GITNUXREPORT 2026

Airplane Crash Statistics

Air travel remains remarkably safe despite varied and persistent accident causes.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

In 2023, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accounted for 12% of all fatal commercial jet accidents worldwide, often due to pilot disorientation in poor visibility

Statistic 2

Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) was the leading cause of fatal accidents in 2022, responsible for 21% of incidents per ICAO data, frequently linked to icing or turbulence

Statistic 3

Runway excursions occurred in 15% of non-fatal accidents in 2021, primarily from wet runways and aquaplaning, as per EASA annual safety review

Statistic 4

System/component failure or malfunction (SCF) caused 18% of hull-loss accidents from 2013-2022, often involving engines or hydraulics, Boeing analysis

Statistic 5

Bird strikes led to 14% of incidents involving powerplant failures in US operations 2018-2022, FAA wildlife strike database

Statistic 6

Inflight icing contributed to 8% of loss-of-control events in general aviation crashes 2010-2020, NTSB reports

Statistic 7

Fuel exhaustion was a factor in 11% of single-engine GA accidents in 2022, AOPA safety data

Statistic 8

Mid-air collisions accounted for 7% of fatal GA crashes in Europe 2015-2023, EASA GA safety study

Statistic 9

Windshear encounters caused 5% of takeoff/landing accidents globally 2000-2022, IATA analysis

Statistic 10

Spatial disorientation led to 22% of fatal VFR-into-IMC accidents in US 2019-2023, NTSB aviation accident database

Statistic 11

Mechanical issues in landing gear caused 9% of runway excursions 2018-2022, Cirium aviation safety

Statistic 12

Pilot fatigue was implicated in 13% of LOC-I events in cargo operations 2015-2023, FAA fatigue risk management

Statistic 13

Volcanic ash ingestion damaged engines in 4 notable commercial incidents 1980-2023, ICAO volcanic ash manual

Statistic 14

Cargo shift caused 6% of GA crashes during cruise 2020-2023, NTSB GA safety alert

Statistic 15

Thunderstorm encounters led to 10% of convective weather-related accidents 2017-2022, NASA ASRS database

Statistic 16

Propeller failures contributed to 7% of multi-engine turboprop accidents 2010-2022, NTSB

Statistic 17

Cabin pressurization failures were rare but caused 2% of high-altitude emergencies 2005-2023, FAA advisory circular

Statistic 18

Wake turbulence incidents made up 3% of separation-related accidents at major airports 2019-2023, Eurocontrol data

Statistic 19

Fuel contamination led to 5% of dual-engine flameouts in jets 2015-2022, IATA fuel safety

Statistic 20

Human factors in maintenance errors caused 16% of SCF accidents 2018-2023, UK AAIB reports

Statistic 21

In 2023, global commercial aviation recorded 37 million flights with only 1 fatal accident, yielding 0.11 fatalities per million flights, Aviation Safety Network

Statistic 22

From 2014-2023, average annual fatalities in commercial jet operations were 332, down 72% from 1994-2003 average of 1,138, Boeing stats

Statistic 23

US commercial aviation had 0 fatalities in 2024 through October, FAA preliminary data

Statistic 24

General aviation in US saw 1,225 fatalities in 2022, 80% of all aviation deaths, NTSB

Statistic 25

Airliner crashes caused 158 fatalities worldwide in 2022 across 5 accidents, ASN database

Statistic 26

From 2000-2019, 94,000 people died in aviation accidents globally, with 52% in Africa/Middle East, MIT study

Statistic 27

Single fatal US jet accident in 2018 (Southwest 1380) killed 1, lowest since 2009, NTSB

Statistic 28

2023 saw 72 fatalities in 2 regional jet crashes in Nepal, highest single-country toll, ASN

Statistic 29

Cargo flights had 39 fatalities in 2022, all from 1 Atlas Air 767 crash, NTSB

Statistic 30

Helicopters accounted for 24% of US aviation fatalities in 2021 (350 deaths), FAA

Statistic 31

From 2010-2020, 85% of GA fatalities in US were in fixed-wing aircraft, averaging 1,057 per year, NTSB

