Airplane collisions and other aviation disasters have made the headlines recently. Could blockchain prevent similar incidents?

It’s been a little more than a month since 2025 started and already several aviation disasters have made the news, including:

• The Jeju Air crash that killed 179 passengers and prompted the government to call for a period of national mourning
• The helicopter crash in Nueva Ecija after the pilot dropped off Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa for a scheduled appointment
• The Air Busan plane that caught fire, possibly caused by a battery in a carry-on bag stowed in an overhead compartment

Sandwiched in between was an incident that still leaves many scratching their heads — when an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter collided midair near Washington, DC just minutes before the plane was scheduled to land.

To recap, on January 29, 2025, an American Airlines flight carrying 64 people was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. At the same time, a US Army Black Hawk helicopter with three military personnel was conducting a training mission. Despite a warning from air traffic control, the two aircraft collided midair, sending both into the Potomac River and leaving no survivors.

Several factors leading to the crash are under investigation, including understaffing at air traffic control and the fact that the helicopter was flying at a higher altitude than expected. There had been several near misses at Reagan National airport leading up to that crash. Just the day before, a passenger plane had to abort landing when another military helicopter appeared in its flight path. 

If the Jeju Air incident was South Korea’s worst aviation failure in recent history, the Potomac collision was the first major U.S. commercial crash in almost 16 years. And they both happened in the same month. 

This string of disasters and near misses has caused authorities to revisit safety protocols and address concerns about air traffic management and accident prevention. Is there a chance that blockchain technology, which offers real-time tracking, decentralized data management, and automated safety protocols, could be the game-changer that helps prevent tragedies like this from happening again?

The crash site at Potomac River

Image Source: NBC News

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How Blockchain Could Improve Aviation Safety

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Real-Time Air Traffic Coordination & Decentralized Flight Data

In the seconds leading up to the crash, there were critical gaps in communication and situational awareness between air traffic control, the airline, and the military. Blockchain can improve air traffic management by enabling a shared, real-time, tamper-proof record of aircraft positions, flight paths, and pilot responses.

A blockchain-powered system could provide real-time updates through a decentralized database, preventing delays in critical commands and ensuring immediate pilot responses. Also, through immutable flight logs, air traffic decisions and communications are permanently recorded. This helps investigators identify responsibility and accountability in accidents.

Automated Compliance and Black Box Transparency

Investigating air disasters often involves retrieving and analyzing black box flight data. This can take months and is sometimes compromised by missing or incomplete records. Whether or not the black box is recovered, blockchain technology can store real-time flight data. In the event of a collision or emergency, blockchain-stored flight data can provide instant, tamper-proof access to flight paths, pilot actions, and air traffic control communications.

Supply Chain and Maintenance Transparency

Blockchain’s ability to track aircraft maintenance records could possibly reduce disasters caused by faulty equipment or human oversight. This has been a problem plaguing Boeing planes in recent years, including the tragic Jeju airline crash this January.

Every aircraft component—from its engine to its landing gear—could have a digital identity on a blockchain ledger, preventing substandard parts from entering circulation. Predictive blockchain-based maintenance tracking could help identify and replace malfunctioning parts before they fail. Regulators, airlines, and manufacturers would have instant access to an aircraft’s full service history, ensuring full transparency in accident investigations.

Overall, blockchain offers a real-time, immutable, and decentralized solution to reduce human error, improve communication, and prevent future disasters. We may be due for a technological overhaul that prioritizes passenger safety, operational transparency, and industry-wide accountability. The question is no longer whether aviation will adopt blockchain—but how soon.

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