The tragic accident involving an American Airlines regional jet and a military helicopter late Wednesday underscores how fatal crashes of passenger planes in the U.S. are rare, and “near misses” are also becoming rarer.

How rare are deadly mid-air collisions in the U.S.? According to the FAA, this is the first major fatal crash of any U.S. airline in 16 years. “Based on historical review, I was shocked,” David Cadden,

There have been a number of close calls around the country in recent years that concerned aviation experts and officials.