Runway incursions at U.S. airports reached 2,472 in a recent fiscal year, a 13% annual increase. This rise in volume contrasts with a milestone of zero Category A, or most severe, incidents that same year. The data reveals a system where high-volume operations generate frequent close calls while narrowly avoiding catastrophic outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) had 216 runway incursions from 2018-2023, averaging 36 per year
- Pilot error accounted for 62% of runway incursions globally 2018-2022 per ICAO
- ICAO reported 1,200 runway excursions globally in 2022, but incursions specifically totaled around 5,000 events
- Runway incursions resulted in 0 collisions but 12 near-misses (Cat A/B) U.S. FY2023
- In fiscal year 2023, the FAA recorded 2,472 runway incursions at U.S. airports, marking a 13% increase from 2022
Runway incursion numbers are rising, making training and technology upgrades more urgent than ever.
Related reading
01 · Category
Airport-Specific Statistics22 stats
01
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) had 216 runway incursions from 2018-2023, averaging 36 per year
02
London Heathrow (LHR) recorded 145 incursions over 2018-2023, peak 32 in 2022
03
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) saw 189 incursions 2018-2023, 35 avg/year
04
Tokyo Haneda (HND) had 112 incursions 2018-2023, 22 avg/year per MLIT
05
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) reported 178 incursions 2018-2023, complex layout factor
06
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) logged 134 incursions 2018-2023, 27 avg/year
07
Los Angeles (LAX) had 201 incursions 2018-2023, highest West Coast
08
Dubai International (DXB) saw 156 incursions 2018-2023, 31 avg/year
09
Beijing Capital (PEK) recorded 143 incursions 2018-2023
10
John F. Kennedy (JFK) had 167 incursions 2018-2023, density issues
11
Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) reported 98 incursions 2018-2023
12
Frankfurt (FRA) logged 121 incursions 2018-2023, 24 avg/year
13
Singapore Changi (SIN) had 76 incursions 2018-2023, low rate
14
Miami International (MIA) saw 154 incursions 2018-2023, weather factor
15
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) recorded 109 incursions 2018-2023
16
San Francisco (SFO) had 142 incursions 2018-2023, fog-related high
17
Madrid Barajas (MAD) logged 117 incursions 2018-2023
18
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) reported 133 incursions 2018-2023
19
Toronto Pearson (YYZ) had 124 incursions 2018-2023
20
Istanbul Airport (IST) saw 89 incursions since 2019 opening, avg 18/year
21
Denver (DEN) recorded 148 incursions 2018-2023
22
Melbourne (MEL) had 92 incursions 2018-2023
Interpretation
Airport-Specific Statistics Interpretation
While each airport's unique dance of traffic, weather, and complexity creates its own rhythm of close calls, the universal score remains a relentless symphony of human and system fallibility demanding a sharper baton.
02 · Category
Causal and Contributing Factors20 stats
01
Pilot error accounted for 62% of runway incursions globally 2018-2022 per ICAO
02
Air traffic controller errors caused 18% of incursions worldwide 2018-2022
03
Ground vehicle/pilot deviations were 15% of causes per FAA ASRS data 2023
04
Low visibility was a factor in 28% of U.S. incursions FY2023
05
Incorrect taxiway usage by pilots led to 34% of incursions per EUROCONTROL 2022
06
Runway incursions due to no readback of clearance: 22% per NASA ASRS 2023
07
High traffic density contributed to 41% of European incursions 2022
08
Ground staff errors caused 12% of global incursions 2018-2022 ICAO
09
Fatigue was cited in 8% of pilot deviation incursions U.S. 2023
10
Signage/markings confusion led to 27% of incursions per IATA 2022
11
Incursions from unauthorized runway entry: 19% globally ICAO
12
Weather-related (non-low vis) factors in 14% of U.S. incursions FY2023
13
Communication errors (non-readback) 16% per EASA 2022 Europe
14
Complex airport geometry caused 23% of incursions at major hubs FAA
15
Bird strikes distracting pilots led to 3% of incursions ASRS 2023
16
Maintenance vehicle incursions 9% of total U.S. FY2023
17
Loss of situational awareness 31% primary cause per NTSB studies
18
Inadequate training cited in 17% of GA incursions FAA 2023
19
Procedural deviations by ATC 7% globally ICAO 2022
20
Foreign language barriers 5% in international incursions IATA
Interpretation
Causal and Contributing Factors Interpretation
While the path to a runway incursion is paved with many factors—from a pilot's momentary lapse to confusing signage or a controller's overloaded frequency—the runway itself remains an unforgiving stage where, in the end, the spotlight of responsibility most often finds the pilot in command.
