Mexico Air Safety Incidents Rise 53%, Exposing Systemic Flaws

Between January and April 2025, air safety incidents in Mexico surged by 53% compared to the same period in 2024, totaling 75 cases. This rise contradicts previous government claims of improved safety and underscores systemic flaws in the nation’s air traffic control services.

A 2024 report from Mexican Airspace Navigation Services (SENEAM) claimed a 42% reduction in air accidents from 2018 to 2024. However, recent incidents highlight persistent operational challenges, particularly in air traffic control.

“Activities carried out by the agency have ensured maximum safety conditions in the provision of Air Traffic Control Services,” stated Javier Vega, Director General, SENEAM. Despite these assurances, sources point to ongoing issues such as staffing shortages, inadequate training, communication breakdowns, and regulatory lapses.

Mexico currently has a shortfall of 350 air traffic controllers. Although the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) has approved the hiring of 80 additional controllers, the gap remains significant. “Only 80 out of every 1,000 applicants pass the English language certification required for air traffic control. Getting new controllers in Mexico is an arduous task,” said Ricardo Baños, Training Coordinator, SENEAM.

SENEAM data reveals that between February and June 2025, at least 15 serious incidents involving the loss of safe aircraft separation were linked to controller error. One major incident occurred near Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), where an Aeroméxico flight narrowly avoided a collision with military personnel conducting parachute maneuvers. Military officials had reportedly issued timely airspace restriction notices, which were allegedly ignored by air traffic management and SENEAM leadership.  The Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) is investigating.

Another concern is the frequent activation of Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (T-CAS), which indicates a loss of safe separation between aircraft. In one incident near Tequesquitengo, a controller misidentified two aircraft and issued incorrect instructions, exacerbated by poor communication system quality.

“SENEAM’s training programs are outdated, often pre-recorded, and sometimes taught by instructors with no operational experience,” an anonymous source told El Financiero.

From 2018 to 2023, SENEAM reported zero aviation accidents attributable to its operations and stated that serious incidents remained below 1 per 100,000 operations. For instance, in 2023, the rate was 0.78, with 18 incidents reported across more than 2.3 million operations. However, these statistics reflect overall traffic volumes and fail to account for specific procedural or operational deficiencies.

SENEAM projects that Mexico will require 1,545 air traffic controllers by the next decade—more than four times the current shortfall. Although 168 new controllers have entered service over the past 30 months, early retirements and low training throughput have maintained the deficit. Controller unions are demanding a 65% wage increase, citing stagnant salaries and mounting stress levels.