Airline Industry Reports 'Significant Increase' in Fatal Accidents

The number of fatal air accidents rose sharply in 2024, according to a major new safety report. The research, published by the International Air Transport Association, acknowledges a “significant increase” versus a year earlier. 

In 2024, seven accidents were categorized as fatal by the organization. In total, they resulted in 244 deaths onboard an aircraft. There was just one fatal accident in 2023, which recorded 72 onboard fatalities.

Looking beyond 2024’s unfavorable year-on-year comparisons, the broader five-year numbers offer important context. There was an average of 144 onboard deaths per year over the last five years. The fatality risk index for 2024 was 0.06, comfortably below the five-year average of 0.10, but double 2023’s figure of 0.03.

According to IATA, this means on average, a person would have to fly for 49,246 years to experience one 100% fatal accident.

Notably, the data does not include what IATA terms as “security-related events.” For example, the deaths of 38 people onboard an Azerbaijan Airlines jet on Christmas Day are not reflected in the data. Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing, but a primary line of inquiry is that it was brought down by a Russian missile. 

Despite being excluded from the IATA safety report totals, the association described such events as “a top concern for aviation safety requiring urgent global coordination.”

Non-Fatal Accidents in Focus

Deadly crashes dominate the headlines, however there is a much larger number of non-fatal accidents worthy of consideration.

IATA’s “all-accident rate” for 2024 was 1.3 per million flights. This was an improvement on the five-year average of 1.25 but worse than the 1.09 recorded in 2023.

At a global level, the most common accidents reported in 2024 were aircraft tail strikes and runway excursions.

Focusing on North America, the report highlighted possible dangers for civil aviation from more frequent space launches.

“While no accidents have been linked to debris from space operations, the increasing number of rocket launches presents challenges for air traffic management,” IATA said.

‘Sharp Rise’ in Navigation Interference 

Turning its attention to the Middle East and CIS regions, the report warns that interference with aircraft global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) “has emerged as a critical area of concern in the region.” 

It notes that despite backup systems, the incidents “still pose deliberate and unacceptable risks to civil aviation.” IATA highlights Türkiye, Iraq, and Egypt as the countries with the greatest prevalence of GNSS interference, which often takes the form of GPS jamming or ‘spoofing.’

The report says global interference rates increased by 175% in 2024, while GPS spoofing incidents soared 500%.

Responding to the report, Willie Walsh, IATA Director General said: “Even with recent high-profile aviation accidents, it is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare. The long-term story of aviation safety is one of continuous improvement.”

Walsh highlighted the five-year average of one accident for every 456,000 flights between 2011 and 2015. This compared to one accident for every 810,000 flights between 2020 and 2024. While not directly referenced in the IATA report, the collapse of commercial air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to distort direct comparisons between the periods. 

The report’s findings are global in scope, however they come at a sensitive time for the U.S. airline industry. Last month, an American Airlines regional jet collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. There were no survivors from the crash, which the NTSB is currently investigating. 

Other recent accidents include a Delta Air Lines plane that crashed and overturned while landing in Toronto on February 18. All 80 people on board the aircraft survived.

The Voice of the Airline Industry

IATA’s role in the aviation ecosystem should also be considered when assessing its recommendations and interpretations.

It is the largest trade association for the world’s airlines, representing approximately 340 carriers and more than 80% of global air traffic. As a result, its observations and policy shifts are influenced by the priorities of its airline members.

Last month, it wrote a letter to the new U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asking the Department of Transportation to reevaluate several Obama- and Biden-era regulations on passenger protections.

In the letter, IATA said it wanted the Trump administration to “forestall DOT’s march toward further re-regulation of the vital commercial aviation industry.” Specifically, the trade group asked the Trump administration to axe regulations related to compensation for passengers who experience significant delays or disruptions, an inquiry into competition within the industry, and a junk fee rule. 

Watch Willie Walsh, IATA Director General, at the Skift Aviation Forum 2024: