GENEVA: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a significant increase in fatal aviation accidents in 2024, marking a sharp contrast to the low numbers recorded in 2023.
According to IATA’s 2024 Annual Safety Report, seven fatal accidents occurred across 40.6 million flights, compared to just one in 2023. The number of onboard fatalities also rose from 72 in 2023 to 244 in 2024, surpassing the five-year average of 144.
IATA said that despite the rise in fatal accidents, the aviation industry’s overall safety performance remained strong. The all-accident rate stood at 1.13 per million flights (one accident per 880,000 flights), an improvement over the five-year average of 1.25 but slightly worse than the 1.09 recorded in 2023. Similarly, the fatality risk remained low at 0.06, below the five-year average of 0.10, although double the 0.03 reported in the previous year.
“Even with recent high-profile aviation accidents, it is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare. There were 40.6 million flights in 2024 and seven fatal accidents. Moreover, the long-term story of aviation safety is one of continuous improvement,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
“A decade ago, the five-year average (2011-2015) was one accident for every 456,000 flights. Today, the five-year average (2020-2024) is one accident for every 810,000 flights. That improvement is because we know that every fatality is one too many. We honour the memory of every life lost in an aviation accident with our deepest sympathies and ever-greater resolve to make flying even safer. And for that, the accumulation of safety data, including the 2024 safety report, is our most powerful tool,” said Walsh.