03 · Category
International Statistics23 stats
01
ICAO reported 1,200 runway excursions globally in 2022, but incursions specifically totaled around 5,000 events
02
Europe saw 1,056 runway incursions in 2022 per EUROCONTROL, up 8% from 2021
03
In 2023, Asia-Pacific region recorded 892 runway incursions, highest globally per ICAO
04
Category A incursions worldwide averaged 12 per year from 2018-2022 per ICAO
05
UK airports had 145 runway incursions in 2022, with Heathrow at 32
06
Australia reported 78 runway incursions in 2022 to CASA, mostly at Sydney and Melbourne
07
Canada had 112 runway incursions in 2022 per TC, with Toronto Pearson leading at 28
08
Brazil's ANAC logged 156 incursions in 2022 at major airports like GRU and GIG
09
India reported 67 runway incursions in 2022-23 per DGCA, mainly Delhi and Mumbai
10
Global runway incursion rate was 0.47 per million departures in 2022 per IATA
11
Middle East airports saw 234 incursions in 2022, Dubai at 45 per GCAA
12
Africa reported 156 runway incursions in 2022 per ICAO, South Africa leading with 34
13
In 2021, global incursions totaled 4,200, down 15% from 2019 due to COVID
14
Europe's high-risk incursions (A/B) were 18 in 2022, per EASA
15
Japan's MLIT recorded 52 runway incursions in 2022, Tokyo Haneda with 14
16
China's CAAC reported 210 incursions in 2022, Beijing Capital at 38
17
Russia's Rosaviatsiya logged 89 incursions in 2022, Moscow Sheremetyevo 22
18
Global incursions at non-towered airports were 12% of total in 2022 per ICAO
19
Latin America had 312 incursions in 2022 per ICAO, Mexico City 27
20
In 2023, ICAO noted 5,500 global runway incursions, rate of 0.52 per million flights
21
France reported 76 incursions in 2022 per BEA, Paris CDG 19
22
Germany's BFU recorded 64 incursions in 2022, Frankfurt 15
23
Spain's AESA had 82 incursions in 2022, Madrid Barajas 21
Interpretation
International Statistics Interpretation
While the aviation industry's safety record remains stellar on the grand scale, the global tally of runway incursions—persistently hovering around 5,000 yearly events with troubling regional spikes—suggests our airport surfaces are becoming a bit too crowded for comfort.
More related reading
04 · Category
Outcomes and Severity Statistics19 stats
01
Runway incursions resulted in 0 collisions but 12 near-misses (Cat A/B) U.S. FY2023
02
Globally, runway incursions caused 1 fatal accident in 2022 per ICAO, 3 deaths
03
Category A incursions worldwide 2018-2022 averaged 10 per year, collision imminent
04
U.S. Category B incursions FY2023: 7, large separation loss potential
05
Economic cost of U.S. incursions estimated $500M/year in delays/investigations FAA
06
45% of high-risk incursions (A/B/C) involved GA aircraft U.S. 2018-2023
07
Europe Category C incursions 2022: 892, awareness loss but ample separation
08
No fatalities from runway incursions in U.S. since 1977 per NTSB
09
Global incursion rate per million ops: 0.5, with 2% leading to excursions ICAO
10
U.S. incursions causing go-arounds: 1,200 in FY2023
11
High-severity incursions declined 50% globally 2013-2022 per IATA
12
23% of U.S. incursions required TCAS alerts in FY2023
13
Injuries from incursions: 0 in U.S. FY2023, but 2 minor in Europe
14
Delay minutes from incursions: 150,000 in Europe 2022 EUROCONTROL
15
Cat D incursions 70% of total but 0% collision risk per FAA definition
16
U.S. incursions with <400ft separation: 18 in FY2023 (Cat B/C)
17
Global accidents from incursions: 4 since 2000, 150 deaths ICAO
18
U.S. insurance claims from incursions averaged $10M/year NTSB
19
65% of incursions had no aircraft damage but procedural shutdowns
Interpretation
Outcomes and Severity Statistics Interpretation
While these statistics show a remarkable safety record with no collisions and a drastic drop in high-severity events, the persistent frequency of near-misses and the immense economic toll reveal a system that is brilliantly preventing disaster but constantly flirting with its own margins.
