The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its 2024 Annual Safety Report. The industry delivered another year of strong overall performance on safety including showing improvements on the five-year average for several key parameters, but it took a step back from an exceptional performance in 2023.
- The all-accident rate of 1.13 per million flights (one accident per 880,000 flights) was better than the five-year average of 1.25 but worse than the 1.09 recorded in 2023.
- There were seven fatal accidents in 2024, among 40.6 million flights. That is higher than the single fatal accident recorded in 2023 and the five-year average of five fatal accidents.
- There were 244 on-board fatalities in 2024, compared to the 72 fatalities reported in 2023 and the five-year average of 144. Fatality risk remained low at 0.06, below the five-year average (0.10), although double the 0.03 reported in 2023.
“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. 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 honor 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 Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Key safety insights include:
- Rising Conflict Zone Risks: The downing of two aircraft in conflict zones (Kazakhstan with 38 fatalities and Sudan with five fatalities) has reinforced the importance of the Safer Skies initiative, established in the aftermath of the PS752 tragedy to facilitate safeguards in high-risk airspace.
- Most Common Accidents: Tail strikes and runway excursions were the most frequently reported accidents in 2024, underscoring the importance of take-off and landing safety measures. Notably, there were no controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFIT) accidents.
- Airlines on the registry of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) (including all IATA member airlines) had an accident rate of 0.92 per million flights, significantly lower than the 1.70 recorded by non-IOSA carriers.
Conflict Zones: The Need for Action
Accidents and incidents related to conflict zones are considered security-related events and are not included in this report. While they do not appear in this data of this safety report, they, along with growing incidents of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference, are a top concern for aviation safety requiring urgent global coordination. “No civil aircraft should ever be a target—deliberate or accidental—of military operations. Governments must step up, enhance intelligence-sharing, and establish clearer global protocols to prevent such tragedies and safeguard civilian aviation,” said Walsh.
Regional Safety Performance
- North America: With 12 accidents, the all-accident rate improved from 1.53 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.20 in 2024 and was better than the region’s five-year average of 1.26. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2020. The most common accident types in 2024 were tail strikes, followed by runway damage and runway excursions. While no accidents have been linked to debris from space operations, the increasing number of rocket launches presents challenges for air traffic management.
- Asia-Pacific: With seven accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate increased from 0.92 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.04 in 2024 but remained below the five-year regional average of 1.10. Fatality risk was unchanged from 2023 at 0.15. There was no dominant classification for accidents in the region which included tail strikes, runway damage and turbulence, among others.
- Africa: With 10 accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate rose from 8.36 per million sectors in 2023 to 10.59 in 2024, exceeding the five-year average of 8.46. Africa (AFI) recorded the highest accident rate, though the fatality risk remained at zero for the second year in a row. The most common accident types in 2024 were runway excursions, followed by those related to landing gear. Forty percent of all accidents involving AFI-based operators, were on turboprop aircraft. Through the IATA Focus Africa initiative, the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP)continues to mobilize resources to address key safety challenges.
- Middle East and North Africa: With two accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate improved from 1.12 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 1.08 in 2024 and was also better than its five-year average of 1.09. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2019. While no accidents were related to GNSS interference, it has emerged as a critical area of concern in the region.
- Commonwealth of Independent States: With no accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate improved from 1.05 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to zero in 2024, an improvement over the region’s five-year average of 2.49. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2022. GNSS interference and security risks linked to regional conflicts remain key concerns for aviation safety in the area. Note that the December 2024 downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft in a conflict zone is excluded from accident classification in this safety report. It is also important to note that CIS has limited accident information available and may undergo larger revisions than normal once more data becomes available. This may affect accident rate as well as fatality risk calculation.
- Europe: With nine accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate increased slightly from 0.95 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.02 accidents in 2024. This rate is on par with the region’s five-year average accident rate of 1.02. The fatality risk rate increased from zero in 2023 to 0.03 in 2024. The largest proportion of accidents were related to tail strikes followed by runway excursions.
