2018[edit]
January 20
A US Army Boeing AH-64E Apache crashes during training at the base in the Mojave Desert, California, killing both pilots.[297]
January 27
A Royal Australian Air Force Boeing EA-18G Growler catches fire on takeoff. The aircraft skids off the runway and sustains damage.[298]
January 29
People's Liberation Army Air Force Shaanxi Y-8GX-3 30513 crashes at Zhengchang. All twelve people on board are killed.[299]
February 2
Two Gazelle military helicopters belonging to military flying school: Ealat collide at Carcès lake, north of St Tropez, France. The collision kills at least 5 people according to local officials.[300]
February 3
Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25SM RF-94586/06, c/n 10393, is shot down over Idlib province while providing air support to Syrian government forces attacking the city of Saraqib. Pilot Major Roman Filipov manages to eject but is wounded while fighting militants after landing in a rebel controlled territory; he blows himself up to avoid capture. The Russian Ministry of Defence revealed that the aircraft was targeted by a MANPAD system.[301][302][303]
February 5
JGSDF Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow 74502, c/n JP002, crashes at Chiyoda, Saga Prefecture after the main rotor breaks apart in flight, killing both of its crew and injuring a local resident on the ground. [304] The main rotor head was a rebuilt unit from another AH-64D.
February 10
Main article: February 2018 Israel–Syria incident
An Israeli F-16I is shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft fire and crashes in northern Israel with both crew surviving. According to the Israeli military the plane was carrying out a strike against an Iranian control system after an Iranian drone violated Israeli airspace.[305] Syria denies the drone entered Israeli airspace. In retaliation for the shot-down the Israeli military said it carried out a "large scale attack" on Iranian targets in Syria.[306]
10 February
A Turkish TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK attack helicopter is shot down by YPG fighters near Afrin, Syria. The two soldiers on board are killed. It is the first aircraft loss of Turkey since its involvement in the Syrian Civil War.[307]
March 6
Main article: 2018 Russian Air Force Antonov An-26 crash
Russian Air Force Antonov An-26 RF-92955/52, c/n 10107, crashes on approach to Khmeimim air base in Syria, killing all 39 people on board. Technical fault is suspected.[308]
March 14
US Nav F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 166683, of VFA-213, crashes roughly a mile off the end of the runway at Naval Air Station Key West in Florida following an in-flight fire. Both pilots are able to eject, but die shortly after recovery.[309] A preliminary investigation revealed that the aircraft was attempting to land with one engine out.
March 15
A military helicopter crashed in southwest Senegal, killing eight people and injuring 13 others.[310]
15 March
A US military Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, of the 176th Wing of the Alaska Air National Guard, crashes in Western Iraq after striking a power pole, killing all seven aboard.[311]
March 18
A Syrian Arab Air Force Su-24 is shot down by rebels in East Qalamoun, East of Damascus province, crashing in friendly territory. The fate of the crew is unknown. A video emerged showing at least one of the pilots ejecting succefully.[312][313]
March 20
Royal Air Force BAE Systems Hawk T1 XX204, c/n 312051/051 of the Red Arrows display team, crashes at RAF Valley, Anglesey. The pilot is able to eject, but the engineer dies in the crash.[314] RAF grounds all Hawk T1s three days later.
3 April
A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier crashes in Djibouti shortly after take-off.[315]
3 April
Myanmar Air Force Chengdu F-7M 1648 crashes in a rice paddy near Kone Kyun village, Bago region; pilot Major Arkar Win is able to eject, but dies later of his injuries in the hospital.[316] A witness reported a loud explosion before the crash.
3 April
An Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17-V5 crashes after striking an iron girder while landing, killing one and injuring three.[317]
4 April
A USMC CH-53E Super Stallion, of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, crashes near Naval Air Field El Centro for reasons unknown, killing all 4 crewmen.[318]
5 April
A US Air Force Flight Demonstration Team F-16 crashes in Nevada, killing the pilot.[319]
5 April
A Republic of Korea Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-15K Slam Eagle crashes into a mountain near Chilgok for reasons unknown while en route to an air base, killing the pilot; the copilot remains missing.[320] The ROKAF grounds all F-15Ks (except those needed for national defense) as a result of the crash.
6 April
A US Army Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopter, of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, crashes at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, killing both pilots.[321]
April 11
Main article: 2018 Algerian Air Force Il-76 crash
Algerian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76TD, 7T-WIV, c/n 1043419649, crashes shortly after takeoff from Boufarik Airport near the capital of Algeria, killing all 257 people on board.[322]
April 13
A United States Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet was damaged when it experienced an engine malfunction during takeoff. Apparently the left engine basically stopped working on takeoff, suddenly depriving the pilot of enough thrust to continue ascent after he had already raised the landing gear, forcing for a hard, belly landing that lasted for more than a mile.[323]
April 24
United States Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 42, 90-0760, c/n 1C-368, of the 56th Fighter Wing, overruns the runway while attempting to land at Lake Havasu City Airport. The pilot is able to eject safely.[324]
April 29
A Libyan Air Force Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules crashes shortly after takeoff[325]. Out of the four total crew members and passengers aboard, three are killed on impact. The crash happened near the El Sharara oil field in Libya.
May 2
Main article: 2018 U.S. Air National Guard C-130 crash
United States Air Force Lockheed WC-130H Hercules 65-0968, c/n 4110, of the 156th Airlift Wing of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, crashes on Georgia State Route 21 in Port Wentworth, Georgia while on climbout from Hilton Head International Airport and catches fire, killing all nine on board. This was to be the aircraft's last flight before retirement at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) base in Arizona.[326]
May 3
A Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30SM crashes in the sea off Jiblah, Latakia, Syria shortly after takeoff.[327] Both pilots die.
May 7
A Russian Air Force Kamov Ka-52 helicopter crashes during a routine flight over eastern Syria due to technical failure, killing both pilots.[32