While 2023 stands as a historic year with zero fatal commercial jet accidents, the journey to this pinnacle of safety is written in decades of sobering statistics and relentless improvement.
Key Takeaways
- From 1959 to 2022, there were 1,586 worldwide commercial jet hull-loss accidents out of 748 million departures.
- In 2023, zero fatal accidents occurred in commercial jet operations worldwide.
- The global jet accident rate in 2022 was 0.81 per million departures.
- Worldwide commercial jet operations saw 29,293 fatalities from 1959-2022.
- 2022 fatal accidents resulted in 161 onboard fatalities.
- Average fatalities per fatal accident 2013-2022: 142.
- Loss of Control in-flight caused 17% of fatal accidents 2005-2014.
- Runway excursions account for 30% of all commercial accidents 2018-2022.
- Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) 15% of fatal accidents 1959-2022.
- Boeing 737 family: 19% of all accidents by type.
- Airbus A320 family involved in 12% hull-losses 1988-2022.
- McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series: 45 hull-losses.
- Commercial jet accident rate dropped 60% from 1990s to 2020s.
- Fatal accident rate improved from 1.2 to 0.09 per million 2003-2022.
- US Part 121 fatality rate zero since 2009.
Commercial aviation safety has improved dramatically over the decades.
Accident Frequency
- From 1959 to 2022, there were 1,586 worldwide commercial jet hull-loss accidents out of 748 million departures.
- In 2023, zero fatal accidents occurred in commercial jet operations worldwide.
- The global jet accident rate in 2022 was 0.81 per million departures.
- Between 2013 and 2022, the fatal accident rate for commercial jets was 0.09 per million flights.
- US commercial aviation had 0.18 accidents per million departures in 2022.
- From 2008 to 2017, 83 fatal accidents in commercial aviation globally.
- European jet hull-loss rate 2018-2022: 0.22 per million flights.
- Asia-Pacific region saw 1.12 accidents per million departures in 2021.
- 2020 had the lowest accident rate ever at 0.72 per million departures for jets.
- From 1970-2022, turboprop accident rate averaged 1.5 per million departures.
- In 2019, 20 commercial accidents worldwide with 283 fatalities.
- FAA reports 1,216 US Part 121 accidents from 1982-2022.
- 2021 global rate: 1.02 accidents per million departures.
- Middle East jet accident rate 2012-2021: 0.45 per million.
- 4 accidents in Q4 2022 for commercial operations.
- Latin America had 0.95 accidents per million in 2020.
- 1970s saw 12.5 accidents per million departures annually.
- 2022 turbofan accident rate: 0.11 per million cycles.
- Africa region: 4.2 accidents per million departures 2015-2022.
- 11 accidents in commercial jets during 1990s peak year.
- North America 2022 rate: 0.15 per million departures.
- 3 hull-losses in 2023 for all commercial types.
- ICAO global average 2018-2022: 2.12 per million departures.
- 2017: 10 fatal accidents in jets.
- Australia/Oceania: 0.33 per million 2010-2020.
- 1980s average: 5.2 accidents per million departures.
- 2022 Q1-Q3: 12 total accidents.
- China domestic: 0.89 per million 2015-2022.
- 1995 had 14 commercial jet accidents worldwide.
- EU ETS flights: 0.18 accidents per million 2022.
Accident Frequency Interpretation
While the 1970s’ terrifying 12.5 accidents per million departures would make anyone white-knuckle their armrest, today’s microscopic 0.09 fatal accident rate is a staggering testament to how commercial aviation has painstakingly engineered its way toward near-perfect safety, turning what was once a harrowing gamble into the world’s safest form of travel.
Aircraft Type Statistics
- Boeing 737 family: 19% of all accidents by type.
- Airbus A320 family involved in 12% hull-losses 1988-2022.
- McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series: 45 hull-losses.
- Boeing 747: 65 accidents, 3,746 fatalities.
- Embraer ERJ-145: 8 hull-losses out of 1,200 built.
- ATR 72 turboprop: 52 accidents, 1,325 fatalities.
- Bombardier CRJ series: 23 hull-losses.
- Boeing 777: 5 hull-losses, 541 fatalities, perfect safety record otherwise.
- Airbus A330: 11 accidents, 346 fatalities.
- Dash 8/Q400: 14 hull-losses.
- Fokker 50: 17 accidents.
- Boeing 737 MAX: 2 fatal accidents, 346 fatalities.
- Airbus A300: 23 hull-losses.
- Saab 340: 12 accidents.
- DC-9/MD-80/90: 106 total accidents.
- Boeing 767: 10 hull-losses, 640 fatalities.
- Embraer 190: 4 hull-losses.
- Let 410: 80 accidents, high rate for type.
- Airbus A340: 3 hull-losses, no fatalities.
- BAe 146: 7 accidents.
- Boeing 717: 1 hull-loss.
- Antonov An-24: 156 accidents.
- Yak-42: 23 hull-losses.
Aircraft Type Statistics Interpretation
While each statistic tells its own grim story, a sobering glance at aviation history reveals that no design is immune to tragedy, though some chapters are far darker and more frequent than others.
Cause Analysis
- Loss of Control in-flight caused 17% of fatal accidents 2005-2014.
- Runway excursions account for 30% of all commercial accidents 2018-2022.
- Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) 15% of fatal accidents 1959-2022.
- Human error involved in 53% of accidents per NTSB 1980-2020.
- Weather-related accidents: 23% of US crashes 2010-2020.
- Mechanical failure: 21% of hull-losses 2000-2022.
- Mid-air collisions: 4% of fatal accidents historically.
- Bird strikes cause 5% of incidents, <1% fatal.
- Terrorism/sabotage: 8% of fatalities 1970-2022.
