Shumita Basu

So we called up aviation safety reporter Daryl Campbell with The Verge, and he acknowledged seeing so many incidents within a short amount of time is really unusual. Four commercial airline crashes in roughly two months is the largest concentration of crashes we've seen since 2019. But when you look at the bigger picture, Campbell told us the statistics tell a more comforting story.

Even with these recent incidents, the risk of a plane crash is at a 60-year low, Campbell says. And thousands of flights take off and land every day without issue.

Even with these recent incidents, the risk of a plane crash is at a 60-year low, Campbell says. And thousands of flights take off and land every day without issue.

Even with these recent incidents, the risk of a plane crash is at a 60-year low, Campbell says. And thousands of flights take off and land every day without issue.

Another thing to keep in mind, none of these recent crashes happened for the exact same reason. There were a mix of factors involved, which experts told Campbell indicate there is no single vulnerability in the air travel system that we should be worried about.

Another thing to keep in mind, none of these recent crashes happened for the exact same reason. There were a mix of factors involved, which experts told Campbell indicate there is no single vulnerability in the air travel system that we should be worried about.

Another thing to keep in mind, none of these recent crashes happened for the exact same reason. There were a mix of factors involved, which experts told Campbell indicate there is no single vulnerability in the air travel system that we should be worried about.

That said, Campbell reports that our aviation safety system is pretty frail at the moment, and there are clear areas where it can be improved. The COVID-19 pandemic caused travel to come to a standstill, which pushed a number of pilots, mechanics and flight attendants to retire early. And airlines have struggled to refill those roles. The nation's air traffic control system is under stress, too.

That said, Campbell reports that our aviation safety system is pretty frail at the moment, and there are clear areas where it can be improved. The COVID-19 pandemic caused travel to come to a standstill, which pushed a number of pilots, mechanics and flight attendants to retire early. And airlines have struggled to refill those roles. The nation's air traffic control system is under stress, too.

That said, Campbell reports that our aviation safety system is pretty frail at the moment, and there are clear areas where it can be improved. The COVID-19 pandemic caused travel to come to a standstill, which pushed a number of pilots, mechanics and flight attendants to retire early. And airlines have struggled to refill those roles. The nation's air traffic control system is under stress, too.

And at the Federal Aviation Administration, the Trump administration recently laid off 400 employees, including mechanics, flight operations specialists, and aviation safety assistants. Trump administration officials said none were critical safety personnel. But this comes at a time when aviation experts are saying the FAA really needs more funding to shore up its staff and systems.

And at the Federal Aviation Administration, the Trump administration recently laid off 400 employees, including mechanics, flight operations specialists, and aviation safety assistants. Trump administration officials said none were critical safety personnel. But this comes at a time when aviation experts are saying the FAA really needs more funding to shore up its staff and systems.

And at the Federal Aviation Administration, the Trump administration recently laid off 400 employees, including mechanics, flight operations specialists, and aviation safety assistants. Trump administration officials said none were critical safety personnel. But this comes at a time when aviation experts are saying the FAA really needs more funding to shore up its staff and systems.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to help evaluate and update FAA systems, and Wired reports that a number of SpaceX engineers are already working at the FAA. Campbell says some type of public-private partnership like this could be very promising.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to help evaluate and update FAA systems, and Wired reports that a number of SpaceX engineers are already working at the FAA. Campbell says some type of public-private partnership like this could be very promising.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to help evaluate and update FAA systems, and Wired reports that a number of SpaceX engineers are already working at the FAA. Campbell says some type of public-private partnership like this could be very promising.

Aviation safety experts told Campbell, in Canada, a private nonprofit controls airspace, and it now has one of the best-run and most modern systems in the world. Let's turn now to the Supreme Court, which heard arguments yesterday in a case that could change discrimination claims in the workplace.

Aviation safety experts told Campbell, in Canada, a private nonprofit controls airspace, and it now has one of the best-run and most modern systems in the world. Let's turn now to the Supreme Court, which heard arguments yesterday in a case that could change discrimination claims in the workplace.

Aviation safety experts told Campbell, in Canada, a private nonprofit controls airspace, and it now has one of the best-run and most modern systems in the world. Let's turn now to the Supreme Court, which heard arguments yesterday in a case that could change discrimination claims in the workplace.

It's being brought by a woman who claims that because she's straight, she experienced reverse discrimination. The plaintiff, Marlene Ames, filed a lawsuit against her employer, the Ohio Department of Youth Services, after losing two positions to people who are gay.