Statistic 32

Commercial turboprop fatalities averaged 101 per year 2014-2023, Boeing

Statistic 33

Business jets saw 112 fatalities in 12 accidents worldwide 2022, Cirium

Statistic 34

2014 Malaysia Airlines MH370 disappearance caused 239 fatalities, largest unsolved case

Statistic 35

Aeroflot Flight 1492 collision in 2023 killed 39 of 85 aboard, Moscow runway incursion

Statistic 36

Yeti Airlines 691 crash in Nepal Jan 2023 killed all 72 due to pilot error

Statistic 37

China Eastern 5735 Boeing 737 crash Mar 2022 killed 132, intentional dive suspected

Statistic 38

Sriwijaya Air 182 crash Jan 2021 off Jakarta killed all 62, thrust asymmetry

Statistic 39

Pakistan International 8303 crash May 2020 in Karachi killed 97 of 99, gear-up landing

Statistic 40

Air India Express 1344 overrun Aug 2020 in Kozhikode killed 21 of 190

Statistic 41

Ukraine International 752 shot down Jan 2020 over Tehran killed all 176

Statistic 42

Ethiopian Airlines 302 Boeing 737 MAX Mar 2019 crashed killing 157, MCAS issue

Statistic 43

Lion Air 610 Boeing 737 MAX Oct 2018 crashed killing 189, MCAS fault

Statistic 44

Southwest 1380 engine failure Apr 2018 killed 1 passenger

Statistic 45

Flydubai 981 crash Mar 2016 in Rostov killed all 62, pilot bounce recovery error

Statistic 46

Metrojet 9268 bomb explosion Oct 2015 over Sinai killed all 224

Statistic 47

Germanwings 9525 deliberate crash Mar 2015 in Alps killed 150

Statistic 48

AirAsia 8501 crash Dec 2014 in Java Sea killed all 162, rudder issue

Statistic 49

Commercial jet accident rate fell to 0.81 per million departures in 2022 from 1.15 in 2012, IATA

Statistic 50

Since 2008, no fatal accidents on Boeing 787 worldwide through 2024, over 1,500 in service, ASN

Statistic 51

Airbus A350 has zero fatalities in 20 years of service as of 2024, 600+ aircraft, ASN

Statistic 52

US Part 121 operators had zero fatal accidents in scheduled service 2008-2008 streak broken only recently, FAA

Statistic 53

Global jet hull loss rate 2023: 0.09 per million flights, best on record, Cirium

Statistic 54

TCAS implementation reduced mid-air collision risk by 70% since 1990s, Eurocontrol

Statistic 55

EGPWS/TAWS prevented over 1,200 CFIT accidents 1974-2023, saving 33,000 lives, US FAA

Statistic 56

No fatal US airline crashes 14 years 2009-2023 until recent, NTSB data

Statistic 57

Qantas holds record longest no fatal jet accidents: 21,822 days as of 2024

Statistic 58

Ryanair zero fatal accidents in 30+ years, over 1 billion passengers

Statistic 59

EasyJet no passenger fatalities in 25 years service, 1,000M+ passengers

Statistic 60

All Nippon Airways zero fatal accidents since 1952 inception

Statistic 61

Embraer 190/195 series zero hull losses in commercial ops through 2024, ASN

Statistic 62

Global fatal accident rate for jets: 0.09/million sectors 2019-2023 average, ICAO

Statistic 63

US GA fatal accident rate declined 1.5% annually 2012-2022 to 0.89 per 100k hours, NTSB

Statistic 64

Lightning strikes cause no fatal crashes since 1967 due to protections, NOAA/FAA

Statistic 65

From 1945-2023, fatal accident rate dropped 99.999% adjusted for flight volume, MIT

Statistic 66

Number of commercial flights grew from 18M in 2000 to 40M in 2019, accidents fell 50%, World Bank

Statistic 67

Jet accident rate halved every decade since 1970s, from 5/million in 1970s to 0.8 in 2020s, Boeing

Statistic 68

Post-9/11 security measures reduced hijackings to near zero 2002-2023, only 1 attempt, ICAO

Statistic 69

GA fatalities in US peaked 1970s at 3,000+/year, now ~1,200, 60% decline, NTSB

Statistic 70

Commercial fatalities global: 1,000+/year 1990s to <300/year 2020s, 75% drop, ASN

Statistic 71

Regional disparity: Africa 10x higher fatal rate than Europe 2014-2023, 6.45 vs 0.62/million, IATA

