Africa’s accident rate rose in 2024 with zero fatality-IATA

• Delayed, incomplete accident reports deny critical stakeholders safety improvement

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed concern over high accident rates in Africa.

 This is coming as the industry delivered another year of strong overall performance on safety including showing improvements on the five-year average for several key parameters, but it took a step back from an exceptional performance in 2023.

With 10 accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate rose from 8.36 per million sectors in 2023 to 10.59 in 2024, exceeding the five-year average of 8.46 according to the clearing house for 340 global airlines.

According to the group, Africa (Africa-Indian Ocean Region AFI) recorded the highest accident rate, though the fatality risk remained at zero for the second year in a row.

The downing of two aircraft in conflict zones (Kazakhstan with 38 fatalities and Sudan with five fatalities) has reinforced the importance of the Safer Skies initiative, established in the aftermath of the PS752 tragedy to facilitate safeguards in high-risk airspace.

The most common accident types in 2024 were runway excursions, followed by those related to landing gear. Forty percent of all accidents involving AFI-based operators were on turboprop aircraft.

Through the IATA Focus Africa initiative, the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Programme (CASIP)  continues to mobilize resources to address key safety challenges.

With 12 accidents, the all-accident rate in North America improved from 1.53 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.20 in 2024 and was better than the region’s five-year average of 1.26.

Fatality risk has remained zero since 2020. The most common accident types in 2024 were tail strikes, followed by runway damage and runway excursions.

While no accidents have been linked to debris from space operations, the increasing number of rocket launches presents challenges for air traffic management.

North Asia recorded the least accident in 2023. The all-accident rate increased slightly from zero accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 0.13 in 2024. This was better than the region’s five-year average of 0.16 accidents per million sectors. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2022.

There was only one accident involving North Asian-based operators and was related to a tail strike.

Europe recorded nine accidents in 2024. The all-accident rate increased slightly from 0.95 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.02 accidents in 2024.

This rate is on par with the region’s five-year average accident rate of 1.02. The fatality risk rate increased from zero in 2023 to 0.03 in 2024.

Asia Pacific recorded seven accidents in 2024. The all-accident rate increased from 0.92 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.04 in 2024 but remained below the five-year regional average of 1.10.

Fatality risk was unchanged from 2023 at 0.15. There was no dominant classification for accidents in the region which included tail strikes, runway damage and turbulence, among others.

 Latin America and the Caribbean recorded five accidents in 2024. The all-accident rate increased from 0.73 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 1.77 accidents in 2024. This was better than the five-year average of 2.00.  The fatality risk increased from 0.00 in 2023 to 0.35 in 2024.

The largest proportion of accidents was related to tail strikes. The largest proportion of accidents were related to tail strikes followed by runway excursions.

With two accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate in the Middle East and North Africa improved from 1.12 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 1.08 in 2024 and was also better than its five-year average of 1.09. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2019. While no accidents were related to GNSS interference, it has emerged as a critical area of concern in the region.

IATA however noted that delayed or incomplete accident reports deny critical stakeholders—operators, manufacturers, regulators, and infrastructure providers—vital insights that could further improve aviation safety.

 IATA’s analysis of 2018-2023 accident investigations reveals that only 57% were completed and published as obligated by the Chicago Convention.

Completion rates vary significantly across regions, with North Asia leading at 75%, followed by North America (70%) and Europe (66%), CIS (65%), Middle East and North Africa (60%), Latin America and the Caribbean (57%), Asia-Pacific (53%), and Africa (20%).

Today, the five-year average (2020-2024) is one accident for every 810,000 flights. That improvement is because we know that every fatality is one too many. We honor the memory of every life lost in an aviation accident with our deepest sympathies and ever greater resolve to make flying even safer. And for that, the accumulation of safety data, including the 2024 safety report, is our most powerful tool,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Wole Shadare