Airline safety improved in 2017 from the previous year, according to data recently released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“Some 4.1 billion travelers flew safely on 41.8 million flights,” Alexandre de Juniac, IATA CEO and director general, said. “We saw improvements in nearly all key metrics – globally and in most regions. And our determination to make this very safe industry even safer continues. In 2017, there were incidents and accidents that we will learn from through the investigation process, just as we will learn from the recent tragedies in Russia and Iran.”
The IATA’s findings include:
The accident rate is measured in accidents per 1 million flights. In 2017, the accident rate was 1.08, down from 1.68 in 2016.
Major jet accidents are measured in jet hull losses per 1 million flights. The jet accident rate was 0.11, down from 0.39 in 2016.
In 2017, there were six accidents that resulted in 19 fatalities. In 2016, there were nine accidents which resulted in 202 fatalities. Over the period 2012-2016, there was an annual average of 10.8 fatal accidents and 315 deaths.
Last year’s accidents were a cargo jet and five turboprop aircraft. No IATA members were involved in a fatal accident.