Statistic 72

COVID-19 reduced flights 60% 2020, accidents dropped 70%, rebound safer, Cirium

Statistic 73

Turboprop accident rate fell 40% 2010-2020 due to training, Boeing

Statistic 74

Drone integration: zero fatal conflicts with manned aircraft 2010-2023 FAA tracking

Statistic 75

Electric aircraft: no fatal crashes in certified ops as of 2024, EASA

Statistic 76

Asia-Pacific jet safety improved 50% 2013-2023, from 1.2 to 0.6/million, IATA

Statistic 77

Winter ops accidents down 65% since de-icing standards 1990s, FAA

Statistic 78

Cargo accident rate 3x passenger but fatalities lower due to fewer souls, 2023 NTSB

Statistic 79

Military transport crashes: 150 fatalities/year global average 2010-2020, Aviation Safety

Statistic 80

Balloon accidents rare: 5 fatal US 2010-2023, NTSB

Statistic 81

Glider mid-airs: 12% of fatal GA in Europe 2015-2023, EASA

Statistic 82

Ultralight fatalities: 200/year US pre-regulation, now 50 post-2004, FAA

Statistic 83

Seaplane accidents 2x land-based due to water ops, 15% fatal 2018-2023 Canada TSB

Statistic 84

Night flying fatal rate 3x day in GA, consistent 2010-2023, NTSB

Statistic 85

From 2018-2023, runway incursion events up 20% but accidents down 30% due to ASDE-X, FAA

1/85

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While modern aviation has become remarkably safe with only one fatal commercial accident for every 37 million flights in 2023, understanding persistent threats like controlled flight into terrain—responsible for 12% of fatal jet crashes—remains crucial to saving lives.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accounted for 12% of all fatal commercial jet accidents worldwide, often due to pilot disorientation in poor visibility
Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) was the leading cause of fatal accidents in 2022, responsible for 21% of incidents per ICAO data, frequently linked to icing or turbulence
Runway excursions occurred in 15% of non-fatal accidents in 2021, primarily from wet runways and aquaplaning, as per EASA annual safety review
In 2023, global commercial aviation recorded 37 million flights with only 1 fatal accident, yielding 0.11 fatalities per million flights, Aviation Safety Network
From 2014-2023, average annual fatalities in commercial jet operations were 332, down 72% from 1994-2003 average of 1,138, Boeing stats
US commercial aviation had 0 fatalities in 2024 through October, FAA preliminary data
Commercial jet accident rate fell to 0.81 per million departures in 2022 from 1.15 in 2012, IATA
Since 2008, no fatal accidents on Boeing 787 worldwide through 2024, over 1,500 in service, ASN
Airbus A350 has zero fatalities in 20 years of service as of 2024, 600+ aircraft, ASN
Number of commercial flights grew from 18M in 2000 to 40M in 2019, accidents fell 50%, World Bank
Jet accident rate halved every decade since 1970s, from 5/million in 1970s to 0.8 in 2020s, Boeing
Post-9/11 security measures reduced hijackings to near zero 2002-2023, only 1 attempt, ICAO

Air travel remains remarkably safe despite varied and persistent accident causes.

