Crash landing in Mainz: A blessing in disguise for two plane passengers!

Crash landing in Mainz: A blessing in disguise for two plane passengers!

On March 28, 2025, an incident occurred at Mainz-Finthen airfield when a small aircraft, a Rockwell Commander 114, landed without the landing gear extended due to a technical defect. The plane skidded over the runway, but the two occupants were uninjured. The fire department was alerted at 6:30 p.m. The rescue operation began with six vehicles and 24 emergency services.

Significant damage to the aircraft was found during the emergency landing, but fortunately the aircraft did not catch fire. With the support of a crane and lifting bag, the emergency services stabilized the situation and raised the aircraft to extend the landing gear in emergency operation. After almost three hours, the landing gear was successfully extended so that the aircraft could be lowered onto its wheels. Flight operations can take place on the weekend as planned. The exact cause of the incident is still unclear, as is the resulting property damage.

Meaning and context of aviation accidents

This incident in Mainz contrasts with a serious aviation accident that recently occurred near Jesenwang. A Cessna crash-landed, in which a 60-year-old flight instructor and his 56-year-old student were injured after the engine failed shortly after takeoff. The fire department had to secure the aircraft and collect any escaping fuel. The two occupants escaped with minor injuries and were taken to hospital as a precaution. The total economic loss is likely to amount to around 200,000 euros.

The issue of aircraft accidents is also relevant to safety given the positive developments in aviation. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety report, the global accident rate fell by 9.8% from 2020 to 2021. Fatal accidents actually fell by 66% during this period, which ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar described as encouraging. Despite the challenges in aviation, the decline in accident rates shows that safety standards are constantly improving.

Overview of security developments

ICAO regularly analyzes aviation accidents and strives to reduce operational safety risks. The safety reports focus in particular on commercial scheduled flights that should be protected by certain standards. In recent years, recommendations from the Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) have also contributed to improving safety performance. These developments show that a positive direction is being taken, even in view of incidents such as those in Mainz and Jesenwang.