- North Asia: With a single accident, the all-accident rate increased slightly from zero accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 0.13 in 2024. This was better than the region’s five-year average of 0.16 accidents per million sectors. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2022. There was only one accident involving North Asian-based operators and was related to a tail strike.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: With five accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate increased from 0.73 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 1.77 accidents in 2024. This was better than the five-year average of 2.00. The fatality risk increased from 0.00 in 2023 to 0.35 in 2024. The largest proportion of accidents was related to tail strikes.
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Strengthening safety through timely, comprehensive public accident reports
Delayed or incomplete accident reports deny critical stakeholders—operators, manufacturers, regulators, and infrastructure providers—vital insights that could further improve aviation safety. IATA’s analysis of 2018-2023 accident investigations reveals that only 57% were completed and published as obligated by the Chicago Convention.
Completion rates vary significantly across regions, with North Asia leading at 75%, followed by North America (70%) and Europe (66%), CIS (65%), Middle East and North Africa (60%), Latin America and the Caribbean (57%), Asia-Pacific (53%), and Africa (20%).
“Accident investigation is a vital tool for improving global aviation safety. To be effective, the reports of accident investigations must be complete, accessible, and timely. Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention is clear that this is a state’s obligation. 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,” said Walsh.
Sharp rise in GNSS interference poses growing risk
Data from the IATA Incident Data Exchange (IDX) highlights a sharp increase in GNSS-related interference, which can mislead aircraft navigation systems. While there are several back-up systems in place to support aviation safety even when these systems are affected, these incidents still pose deliberate and unacceptable risks to civil aviation. GNSS interference is most prevalent in Türkiye, Iraq, and Egypt.
Reports of GNSS interference—including signal disruptions, jamming, and spoofing—surged between 2023 and 2024. Interference rates increased by 175%, while GPS spoofing incidents spiked by 500%.
“The sharp rise in GNSS interference events is deeply concerning. Reliable navigation is fundamental to safe and efficient flight operations. Immediate steps by governments and air navigation service providers are needed to stop this practice, improve situational awareness, and ensure that airlines have the necessary tools to operate safely in all areas,” said Walsh.
Cranfield adding aviation accident training
UK-based Cranfield University will start delivering some of its industry leading aviation accident investigation training courses in Melbourne in April. The courses will provide the rapidly growing Asia Pacific market with easier access to Cranfield’s highly respected and sought-after safety training. Cranfield will work with respected local industry partner MEMKO to coordinate and run the Australian courses that will be presented by Cranfield academic staff from the UK.
Head of the Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre, Professor Graham Braithwaite, said: “I am thrilled that Cranfield can play an expanded role in helping to improve safety in the Asia Pacific region and it’s great that we can respond to the industry’s requests to deliver programs on the ground in Australia.”
This initiative comes at a time when there is increased scrutiny on accident investigations given recent incidents, highlighting the need to build and develop vital skills across the sector. Cranfield is well known across the aviation industry. The original Cranfield Aircraft Accident Investigation Course was established in 1977 in collaboration with what is now the UK Government’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch. There is a substantial Cranfield alumni community in Australia and across Asia, who have travelled to the UK to access the university’s programs. Delivering selected courses in the region will save industry professionals valuable travel time and expense in accessing Cranfield’s sought after training.
Cranfield appointed former Flight Safety Foundation Asia Pacific Director and Aviation/Aerospace Australia Deputy Chair Paul Fox as a Visiting Fellow in May last year to scope the needs of the growing aviation industry across the Asia Pacific market and to plan the university’s roll out in the region. Paul has since been appointed Regional Manager (Asia Pacific) for the Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre. Fox said: “Having access to Cranfield University’s almost 50 years’ of experience in aircraft accident investigation in Australia, will make a huge difference to the aviation safety and accident investigation capabilities in the region, and will allow many more industry professionals to access this world leading training.”
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