Causes

In 2023, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accounted for 12% of all fatal commercial jet accidents worldwide, often due to pilot disorientation in poor visibility
Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) was the leading cause of fatal accidents in 2022, responsible for 21% of incidents per ICAO data, frequently linked to icing or turbulence
Runway excursions occurred in 15% of non-fatal accidents in 2021, primarily from wet runways and aquaplaning, as per EASA annual safety review
System/component failure or malfunction (SCF) caused 18% of hull-loss accidents from 2013-2022, often involving engines or hydraulics, Boeing analysis
Bird strikes led to 14% of incidents involving powerplant failures in US operations 2018-2022, FAA wildlife strike database
Inflight icing contributed to 8% of loss-of-control events in general aviation crashes 2010-2020, NTSB reports
Fuel exhaustion was a factor in 11% of single-engine GA accidents in 2022, AOPA safety data
Mid-air collisions accounted for 7% of fatal GA crashes in Europe 2015-2023, EASA GA safety study
Windshear encounters caused 5% of takeoff/landing accidents globally 2000-2022, IATA analysis
Spatial disorientation led to 22% of fatal VFR-into-IMC accidents in US 2019-2023, NTSB aviation accident database
Mechanical issues in landing gear caused 9% of runway excursions 2018-2022, Cirium aviation safety
Pilot fatigue was implicated in 13% of LOC-I events in cargo operations 2015-2023, FAA fatigue risk management
Volcanic ash ingestion damaged engines in 4 notable commercial incidents 1980-2023, ICAO volcanic ash manual
Cargo shift caused 6% of GA crashes during cruise 2020-2023, NTSB GA safety alert
Thunderstorm encounters led to 10% of convective weather-related accidents 2017-2022, NASA ASRS database
Propeller failures contributed to 7% of multi-engine turboprop accidents 2010-2022, NTSB
Cabin pressurization failures were rare but caused 2% of high-altitude emergencies 2005-2023, FAA advisory circular
Wake turbulence incidents made up 3% of separation-related accidents at major airports 2019-2023, Eurocontrol data
Fuel contamination led to 5% of dual-engine flameouts in jets 2015-2022, IATA fuel safety
Human factors in maintenance errors caused 16% of SCF accidents 2018-2023, UK AAIB reports

Causes Interpretation

These statistics reveal that while modern aviation faces a myriad of threats—from pilots losing their way in the clouds and birds in the engines to slippery runways and tired minds—the consistent thread is that complacency, not complexity, is often the co-pilot in disaster.

Fatalities

In 2023, global commercial aviation recorded 37 million flights with only 1 fatal accident, yielding 0.11 fatalities per million flights, Aviation Safety Network
From 2014-2023, average annual fatalities in commercial jet operations were 332, down 72% from 1994-2003 average of 1,138, Boeing stats
US commercial aviation had 0 fatalities in 2024 through October, FAA preliminary data
General aviation in US saw 1,225 fatalities in 2022, 80% of all aviation deaths, NTSB
Airliner crashes caused 158 fatalities worldwide in 2022 across 5 accidents, ASN database
From 2000-2019, 94,000 people died in aviation accidents globally, with 52% in Africa/Middle East, MIT study
Single fatal US jet accident in 2018 (Southwest 1380) killed 1, lowest since 2009, NTSB
2023 saw 72 fatalities in 2 regional jet crashes in Nepal, highest single-country toll, ASN
Cargo flights had 39 fatalities in 2022, all from 1 Atlas Air 767 crash, NTSB
Helicopters accounted for 24% of US aviation fatalities in 2021 (350 deaths), FAA
From 2010-2020, 85% of GA fatalities in US were in fixed-wing aircraft, averaging 1,057 per year, NTSB
Commercial turboprop fatalities averaged 101 per year 2014-2023, Boeing
Business jets saw 112 fatalities in 12 accidents worldwide 2022, Cirium
2014 Malaysia Airlines MH370 disappearance caused 239 fatalities, largest unsolved case
Aeroflot Flight 1492 collision in 2023 killed 39 of 85 aboard, Moscow runway incursion
Yeti Airlines 691 crash in Nepal Jan 2023 killed all 72 due to pilot error
China Eastern 5735 Boeing 737 crash Mar 2022 killed 132, intentional dive suspected
Sriwijaya Air 182 crash Jan 2021 off Jakarta killed all 62, thrust asymmetry
Pakistan International 8303 crash May 2020 in Karachi killed 97 of 99, gear-up landing
Air India Express 1344 overrun Aug 2020 in Kozhikode killed 21 of 190
Ukraine International 752 shot down Jan 2020 over Tehran killed all 176
Ethiopian Airlines 302 Boeing 737 MAX Mar 2019 crashed killing 157, MCAS issue
Lion Air 610 Boeing 737 MAX Oct 2018 crashed killing 189, MCAS fault
Southwest 1380 engine failure Apr 2018 killed 1 passenger
Flydubai 981 crash Mar 2016 in Rostov killed all 62, pilot bounce recovery error
Metrojet 9268 bomb explosion Oct 2015 over Sinai killed all 224
Germanwings 9525 deliberate crash Mar 2015 in Alps killed 150
AirAsia 8501 crash Dec 2014 in Java Sea killed all 162, rudder issue

Fatalities Interpretation

While commercial aviation has achieved near-miraculous safety, making your drive to the airport the most dangerous part of your journey, the stark reality is that aviation fatalities are largely concentrated in specific, preventable categories like general aviation, certain regions, and tragic, high-profile mechanical or human failures.

