Safety situation in other aviation domains

N.B: For most up-to-date information on safety performance in other aviation domains, change language selection to Finnish. 

Safety Performance in other aviation domains in 2025

Air Navigation Services

In 2025, there were 32 separation minimum infringements caused by Finnish Air Traffic Control. The number was slightly below the 2015–2024 average and the number for the previous year.

About half occurred at Helsinki. In previous years, Helsinki, which also has the highest traffic volume, has also had the highest number of separation infringements. The ratio between Helsinki and other air navigation service units was quite similar to the long-term average. Last year, the second highest number of separation infringements occurred in Rovaniemi.

Of the cases, 21 were infringements of radar separation minima between aircraft, which is approximately at the level of the long-term average. There were four wake turbulence separation infringements, which is clearly below the average.

The remaining cases mainly involved infringements of separation between aircraft and airspace reservations. This number was at the level of the long-term average.

Last year, 5 runway incursions were recorded where the actions of Finnish Air Traffic Control were a contributing factor. The number was approximately at the level of the 2015–2024 average. The majority of cases occurred at Helsinki, as has most often been the case in previous years. The incidents did not pose a significant risk.

In addition, an accident involving a military aircraft occurred in Rovaniemi in May, where control of an F-18 Hornet aircraft was lost during practice for a display flight over the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the ground, but the pilot ejected safely. In the crash, the aircraft struck the airport's VOR beacon, which was badly damaged. This also affected air navigation services, as approach procedures based on the Rovaniemi airport VOR beacon were taken out of service due to the accident.

Aerodrome operations

In 2025, 23  caused by ground vehicles at airports were reported. The number was approximately on the same level as previous year but still above the 2015–2024 average. In the previous year, the most runway incursions occurred in Helsinki, but last year Rovaniemi took the top spot, with Helsinki being second. Especially in November–December, several incursions occurred in Rovaniemi in connection with winter maintenance of the runway.

Most runway incursions last year occurred during the winter months, as is typical. During this time, maintenance vehicles often need to access the runway for maintenance work. One runway incursion in January involving a ground vehicle was classified as a serious incident. The situation occurred in Kokkola when a general aviation aircraft performed a takeoff before a sweeper had managed to exit the runway.

The topic was addressed in a safety bulletin published on April 30, 2025, which stated that maintenance always monitors the aerodrome frequency. When an aircraft announces, for example, that it is coming in for landing or departing, the operational instruction for maintenance is to vacate the area as quickly as possible. However, in some situations, immediate vacating is not possible, so it is essential that the pilot performs a visual check of the situation and ensures that the runway is clear before operating.

Last year, winter conditions arrived reasonably late, so there were hardly any reports of slippery taxiways or aprons, which have been typical in previous years. In December, Storm Hannes caused very difficult weather conditions for a couple of days, especially in Northern Finland, as the temperature was around zero, it was snowing and sleeting, and the wind was very strong. The runways were kept in good condition, but taxiways and aprons were slippery, which led to a couple of foreign aircraft spinning on taxiways in Kittilä.

Reports related to airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (RFFS) were made more frequently last year than in previous years. Most often, they related either to technical faults in a rescue vehicle or a shortage of personnel resources and the resulting downgrade in the rescue and firefighting category.

Ground handling

Regarding ground handling operations, 1 accident and 2 serious incidents occurred last year. The numbers were high compared to previous years.

The accident involved a situation at Helsinki Airport in August, where an airliner started moving unexpectedly after start-up, and its rotating propellers struck a Ground Power Unit (GPU). The unit was destroyed, and the propellers suffered significant damage. According to current information, ground handling did not play a contributing role in the case, but it highlights the risk of serious injury to ground handling personnel from aircraft engines or propellers. The Safety Investigation Authority initiated investigation L2025-02 regarding this case.

The first of the serious incidents occurred in February. After landing in Helsinki, a heater was connected to a parked airliner before the necessary air vents were opened. Overpressure formed inside the aircraft, and when the cabin crew opened the door, it blew open with great force. A ground crew member was standing next to the door, so impact was avoided.

In 2018, a fatal accident occurred in Kittilä due to a similar explosive opening of a door caused by pressure differential, when the door struck the pilot who opened it. SIAF conducted investigation L2018-01 on this at the time, recommending that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) inform various aviation organizations of the safety threat that may be caused by aircraft pressurization on the ground and the subsequent explosive opening of the door. EASA did publish Safety Information Bulletin 2019-02 on the subject, which is still valid and contains useful information for mitigating this threat.

In a serious incident that occurred at Helsinki Airport in August, the wing of a foreign airliner struck a stair truck that was apparently positioned in the wrong place. The Safety Investigation Authority investigation L2025-03 is also underway regarding this case.

Ground handling operations involve handling heavy containers, cranes, and other heavy equipment in the vicinity of aircraft, which brings its own risks to the operation. Working conditions can be challenging, as noise, weather conditions, and schedule pressures affect the employees' daily work. To ensure safety in such conditions, it is of paramount importance to strictly follow regulations and operating instructions and to maintain good situational awareness.

Other cases related to ground handling were mainly reports of, for example, damage caused by ground handling equipment to aircraft, errors in weight calculations, or deviations related to loading. These cases are discussed in more detail in the LOC-I section .

Unmanned aviation

In 2025, 1 case classified as a serious incident occurred in unmanned aviation in Finland, as well as 1 accident abroad.

In the serious incident, an unmanned airship suffered a technical failure, causing it to fall somewhat uncontrollably into the water area below. The airship was damaged, but injuries were avoided. The accident involved a similar type of situation, but the unmanned aircraft was more severely damaged.

In previous years, serious incidents in unmanned aviation have largely been related to airborne near misses between manned aircraft and drones. However, such incidents have decreased significantly in Finland, and the last such situation classified as a serious incident occurred in 2022.

Near misses still occur in Finland, but their severity has not been very significant, and the numbers have been decreasing. Last year, there were a total of 5 such near misses in Finland, whereas in 2018 there were 18 cases. previously, clearly the majority were reported from the vicinity of Helsinki Airport, but last year Helsinki's share was smaller than in previous years.

Relatively few reports are received from pilots of unmanned aircraft. Often they concern Loss of Control of the aircraft or collision with an obstacle. The numbers of such cases last year were at the level of previous years.

Abroad, Finnish aircraft still end up in near misses with drones unnecessarily often. Last year, 16 such situations were reported, which is more than the previous year. However, the growth in the number of cases leveled off, as there were slightly fewer situations compared to 2023. Overall, the number of serious incidents was below the average. England, and especially the vicinity of London, continued to be a hot spot for near misses.

Foreign and Finnish drones caused slightly fewer airspace infringements in Finland than the previous year, but more than the average. The infringements were again mainly directed at the airspace of Helsinki Airport and airports in Northern Finland.

Airspace restrictions and the maximum allowed flying altitude can be easily checked on the Flyk app's drone map or the Fintraffic Sky app, which are recommended for use before flying.

More information on regulation and drone operations can be found on the droneinfo.fi website maintained by Traficom.