Deaths from air accidents more than doubled last year
Airlines suffered more serious accidents last year than in 2017, but their safety performance is continuing to improve over the long term, said airline body IATA.
There were 11 fatal accidents in 2018, resulting in 523 deaths among passengers and crew.
This compares with an average of 8.8 fatal accidents and 234 fatalities a year in the previous five-year period, said IATA.
In 2017, the industry suffered six fatal crashes with 19 deaths, which was a record low. One accident in 2017 also resulted in the deaths of 35 people on the ground.
Overall last year there was one major accident for every 5.4 million flights, which was an improvement over the rate for the previous five-year period of 0.29, but not as good as the rate of 0.12 achieved in 2017.
"Last year some 4.3 billion passengers flew safely on 46.1 million flights. 2018 was not the extraordinary year that 2017 was. However, flying is safe, and the data tell us that it is getting safer. For example, if safety in 2018 had remained at the same level as 2013, there would have been 109 accidents instead of 62; and there would have been 18 fatal accidents, instead of the 11 that actually occurred." said IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac."
Fatal crashes last year included Lion Air, off the coast of Indonesia, which killed 189, Cubana in Cuba in which 112 died, and a Saratov Airlines crash in Russia, which claimed 71 lives.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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