IATA reports aviation safety achievements of 2023
Compared with the previous year, the association reports an improved safety rating in all regions except North America and Asia Pacific
According to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual safety report for 2023, global aviation continues to make progress on safety with several parameters showing unprecedented results.
When compared with 2022, last year’s accident rate improved worldwide. With 37 million jet and turboprop aircraft movements in 2023 (a 17% increase on the previous year), all regions except Asia Pacific recorded a fatality risk of zero. This is due to Nepal’s fatal turboprop hull loss, which resulted in 72 fatalities at the beginning of 2023. No regions worldwide experienced a jet aircraft hull loss over the course of the year.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, observed: “2023 saw the lowest fatality risk and ‘all-accident’ rate on record. A single fatal turboprop accident with 72 fatalities, however, reminds us that we can never take safety for granted. And two high-profile accidents in the first month of 2024 show that, even if flying is among the safest activities a person can do, there is always room to improve.”
Regional safety performance
North America: The all-accident rate rose from 0.53 per million sectors in 2022 to 1.14 in 2023 but remained better than its five-year average for the region of 1.21. The largest proportion of accidents in 2023 were related to landing gear collapses.
Asia-Pacific: The all-accident rate increased from 0.56 per million sectors in 2022 to 0.78 in 2023 but was better than the five-year average for the region of 1.06. The fatality risk rate per million sectors rose for Asia-Pacific operators from 0.00 in 2022 to 0.16, owing to the fatal accident in Nepal in January 2023, which was due to loss of control in flight.
Africa: The all-accident rate improved from 10.88 per million sectors in 2022 to 6.38 in 2023, better than the five-year average of 7.11. In 2023, there were no fatalities. This region has had no jet hull losses or fatal accidents since 2020. Additionally, 2023 marked the fifth occurrence of Africa reporting zero fatal turboprop accidents, with the first instance recorded in 2015.
Middle East and North Africa: The all-accident rate improved from 1.30 accidents per million sectors in 2022 to 1.16 in 2023 and was also better than its five-year average of 0.96. While no accidents were related to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference, it has emerged as a critical area of concern in the region.
Commonwealth of Independent States: The accident rate improved from 2.16 accidents per million sectors in 2022 to 1.09 in 2023. This rate is better than the region’s five-year average of 3.19 accidents per million sectors.
Europe: The accident rate improved from 0.98 per million sectors in 2022 down to 0.48 accidents in 2023. This rate is better than the region’s five-year average of 0.77 accidents per million sectors. The region has had a fatality risk of zero since 2018. The largest proportion of accidents were related to landing gear collapses.
North Asia: The accident rate improved from 0.45 accidents per million sectors in 2022 to 0.00 in 2023. This was better than the region’s five-year average of 0.16 accidents per million sectors. The fatality risk rate improved from 0.23 in 2022 to 0.00 in 2023.
Latin America and Caribbean: In 2023, the region reversed an increase in accidents from the previous year. The all-accident rate per million sectors improved from 4.47 in 2022 to 0.37 in 2023, better than the five-year average of 1.91.