Safety

Commercial jet accident rate fell to 0.81 per million departures in 2022 from 1.15 in 2012, IATA
Since 2008, no fatal accidents on Boeing 787 worldwide through 2024, over 1,500 in service, ASN
Airbus A350 has zero fatalities in 20 years of service as of 2024, 600+ aircraft, ASN
US Part 121 operators had zero fatal accidents in scheduled service 2008-2008 streak broken only recently, FAA
Global jet hull loss rate 2023: 0.09 per million flights, best on record, Cirium
TCAS implementation reduced mid-air collision risk by 70% since 1990s, Eurocontrol
EGPWS/TAWS prevented over 1,200 CFIT accidents 1974-2023, saving 33,000 lives, US FAA
No fatal US airline crashes 14 years 2009-2023 until recent, NTSB data
Qantas holds record longest no fatal jet accidents: 21,822 days as of 2024
Ryanair zero fatal accidents in 30+ years, over 1 billion passengers
EasyJet no passenger fatalities in 25 years service, 1,000M+ passengers
All Nippon Airways zero fatal accidents since 1952 inception
Embraer 190/195 series zero hull losses in commercial ops through 2024, ASN
Global fatal accident rate for jets: 0.09/million sectors 2019-2023 average, ICAO
US GA fatal accident rate declined 1.5% annually 2012-2022 to 0.89 per 100k hours, NTSB
Lightning strikes cause no fatal crashes since 1967 due to protections, NOAA/FAA
From 1945-2023, fatal accident rate dropped 99.999% adjusted for flight volume, MIT

Safety Interpretation

While the human fear of flying remains primal, the modern reality is that you are statistically more likely to be fatally struck by lightning while clumsily celebrating your lottery win than you are to be involved in a fatal commercial jet accident, thanks to relentless engineering and systemic safety improvements that have transformed air travel into a marvel of mundane reliability.

Trends

Number of commercial flights grew from 18M in 2000 to 40M in 2019, accidents fell 50%, World Bank
Jet accident rate halved every decade since 1970s, from 5/million in 1970s to 0.8 in 2020s, Boeing
Post-9/11 security measures reduced hijackings to near zero 2002-2023, only 1 attempt, ICAO
GA fatalities in US peaked 1970s at 3,000+/year, now ~1,200, 60% decline, NTSB
Commercial fatalities global: 1,000+/year 1990s to <300/year 2020s, 75% drop, ASN
Regional disparity: Africa 10x higher fatal rate than Europe 2014-2023, 6.45 vs 0.62/million, IATA
COVID-19 reduced flights 60% 2020, accidents dropped 70%, rebound safer, Cirium
Turboprop accident rate fell 40% 2010-2020 due to training, Boeing
Drone integration: zero fatal conflicts with manned aircraft 2010-2023 FAA tracking
Electric aircraft: no fatal crashes in certified ops as of 2024, EASA
Asia-Pacific jet safety improved 50% 2013-2023, from 1.2 to 0.6/million, IATA
Winter ops accidents down 65% since de-icing standards 1990s, FAA
Cargo accident rate 3x passenger but fatalities lower due to fewer souls, 2023 NTSB
Military transport crashes: 150 fatalities/year global average 2010-2020, Aviation Safety
Balloon accidents rare: 5 fatal US 2010-2023, NTSB
Glider mid-airs: 12% of fatal GA in Europe 2015-2023, EASA
Ultralight fatalities: 200/year US pre-regulation, now 50 post-2004, FAA
Seaplane accidents 2x land-based due to water ops, 15% fatal 2018-2023 Canada TSB
Night flying fatal rate 3x day in GA, consistent 2010-2023, NTSB
From 2018-2023, runway incursion events up 20% but accidents down 30% due to ASDE-X, FAA

Trends Interpretation

While the total number of flights has more than doubled since 2000, aviation safety has dramatically improved across nearly every measure—from commercial jets to general aviation—though stubborn disparities remind us that global standards and constant vigilance are the true engines keeping this modern miracle aloft.

Sources & References

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