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As aircraft are traveling at very fast speeds, even if they don't actually explode when they hit the ground, their impact will throw debris in every direction and the craft will shatter. Thus its basically an explosion either way.

As for why the explosion doesn't catch other flyers, aircraft again travel at high rates of speed and will never be very close to each other. Even in the split second time of an explosion, another aircraft will easily clear the blast radius enough not to suffer any major damage.

There could be the off chance the air-craft flies through the explosion though. This can happen. Also the debris could be traveling at a high velocity. There is also the chance it could be a sudden explosion or the pilot of the opposing craft got too close to his target before it exploded.

Yes its possible, but such an event would be incredibly rare. Thus it doesn't need to be represented on the table top.

Just like we don't need mechanics for bolt rounds to ricochet off the armor of a vehicle and embed themselves in the bodies of the nearby infantry.

I don't know it seems like it would be common with orks. Also there is the issue of vector strikes, which would be within melee range of said craft or very close when it explodes

The Imperial Answer wrote:
I don't know it seems like it would be common with orks. Also there is the issue of vector strikes, which would be within melee range of said craft or very close when it explodes

Nope, the creature will rake the target with its claws and then continue flying. It will clear the area long before any explosion happens.

And again, simplification to make the game work and not have to represent a very corner case scenario.

some of the 7th edition changes bother me, like how area terrain is no longer a thing, and how infantry have issue moving through ruins.

The debri thrown up by a crashing plane would be small and insignificant enough to be weaker than a las gun shot even if a piece or two were even lucky enough to touch a passing aircraft. You can always say it scratched their paint but even at the worst, unless they were carrying a nuke and the nuke went off, it would not damage an aircraft flying past.

 EVIL INC wrote:
The debri thrown up by a crashing plane would be small and insignificant enough to be weaker than a las gun shot even if a piece or two were even lucky enough to touch a passing aircraft. You can always say it scratched their paint but even at the worst, unless they were carrying a nuke and the nuke went off, it would not damage an aircraft flying past.

What about something the size of a Manta or an Ork Bommer ?

Same thing. Still only minor debree would fly up high enough to even touch another flyer (minor meaning having the strength of a lasgun or less). Of course, if someone wantd to have them go off like nukes against all of the fluff, 'm sure they could come up with some house rules for their playing groups. If they do, I would suggest that they use the same rule for ALL vehicles and not just flyers as they would explode the same way (excluding super heavies of course).