By Tuba Ongun
ANKARA (AA) – The 2024 all-accident rate for commercial aviation stood at 1.13 per million flights, an improvement over the five-year average of 1.25 but slightly higher than 2023’s record low of 1.09, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 2024 Safety Report released Wednesday.
Seven fatal accidents were reported in 2024 from 40.6 million flights, up from one in 2023 and the five-year average of five. Onboard fatalities also rose to 244, compared to 72 in 2023, though the overall fatality risk remained low at 0.06.
Willie Walsh, the group’s head, noted the industry’s continued progress in safety. “A decade ago, the five-year average was one accident for every 456,000 flights. Today, it’s one for every 810,000 flights,” he said.
The most common accident types included tail strikes and runway excursions, underscoring the importance of safety during takeoffs and landings.
- Rising risks in conflict zones
Two aircraft downed in conflict zones – one in Kazakhstan (38 fatalities) and another in Sudan (five fatalities) – highlighted the ongoing need for the Safer Skies initiative, which aims to improve safety in high-risk airspace, said IATA.
“No civil aircraft should ever be a target – deliberate or accidental – of military operations,” Walsh said, calling for enhanced global intelligence-sharing and stronger protocols to protect civilian aviation.
The report follows a number of high-profile aircraft accidents in recent weeks, particularly in the United States, which are not included in Wednesday’s figures but will be in the 2025 report.