More than 300 people died in plane crashes last year: Is the plane still the safest form of transport?
The year 2024 saw a significant increase in the number of fatalities in plane crashes, with more than 300 people losing their lives in air disasters. Despite the toll being the highest since 2018, experts say that air travel remains statistically safe, with a fatal accident rate close to zero.
In recent months, the aviation sector has been rocked by a series of fatal accidents in various parts of the world. Among the most high-profile disasters are the crash of a Boeing 737 in South Korea, an Embraer 90 in Azerbaijan and an ATR 72-500 in Brazil.
In total, 302 people lost their lives in air accidents in 2024 (excluding charter flights and private aviation). This number represents an increase compared to previous years and makes 2024 the year with the most victims since 2018, when 518 people died in plane crashes.
This worsening appears to interrupt the trend of continuous improvement in air safety that has been seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, experts say that, despite public perception, the real risks of flying remain extremely low.
The perception of danger and statistical reality
With each accident, social networks and the media quickly spread images and videos of the disaster, creating an emotional impact that can reinforce the fear of flying. However, statistically, the probability of dying in an air accident remains minimal.
Arnold Barnett, a professor of statistics at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, explained to The New York Times that the recent series of accidents should not be seen as a trend of increasing air unsafety, but rather as a series of isolated events.
“Every day, on average, 12 million people board an airplane. The overwhelming majority of the time, no passengers are hurt, let alone killed,” Barnett said.
In 2024, the accident rate was approximately 1.2 per million flights, with the probability of a fatal accident being around 0.1 per million. A decade ago, that figure was almost double: 2.15 accidents per million flights.
For comparison, the US National Safety Council estimates that the chance of dying in a car accident in a lifetime is 1 in 95, a significantly higher risk than that of dying in a plane crash.
Safety issues and challenges in the United States
Despite the reassuring figures, some concerns persist, especially in the United States, where there has been an increase in the number of aviation incidents – although not all of them have been fatal.
Kyra Dempsey, an aviation safety expert, noted in a blog dedicated to aviation accidents that the recent difficulties of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may be contributing to this trend. Among the problems identified are budget cuts and a shortage of air traffic controllers, an issue that has been the subject of debate among industry experts.
Measures to increase passenger safety
Although aviation remains the safest mode of transport, experts recommend some precautions to further minimize risks during flights.
One of the main recommendations is to always keep your seatbelt fastened, even when the seatbelt warning light is off, as unexpected turbulence can cause serious injuries. Furthermore, although many passengers ignore the safety instructions before takeoff, experts stress the importance of paying attention to these guidelines.
Cabin crew receive annual training on emergency procedures, including handling unruly passengers, fighting fires on board and emergency evacuations, whether on land or in the water. These measures ensure that the crew is prepared to respond effectively to any unexpected situation.
Despite the increase in the number of victims of air accidents in 2024, commercial aviation safety remains incomparably superior to that of other modes of transport. The emotional impact caused by the media coverage of accidents can fuel fear of flying, but statistics continue to show that flying remains the safest mode of transport in the world.