News stories aside, aviation remains one of the safest ways to travel today. Strict safety rules and modern technology protect millions of passengers every year. However, a small number of tragic events challenge this strong safety record. And sometimes, the danger comes from inside the cockpit itself, where pilots have intentionally crashed commercial airplanes.
A similar attempt was made by a pilot on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026, who stabbed his senior co-pilot and reportedly tried to crash the plane. Fortunately, crew and passengers subdued the attacker, and the jet landed successfully with all aboard surviving.
These rare events force investigators to study both the mechanical parts of the plane and the mental health of the flight crew. In this gallery, we present shocking and tragic incidents in aviation history where pilots intentionally crashed their planes. Click on to find out more.