Air Safety Achieves Record Low Accidents and Fatalities in 2023
In 2023, the aviation industry experienced an unprecedented level of safety, with the fewest accidents and fatalities ever recorded. According to a prominent air safety expert, last year marked a historic low in accidents and deaths in commercial aviation.
Only two fatal accidents occurred during the 12-month period, a significant improvement from the six recorded in 2022. Both accidents involved propeller aircraft on domestic flights and resulted in a total of 86 fatalities, which is less than half the 178 fatalities reported in 2022. To put this in perspective, the latest UN figures reveal that an average of 148 people lose their lives in road accidents every hour worldwide.
Remarkably, there were no fatal accidents involving international flights or passenger jets. In a comprehensive civil aviation safety review conducted for the Dutch air-safety organization To70, senior aviation consultant Adrian Young stated, “Both the number of accidents and fatalities are at a record low.”
The fatal accident rate in 2023 was less than one in 15 million flights, which is three times better than the 10-year average.
The first and deadliest crash occurred in Nepal on January 15, 2023, involving an ATR-72 aircraft from Yeti Airlines. The aircraft crashed into a gorge just one mile short of the runway during a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The subsequent investigation attributed the accident to high workload and stress in the cockpit.
The second fatal accident took place in Brazil on September 16, 2023, when an Embraer 110 aircraft operated by Manaus Airlines crashed during adverse weather conditions on a flight from Manaus to Barcelos, resulting in the loss of all 14 passengers and crew.
The safety record for jet aircraft in 2023 mirrored the remarkable achievement of 2017. Mr. Young noted that “civil aviation finds itself in a similar position to 2017 with no fatal accidents to large turbofan-powered passenger airplanes in commercial service.” This category encompasses a wide range of aircraft, from commuter jets to large planes like the Airbus A380.
However, it’s essential to note that the crash of a private jet carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russia’s Wagner Group, is excluded from this record. The aircraft crashed on August 23, 2023, during a flight from Moscow to St Petersburg, resulting in the loss of all 10 individuals on board. Reports suggest that an ally of Vladimir Putin may have planted a bomb on the Embraer 135 aircraft. Russia refused to involve Brazilian authorities or the aircraft manufacturer in the investigation, which Mr. Young criticized as counter to the collaborative nature of accident investigations.
Despite the remarkable safety record in 2023, Mr. Young cautioned that “there is no cause for complacency,” as aviation remains a risk-laden industry. Issues such as serious injuries due to turbulence and the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 tragedies warrant continued vigilance within the industry.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, independent.co.uk