lifestyle

Despite A Series Of Accidents, Air Travel Remains The Safest Mode Of Transportation

The year 2024 has emerged as a concerning period for the aviation industry, particularly in recent weeks, as over 200 individuals lost their lives in two incidents occurring just days apart. On December 25, 2024, a tragic accident involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in Kazakhstan resulted in the deaths of 38 people. This was followed four days later by a crash of a Jeju Air flight in South Korea, which claimed the lives of 179 individuals. 

These two significant aviation disasters have left a profound impact on the global community, marking 2024 as a particularly tragic year in the realm of international air travel. In early January 2024, a plane fire in Tokyo, Japan, further shocked the world, resulting in the deaths of five Japanese coast guard members, although all passengers and crew aboard the Japan Airlines flight were rescued. 

A few days later, during the first week of January, a window from an Alaska Airlines aircraft fell off during takeoff from Portland, Oregon, leaving a gaping hole in the fuselage. Fortunately, all 177 passengers were unharmed after an emergency landing. Nevertheless, this incident has placed Boeing, a major aircraft manufacturer, under intense scrutiny throughout the year. 

In the summer, the disappearance of a Voepass flight in Brazil tragically resulted in the loss of 62 passengers and crew members.  In addition to these accidents, numerous reports of turbulence leading to injuries, including one fatality on a Singapore Airlines flight, have heightened travelers' concerns regarding their safety. According to Euronews, the Aviation Safety Network reported that a total of 318 individuals perished in aviation accidents in 2024, making it the deadliest year for global aviation since 2018. 

Throughout the year 2023, there were no fatalities resulting from commercial jet accidents. By the end of 2024, the aviation industry is projected to have transported 5 billion passengers globally. As the year draws to a close, 2024 is poised to replicate this remarkable safety record, according to Hassan. 

Research conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) indicates that air travel is currently considered safer than in previous years. From 2018 to 2022, the risk of death associated with air travel was calculated at 1 in 13.7 million passengers. This figure represents a decrease from 1 in 7.9 million passengers during the period of 2008 to 2017, and a significant reduction from 1 in 350,000 passengers between 1968 and 1977. Air travel has consistently become safer over time. 

A study by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Academy reveals that up to 80 percent of aviation accidents are attributed to human error, with pilot mistakes accounting for an estimated 53 percent of these incidents. Meanwhile, mechanical failures of aircraft are considered responsible for 21 percent of cases. Airbus has also investigated which phases of flight are most hazardous, revealing that accidents are most likely to occur during takeoff and landing. The two accidents that occurred last December took place during landing, although other contributing factors were also involved in these unfortunate events. In the case of the Jeju Air accident, for instance, there were reports of engine damage following a bird strike, and the aircraft, for reasons yet to be determined, failed to deploy its landing gear upon landing. The investigation is expected to be lengthy and complex, and it may take time before a clear understanding of the events can be established. 

"This accident involves multiple factors, ranging from bird strikes to landing without the landing gear and covers," Shahidi stated. 

---

Tag: Air Travel Aviation Industry