IATA publishes air safety report for 2024, overall situation worse versus 2023

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently released its Annual Safety Report for 2024. The figures contained within the report reveal that, overall, the air transport industry remained one of the safest forms of transport and demonstrated a trajectory of improvement on the five-year rolling average figures. However, safety for 2024 did not emulate the unprecedented low levels recorded in 2023, which turned out to be the safest year on record for commercial airline travel.

In 2024, IATA reported an accident rate of 1.13 per million flights, which equated to one accident per 880,000 flights. While this figure was an improvement over the five-year average of 1.25, it was worse than the 1.09 figure recorded in 2023. In 2024, there were seven fatal airline accidents across 40.6 million commercial flights. This compares to just a single fatal accident recorded in 2023 and the five-year average of five fatal accidents per year.

There were 244 onboard fatalities in 2024 (a figure that includes both passengers and crew members). This compares to the 72 fatalities reported in 2023 and the five-year average figure of 144. Fatality risk remained low at 0.06, below the five-year average of 0.10 but notably double the 0.03 figure reported in 2023.

“Even with recent high profile aviation accidents, it is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “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,” Walsh added.

Background to the report

Tail strikes and runway excursions were the most frequently reported accidents in 2024. This, states IATA, “underscores the importance of take-off and landing safety measures.” Notably, there were no controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFIT) accidents during 2024.

Meanwhile, the downing of two aircraft in conflict zones (Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer in Kazakhstan with 38 fatalities in December 2024 and New Way Cargo Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 in Sudan in October 2024 with five fatalities) contributed to 43 of the fatalities in 2024 – around 18% of the total.

Accidents and incidents relating to conflict zones are considered security-related events and are not included in the IATA report. However, along with growing incidents of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference are a top concern for aviation safety, requiring urgent global coordination, says IATA.

“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.

Breaking down the regional figures

In North America, there were 12 accidents in 2024, with the accident rate improving from 1.53 per one million sectors in 2023 to 1.20 in 2024. This figure 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, IATA says it is becoming increasingly concerned regarding the increasing number of rocket launches and the challenges they present for air traffic management.

The Asia-Pacific region saw seven accidents in 2024, with the accident rate increasing from 0.92 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.04 in 2024 but remaining below the five-year regional average of 1.10. The fatality risk was unchanged from 2023 at 0.15. According to the report, there was no dominant cause of the incidents and accidents in the region during 2024, which included tail strikes, runway damage, and turbulence, among other reasons.

Africa saw 10 accidents in 2024, with the accident rate rising from 8.36 per million sectors in 2023 to 10.59 in 2024 and exceeding the five-year average of 8.46. The most common accident types in 2024 were runway excursions, followed by those related to landing gear failures. 40% of all accidents in Africa in 2024 involved turboprop aircraft.

With two accidents in 2024 in the Middle East and North Africa, the accident rate improved from 1.12 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 1.08 in 2024. This figure was also better than the region’s five-year average of 1.09. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2019. While no accidents were related to GNSS interference during that time, it has emerged as a critical area of concern for air traffic in the region.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) witnessed no accidents in 2024, with the accident rate improving 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, says IATA, which adds that GNSS interference and security risks linked to regional conflicts remain key concerns for aviation safety in the area. IATA noted that due to ongoing geopolitical relations with the CIS region, it could not guarantee the quality of data obtained relating to air safety in the region.

With nine accidents in Europe in 2024, the continent’s 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.

With a single accident in North Asia in 2024, the 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.

Lastly, in the Latin America and Caribbean region, there were five accidents in 2024, with the accident rate increasing 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.

Summary

The IATA report for 2024 offers both positives and negatives for the air transport industry. The fact that there were just seven fatal accidents across 40.6 million commercial flights remains a staggeringly low figure. However, the report highlights where there is clearly room for improvement.

With 2025 having already started badly for the aviation sector, with two notable fatal accidents within the first four weeks of the year (American Eagle in Washington DC, and Jeju Air Boeing 737 in Muan, Korea), the fatality figure has already surpassed that for 2024 with nine months still remaining in the year. Only time will tell just how many this figure ends up being when IATA publishes its next safety report in February 2025.          

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IATA publishes air safety report for 2024, overall situation worse versus 2023

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