ICAO Safety Report Shows Rising Risks Amid Global Traffic Surge

The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) 2025 Safety Report warns that despite long-term improvements, global aviation safety requires renewed focus as flight volumes hit record levels.

In 2024, there were 95 accidents involving scheduled commercial flights, up from 66 in 2023. Ten of these were fatal, resulting in 296 deaths compared to 72 the previous year. The global accident rate rose to 2.56 per million departures from 1.87 in 2023, though figures remain below pre-pandemic levels. Over 37 million departures were recorded worldwide.

ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar noted that aviation remains the safest mode of transport but emphasized the need for sustained global cooperation. ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano called the 2024 data a “tragic reminder” of the goal to reach zero fatalities.

The report identified four high-risk categories responsible for 25% of fatalities and 40% of fatal accidents: controlled flight into terrain, loss of control in flight, mid-air collision, and runway incursions. Turbulence accounted for nearly 75% of serious injuries, highlighting the growing impact of weather hazards.

ICAO is advancing initiatives such as global runway safety action plans, real-time turbulence monitoring, and measures against GNSS interference, including spoofing and jamming. It is also promoting civil-military cooperation to address conflict-related risks and preparing safety frameworks for unmanned aircraft and advanced air mobility integration.

Regionally, Asia-Pacific and Europe/North Atlantic each recorded three fatal accidents, while South America saw one major crash with 62 deaths, underscoring varied safety challenges worldwide.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, icao.int