The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual safety report has revealed that African airlines had the highest accident rate in 2024.
- The IATA report highlighted major aviation incidents in 2024 across different regions
- In 2024, African airlines recorded 10 incidents, making it the region with the second-highest number of plane crashes.
- The IATA reported one accident for every 810,000 flights in the past five years, marking a significant improvement in airline safety
In 2024, African airlines recorded 10 incidents, making it the region with the second-highest number of plane crashes.
The African aviation industry is a vital sector that drives economic development, trade, and connectivity across the continent.
Despite its potential, the industry faces significant challenges, including infrastructure deficits, regulatory hurdles, financial constraints, and safety concerns.
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Although 2024 was a turbulent year for the global aviation industry, improvements in airline safety were evident, with a decline in incidents compared to previous years.
2024 Industry performance
The global aviation industry successfully transported 5 billion passengers worldwide on over 40 million flights with seven fatal accidents in 2024.
According to the report, a decade ago, the five-year average (2011-2015) showed one accident for every 456,000 flights.
This figure has improved significantly over the past five years (2020-2024), with one accident for every 810,000 flights—a milestone hailed as a victory by IATA.
The IATA report highlighted major aviation incidents in 2024, including:
- January: An Airbus A350-900 collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft in a runway incident classified by ACTF. While all A350-900 passengers escaped safely, five people on the Coast Guard aircraft lost their lives.
- January: A Boeing 737-9 MAX suffered a fuselage separation while climbing out of Portland’s airport. All 177 passengers survived the emergency landing.
- March: A Dash 8-300 collided midair with a Cessna 172M over Nairobi National Park. While all Dash 8-300 passengers survived, two fatalities occurred on the Cessna.
- May: A Boeing 777-300 experienced severe turbulence, resulting in one fatality.
- July: A CRJ-200 crashed on takeoff in Nepal due to loss of control, claiming 18 lives.
- August: An ATR-72 crash in Brazil claimed the lives of 62 passengers and crew after losing control in flight before crashing.
- October: An IL-76 freighter accident in Sudan resulted in five fatalities.
- December: An ERJ-190 accident in Kazakhstan claimed 38 lives.
“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,” Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General said.
Regional performance
North America recorded 12 accidents in 2024, improving its all-accident rate from 1.53 to 1.20 per million sectors, below the five-year average of 1.26.
Fatality risk has remained zero since 2020. Common accident types included tail strikes, runway damage, and excursions. Growing space operations pose challenges for air traffic management.
Africa recorded 10 accidents in 2024, raising the all-accident rate from 8.36 to 10.59 per million sectors, above the five-year average of 8.46. Despite the highest accident rate, fatality risk remained zero for the second year.
The most common incidents were runway excursions and landing gear issues, with 40% involving turboprop aircraft. The IATA Focus Africa initiative continues efforts to improve safety through the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP).
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Asia-Pacific recorded seven accidents in 2024, raising the all-accident rate from 0.92 to 1.04 per million sectors, still below the five-year average of 1.10. Fatality risk remained at 0.15. Accidents varied, including tail strikes, runway damage, and turbulence.
The Middle East and North Africa recorded two accidents in 2024, improving the all-accident rate from 1.12 to 1.08 per million sectors, below the five-year average of 1.09. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2019. While no accidents were linked to GNSS interference, it remains a growing concern.