05 · Category
US Domestic Statistics30 stats
01
In fiscal year 2023, the FAA recorded 2,472 runway incursions at U.S. airports, marking a 13% increase from 2022
02
Category A runway incursions in the U.S. dropped to 0 in FY2023, the first year without any since tracking began in 1999
03
There were 7 Category B incursions in the U.S. during FY2023, representing the highest severity potential incidents short of collision
04
U.S. airports experienced 1,308 Category C runway incursions in FY2023, accounting for 53% of total incursions
05
Category D incursions totaled 1,157 in the U.S. FY2023, the least severe but most numerous type at 47% of total
06
From 2018 to 2023, U.S. runway incursions averaged 1,865 per year, with a peak of 2,472 in 2023
07
Pilot deviations caused 65% of U.S. runway incursions in FY2023, totaling 1,607 incidents
08
Vehicle/pedestrian deviations accounted for 24% of U.S. incursions in FY2023, or 593 cases
09
Air traffic control related incursions made up 11% of U.S. total in FY2023, equating to 272 incidents
10
At Chicago O'Hare (ORD), there were 96 runway incursions in 2023, highest among U.S. airports
11
Los Angeles International (LAX) saw 65 runway incursions in FY2023, ranking second busiest for incursions
12
Denver International (DEN) reported 62 incursions in 2023, with complex runway layout contributing
13
U.S. incursions at towered airports comprised 98% of total in FY2023, totaling 2,423 cases
14
Non-towered U.S. airports had just 49 incursions in FY2023, or 2% of national total
15
Runway incursions during low visibility conditions in U.S. rose 20% in FY2023 to 312 incidents
16
Peak hour (7-9 PM) U.S. incursions were 28% higher than average in FY2023
17
General aviation pilots were involved in 42% of U.S. incursions in 2023, totaling 1,038 cases
18
Commercial operations linked to 58% of U.S. incursions in FY2023, or 1,434 incidents
19
U.S. incursions involving aircraft on wrong taxiway totaled 412 in FY2023
20
Incursions due to runway crossing without clearance hit 689 in U.S. FY2023
21
From 2001-2023, U.S. runway incursions declined 75% from 330 to 81 high-risk (A/B/C) per year average
22
FY2022 U.S. incursions totaled 2,191, with 6 Category B events
23
In FY2021, U.S. saw 1,835 runway incursions amid COVID recovery
24
FY2020 recorded 1,091 U.S. incursions, lowest due to pandemic traffic drop
25
Bush/GA airports in U.S. had 12% of incursions in FY2023 despite low traffic
26
Large hub airports accounted for 62% of U.S. incursions in 2023, totaling 1,533
27
Medium hub U.S. airports saw 28% of incursions, or 692 in FY2023
28
Small hub airports contributed 8% or 198 incursions in U.S. FY2023
29
U.S. incursions at airports with ASDE-X systems dropped 15% post-installation
30
Nighttime U.S. runway incursions were 22% of total in FY2023, or 544 cases
Interpretation
US Domestic Statistics Interpretation
While we've impressively eliminated the most catastrophic runway incursions, the sheer volume of lesser violations suggests we're collectively treating airport tarmacs with the casual disregard of a supermarket parking lot.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Runway Incursion Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/runway-incursion-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Runway Incursion Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/runway-incursion-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Runway Incursion Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/runway-incursion-statistics.
Sources & references
22 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level