IATA: Seven fatal accidents in 2024 defy trend of “continuous improvement”
February 26, 2025
Despite the seven fatal commercial aviation accidents in 2024 (higher than 2023’s single event and the five-year average of five fatal accidents), “the industry delivered a strong year of overall performance on safety,” notes IATA; nevertheless concluding that “it took a step back from an exceptional performance in 2023”.
Among some 40.6 million flights made in 2024, seven fatal accidents occurred, resulting in the loss of 244 lives (up from 2023’s 72 fatalities and the five-year average of 144). However, fatality risk remained low at 0.06, behind the five-year average of 0.10.
Notable high-profile accidents of the year included the loss of Jeju Air’s Boeing 737-800, which became the worst aviation incident in South Korea’s recent history when it claimed 179 lives. 38 people died when an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 crashed in Kazakhstan, and the loss of a Voepass ATR-72 resulted in the death of all 62 people on board,
“Even with recent high profile aviation accidents, it is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare,” cautioned Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, pointing to the continuous improvements the industry continues to benefit from. Today, the five-year average stands at one accident for every 810,000 flights, a significantly lower risk that a decade ago (averaging one accident for every 456,000 flights).
Although there were no instances of controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFI) accidents, tail strikes and runway excursions were the most frequently reported accidents in 2024. Within Europe, the largest proportion of nine accidents were related to tail strikes followed by runway excursions, with the former also the single largest cause of accidents in North Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Middle East and North Africa was the only region to maintain a statistical zero fatality risk since 2019: however, IATA warned that GNSS interference “has emerged as a critical area of concern in the region” – particularly in Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Worldwide, IATA Incident Data Exchange data indicated reported GNSS interference rates surged by 175%, while GPS spoofing incidents soared by 500%. Explaining that the sharp rise in GNSS interference events is “deeply concerning,” Walsh called upon immediate steps by governments and air navigation service providers to “stop this practice, improve situational awareness, and ensure that airlines have the necessary tools to operate safely in all areas”.
Additionally, Walsh called upon states to fulfil their obligation to complete and publish the reports of accident investigations, with only 57% of 2018-2023 reports done so as directed. Completion rates range from North Asia (75%), North America (70%) and Europe (66%), with Africa trailing behind at 20%.
“To be effective, the reports of accident investigations must be complete, accessible, and timely,” reiterated Walsh. “Burying accident reports for political considerations is completely unacceptable. And if capacity is the blocker, then we need a coordinated global effort to provide technical support to countries with limited accident investigation expertise,” he concluded.
