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 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 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 the 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.
ACCIDENT TYPE
| 2023 | 2024 | FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE (2020-2024) | |
| All accident rate (accidents per one million flights) | 1.09 (1 accident every 0.92 million flights) | 1.13 (1 accident every 0.88 million flights) | 1.25 (1 accident every 0.81 million flights) |
| All accident rate for IATA member airlines | 0.97 (1 accident every 1.03 million flights) | 0.90 (1 accident every 1.11 million flights) | 0.79 (1 accident every 1.24 million flights) |
| Total accidents | 42 | 46 | 39 |
| Fatal accidents | 1 (0 jet and 1 turboprop) | 7 (5 jet and 2 turboprop) | 5 |
| On-board Fatalities | 72 | 244 | 144 |
| Fatality risk | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.10 |
| IATA member airlines’ fatality risk | 0.00 | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Jet hull losses (per one million flights) | 0.06 (1 major accident every 17.50 million flights) | 0.14 (1 major accident every 7.40 million flights) | 0.15 (1 major accident every 7.12 million flights) |
| Turboprop hull losses (per one million flights) | 0.83 (1 hull loss every 1.20 million flights) | 1.12 (1 hull loss every 0.89 million flights) | 1.37 (1 hull loss every 0.74 million flights) |
| Total flights (million) | 38.6 | 40.6 | 31.8 |
REGIONAL SAFETY PERFORMANCE
| Region | Jet Hull Loss | Turboprop Hull Loss | Fatality Risk |
| Africa | 0.00 | 1.78 | 0.36 |
| Asia-Pacific | 0.00 | 0.36 | 0.26 |
| CIS | 1.13 | 0.00 | 0.46 |
| Europe | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.21 |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | 0.00 | 0.40 | 0.36 |
| Middle East and North Africa | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| North America | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| North Asia | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.09 |
| Global | 0.06 | 0.14 | 0.15 |
Strengthening Safety Through Timely, Comprehensive and 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%).
