2026 in aviation

The following aviation-related events occurred in the year 2026.

Events

January

1 January
MASwings rebrands as AirBorneo due to its purchase by the Sarawak government from Malaysia Airlines.[1]
11 January
Allegiant Travel Company announces a $1.5 billion merger deal of Sun Country Airlines. The combined airline will see the Sun Country brand retired eventually and a move to a single FAA AOC (Air Operators Certificate). The deal is scheduled to take place in mid-2026, subject to regulatory and other shareholder approval.[2]
17 January
An Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42, operating on behalf of the Indonesian Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance, crashed in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, killing all ten occupants.[3]
25 January
More than 10,000 flights are cancelled across the United States and Canada due to a major winter storm, making it one of the days with the most weather-related flight cancellations in North America.[4][5]
A Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed in poor weather conditions at Bangor International Airport, killing all six occupants. The airport was under a heavy snowstorm at the time of the accident.[6]
28 January
A Learjet 45 carrying Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar crashed while landing at Baramati Airport, India, killing all on board.[7] A scandal subsequently surrounded the operator, VSR Ventures, with numerous violations coming to light.[8][9]
A Beechcraft 1900 operating as SATENA Flight 8849 crashed in Curasica, Norte de Santander, Colombia, killing all 15 occupants.[10]

February

3–8 February
The Singapore Airshow took place at the Changi Exhibition Centre.[11]
10–11 February
A sudden airspace closure around El Paso International Airport was enacted by the US Federal Aviation Administration, but was lifted a few hours later. This was the first time since the September 11 attacks that US airspace has been closed without advance notice for security reasons.[12][13]
22 February
A Peruvian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crashed into terrain in Chala District, Department of Arequipa, Peru, killing all 15 occupants.[14]
27 February
A Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules military aircraft crashed near El Alto International Airport, on the outskirts of La Paz. The aircraft overran the runway and crashed on a busy avenue, colliding with several vehicles. At least 24 people were killed, and more than 43 were injured.[15][16]

March

1 March
Due to airspace closures following the Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran, and damage at airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait following retaliatory strikes, thousands of flights were cancelled across the Middle East and operations at key hubs in the region were suspended.[17][18]

April

14–19 April
The Sun 'n Fun Air Show is scheduled to be held in Lakeland, Florida, United States.[19][20][21]

July

8–11 July
The Aviation Expo is scheduled to be held in Seattle, Washington, United States.[22]
20–26 July
The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is scheduled to be held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States.[19][23]

August

7–9 August
The Abbotsford International Airshow is scheduled to be held in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.[19][24]
22–23 August
The Swedish Air Force 100th Anniversary Airshow is scheduled to be held in Linköping, Sweden.[25][26]

September

25–27 September
The Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Airshow is scheduled to be held in San Diego, California, United States.[19][27]

Ceased operations

Deadliest crash

The deadliest accident of 2026 so far is the crash of a Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules at El Alto International Airport, Bolivia, killing at least 24 and injuring at least 43.[15]

References

  1. ^ Anis Hazim (17 April 2025). "Malaysia Aviation Group set to hand over MASwings to Sarawak in 2026". The Edge Malaysia. Archived from the original on 18 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  2. ^ Josephs, Leslie (11 January 2026). "Allegiant to buy rival budget airline Sun Country in $1.5 billion cash and stock deal". CNBC. Archived from the original on 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Indonesia identifies all 10 victims of ATR 42-500 crash in Sulawesi". Antara. 24 January 2026. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  4. ^ Dunbar, Marina (25 January 2026). "Winter Storm Fern live updates: more than 10,000 flights canceled as snow and ice batter eastern US". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Historic Snowstorm Throws Toronto Pearson Travel Into Turmoil". travelpulseCA. 26 January 2026.
  6. ^ "6 killed in Bangor plane crash, Maine officials say, contradicting initial report". The Portland Press Herald. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Ajit Pawar's Flight Crash in Baramati". CNN-News18. 28 January 2026. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Post audit, DGCA ground four jets of VSR Ventures". The Times of India. 24 February 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  9. ^ Service, Statesman News (13 March 2026). "VSR Ventures trying to 'edit' black box data of crashed aircraft, alleges Rohit Pawar". The Statesman. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Plane with 15 on board crashes in northern Colombia; no survivors". BNO News. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Singapore Airshow 2026 to feature eight flying displays, debut of Australian air force F-35A". 23 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Airport in Texas closed after Mexican drone breaches US airspace". Sky News. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  13. ^ Cohen, Karina Tsui, Diego Mendoza, Alexandra Skores, Pete Muntean, Evan Perez, Kit Maher, Zachary (11 February 2026). "FAA lifts El Paso airspace closure, citing 'no threat,' but there's widespread confusion about what prompted it". CNN. Retrieved 11 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Fifteen killed after helicopter crashes during Peru flood rescue". BBC News. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  15. ^ a b Flores, Rosío (2 March 2026). "The death toll from the plane crash in El Alto rises to 24". La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  16. ^ "At least 20 killed after military plane carrying banknotes crashes in Bolivia". www.bbc.com. 28 February 2026.
  17. ^ Chua, Alfred (2 March 2026). "Middle East flight cancellations surge amid regional conflict". Flight Global.
  18. ^ "More blasts rock Dubai, Doha and Manama as Iran targets US assets in Gulf". Al Jazeera. 1 March 2026.
  19. ^ a b c d "2026 Airshow Calendar". AirshowStuff. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Airshow calendar 2026 United States of America | Airshow Display". Airshow Display. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Bushwheel Basecamp". SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  22. ^ "Aviation Expo '26 Seattle, Washington". Aviation Expo. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  23. ^ "EAA AirVenture Tickets | 20–26 July 2026". Experimental Aircraft Association. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Abbotsford International Airshow 2026 | CET Sandbox". cet sandbox. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Flygvapnet firar 100 år". www.forsvarsmakten.se (in Swedish). 9 January 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  26. ^ "Swedish Air Force 100 Years Airshow 2026 Preview". European Airshows. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  27. ^ "Home - Miramar Air Show". Miramar Air Show. Archived from the original on 2 December 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  28. ^ Ros, Miquel (20 January 2026). "US regional carrier Tailwind Air files for bankruptcy protection". aerotime.aero. AeroTime. Archived from the original on 27 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
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