In 2024, African Airlines recorded 10 incidents, making it the second most common area with airplanes.
Africa's aviation industry is an important sector that promotes economic development, trade and connectivity across the continent.
Despite this possibility, the industry faces major challenges including infrastructure deficits, regulatory hurdles, financial constraints and safety concerns.
Although 2024 was a turbulent year for the global aviation industry, improvements in airline safety were clear, with cases falling compared to the decline in incidents.
2024 Industry Performance
The global aviation industry transported over 40 million flights worldwide in seven fatal accidents in 2024.
According to the report, 10 years ago, the five-year average (2011-2015) showed one accident per 456,000 flights.
This figure has improved significantly over the past five years (2020-2024), with one accident occurring every 810,000 flights. This was welcomed as a victory for the IATA.
The IATA report highlighted the following major aviation incidents in 2024:
January: Airbus A350-900 collided with a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft in a runway incident classified by the ACTF. All passengers on the A350-900 escaped safely, but five members of the Coast Guard aircraft lost their lives. January: Boeing 737-9 Max suffered from separation of his fuselage while climbing from the Portland airport. All 177 passengers survived the emergency landing.
March: Dash 8-300 collided into the air at 172m Cessna over Nairobi National Park. While all Dash 8-300 passengers survived, two deaths occurred at Cessna. May: The Boeing 777-300 experienced severe turbulence, resulting in one death. July: Loss of control crashed the CRJ-200 on takeoff at Nepal, killing 18 lives. August: The ATR-72 crash in Brazil claimed the lives of 62 passengers and crew after losing control during flight before crashing. October: Five people died in an IL-76 cargo ship accident in Sudan. December: An ERJ-190 accident in Kazakhstan claimed 38 lives.
“We respect all the memories of life lost in an aviation accident with greater determination to fly with our deepest sympathy and even safer. Therefore, the accumulation of safety data, including the 2024 Safety Report, is our most powerful tool,” said the IATA director.
Regional Performance
North America recorded 12 accidents in 2024, improving its overall corrosion resistance from 1.53 to 1.20 per sector, below the five-year average of 1.26.
Fatal risks have remained zero since 2020. Common types of accidents included tail strikes, runway damage, and field trips. Growth in space operations presents challenges for air traffic management.
Africa recorded 10 accidents in 2024, increasing all tuition fees from 8.36 per sector, above the five-year average of 8.46 to 10.59. Despite the highest accident rate, the fatal risk remained zero in the second year.
The most common incidents were runway excursions and landing gear issues, with 40% involved with turboprop aircraft. The IATA Focus Africa Initiative continues its efforts to improve safety through the Joint Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP).
The Asia-Pacific region recorded seven accidents in 2024, increasing all accident fees from 0.92 to 1.04 per million sectors, down below the five-year average of 1.10. The fatal risk remained at 0.15. The accidents were varied, including tail strikes, runway damage, and turbulence.
The Middle East and North Africa recorded two accidents in 2024, improving all tuition fees from 1.12 to 1.08 per sector, which is below the five-year average of 1.09. Fatal risks have remained zero since 2019. There have been no accidents related to GNSS interference, but concerns are growing.
