Aero Teknic MU-2 crash. 28 OCT Disaster Fedex Express Flight 910. 28 OCT Disaster American Airlines Flight 383. 8 MAR Disaster Ameristar Charters Flight 9363. 13 DEC Disaster West Wind Aviation Flight 280. 18 APR Disaster Delta Air Lines Flight 30. 4 MAY Milestone Listed as National Register of Historic Places listed place. 31 JUL Disaster Aeroméxico Connect Flight 2431. 17 OCT Disaster PenAir Flight 3296. 15 DEC Disaster 2021 Punta Caucedo Gulfstream G-IVSP crash. 7 APR Disaster DHL Aero Expreso Flight 7216. 21 JUN Disaster Red Air Flight 203. 12 NOV Disaster 2022 Dallas airshow crash. 16 APR Disaster Vuelo 211 de Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos. 29 JAN Disaster 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision. 10 FEB Disaster 2025 Scottsdale Airport plane crash. 17 FEB Disaster Delta Air Lines Flight 4819. 13 MAR Disaster American Airlines flight 1006. 4 NOV Disaster UPS Airlines Flight 2976. 22 MAR Disaster Air Canada Express Flight 8646. 15 JUN Disaster 2026 Edwards Air Force Base B-52 crash. 6 SEP Disaster 21 Air Flight 7598. FROM WIKIDATA AND THE FAA AIRPORT REGISTER · THE BEST-KNOWN FEW OF EACH KIND IN EACH YEAR · COUNTS AND THE CSV ARE THE WHOLE TABLE