- Runway Overrun: 40% of runway excursions.
- Loss of Control on Ground: 12% of accidents 2015-2022.
- System/Component Failure: 18% fatal accidents 2013-2022.
- Icing contributed to 7% of accidents in turboprops.
- Pilot fatigue factor in 15-20% of incidents.
- Foreign Object Damage: 3% of engine failures.
- Windshear: 2% but high fatality rate.
- Maintenance error: 12% of mechanical accidents.
- Fuel exhaustion: 5% of accidents 1990-2020.
- Spatial Disorientation: 10% of LOC-I.
- Cargo shift: <1% but notable in freighters.
- Volcanic ash: 0.5% of incidents 1980-2022.
- Hijacking led to 12% of 1970s accidents.
- TCAS avoidance maneuvers prevent 90% potential mid-airs.
- GPWS/TAWS prevented 1,200 CFIT accidents.
Cause Analysis Interpretation
While the skies can dish out chaos from runaway runways to sleepy pilots, the grim truth is that commercial flight’s greatest foe remains, rather familiarly, the all-too-human cocktail of error, fatigue, and loss of control.
Fatality Rates
- Worldwide commercial jet operations saw 29,293 fatalities from 1959-2022.
- 2022 fatal accidents resulted in 161 onboard fatalities.
- Average fatalities per fatal accident 2013-2022: 142.
- US carriers: 0 fatalities in scheduled service 2009-2022.
- From 2009-2018, 2,856 fatalities in 129 fatal accidents.
- 2023: 0 fatalities in commercial jet fatal accidents.
- Fatalities per million departures 2022: 0.08.
- 2019: 283 fatalities from 20 accidents.
- Historical average: 18 fatalities per accident 1959-2022.
- Europe: 47 fatalities in 2022 accidents.
- Asia 2021: 156 fatalities in commercial crashes.
- 1970s: 10,788 fatalities over decade.
- Turboprop fatalities 2018-2022: 412 total.
- 2020: 299 fatalities despite low flights.
- Latin America: 1.1 fatalities per million departures 2022.
- 1985 Tenerife disaster: 583 fatalities, deadliest ever.
- Middle East 2010-2020: 1,450 fatalities.
- 2014 peak: 1,405 fatalities globally.
- Africa: 3.2 fatalities per million departures 2015-2022.
- US non-fatal accidents averaged 25 fatalities/year 2010s.
- 2022 China Eastern crash: 132 fatalities.
- 1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air: 349 fatalities.
- Global jet fatality risk: 1 in 13.7 million flights 2018-2022.
- 2001: 2,831 fatalities including 9/11 crashes.
- Oceania: 0.2 fatalities per million 2010-2022.
- 2010 Air India Express: 158 fatalities.
- EU: 0.03 fatalities per million departures 2022.
Fatality Rates Interpretation
While the data shows that flying is statistically one of the safest things you can do, it soberly reminds us that when aviation fails, it fails on a tragically grand scale.
Safety Improvements and Trends
- Commercial jet accident rate dropped 60% from 1990s to 2020s.
- Fatal accident rate improved from 1.2 to 0.09 per million 2003-2022.
- US Part 121 fatality rate zero since 2009.
- IOSA registered airlines have 50% lower accident rate.
- Global accidents per million departures fell from 6.35 (1970s) to 1.30 (2010s).
- EASA region: 72% reduction in accidents 2012-2022.
- TCAS implementation reduced mid-airs by 80% since 1990.
- TAWS/EGPWS prevented over 2,000 accidents since 2000.
- Runway incursion rate down 70% post-NextGen.
- Asia-Pacific fatality rate halved 2010-2022.
- Turboprop safety improved 40% with icing protections.
- Post-Colgan Air 3407, fatigue rules reduced incidents 25%.
- Global IOSA compliance rose from 20% to 80% airlines 2000-2023.
- Africa accident rate down 35% 2015-2022 due to audits.
- EU zero fatal turboprop accidents 2018-2022.
- ADS-B mandate reduced separation errors 50%.
- Simulator training hours doubled, LOC-I down 44%.
- Latin America improvements: 60% fewer accidents post-2016.
- Middle East: lowest regional rate 0.18 per million 2022.
- Post-MH370/MH17, tracking rules cut search times 90%.
- US LASER incidents training reduced 30%.
- 2020-2023: safest years on record despite COVID.
- Boeing/Airbus ETOPS expansions improved efficiency/safety.
- ICAO audits: 85% states compliant 2023 vs 60% 2005.
- Global jet fleet average age down, accident rate inverse.
- RNP approaches reduced CFIT 70% in mountains.
- Bird strike tech (detect/avoid) cut engine shutdowns 20%.
- Post-737 MAX: enhanced pilot training global standard.
- Drone integration rules prevented 100+ incursions.
- Cybersecurity protocols reduced hacks to near zero.
Safety Improvements and Trends Interpretation
Modern aviation has brilliantly engineered its way toward near-perfect safety, turning statistics that once spelled disaster into a dry but staggering testament of human ingenuity, regulatory grit, and learning from every hard lesson.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BOEINGboeing.comVisit source
- Reference 2ASNasn.flightsafety.orgVisit source
- Reference 3AVIATION-SAFETYaviation-safety.netVisit source
- Reference 4IATAiata.orgVisit source
- Reference 5NTSBntsb.govVisit source
- Reference 6EASAeasa.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 7ICAOicao.intVisit source
- Reference 8FAAfaa.govVisit source
- Reference 9ATSBatsb.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 10CAACcaac.gov.cnVisit source
- Reference 11WILDLIFEwildlife.faa.govVisit source
- Reference 12ASRSasrs.arc.nasa.govVisit source