The number of airline accidents and the accident rate in 2025 each improved on a year-over-year basis but still were higher than the five-year average for each category, according to the International Air Transport Association 2025 Annual Safety Report, released Monday. In addition, the number of fatal accidents and onboard fatalities in 2025 each increased compared with 2024.
The 2025 all-accident rate of 1.32 per million flights was better than the 1.42 recorded in 2024, but the 2021-2025 five-year average is lower, at 1.27 per million flights, according to IATA. In 2025, there were 51 accidents out of 38.7 million flights, fewer than the 54 accidents out of 37.9 million flights reported in 2024. Again, though, the 2025 number is higher than the 2021-2025 five-year average of 44 accidents.
"Accidents are extremely rare and each one reminds us to be even more focused on continuous improvement through global standards and collaboration guided by safety data," IATA direct general Willie Walsh said in a statement. "Every accident is, of course, one too many. The goal for aviation remains zero accidents and zero fatalities."
There were eight fatal accidents in 2025, one more than the seven reported in 2024 and more than the six for the 2021-2025 five-year average. The number of onboard fatalities also increased in 2025, to 394 from 244 in 2024. Again, that is higher than the 2021-2025 five-year average of 198.
The most common accidents in 2025 were tail strikes, landing gear issues, runway excursions and ground damage. "Notably there were no loss of control inflight accidents in 2025," according to IATA. "It is the second time this has been achieved (previously in 2020) and is significant as LOC-I are a leading cause of fatalities."
Regional Air-Safety Performance
The North America all-accident rate increased to 1.68 accidents per million flights in 2025 from 1.49 in 2024, which also was above the region's five-year average of 1.33, according to IATA. The fatality risk rate increased to 0.21 from zero in 2024. The most common accident types in 2025 were ground damage and tail strikes. Among the fatal U.S. crashes in 2025 was the Jan. 29 collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 with a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., which killed 67.
The Europe all-accident rate in 2025 improved to 1.3 accidents per million flights from 1.48 in 2024, but the figure was higher than the region's five-year average accident rate of 1.11. The fatality risk rate in 2025 improved to zero, compared with 0.03 in 2024. The largest proportions of accidents were related to inflight damage and tail strikes.
Asia-Pacific's 2025 all-accident rate improved to 0.91 accidents per million flights from 1.08 in 2024. The figure also was better than the 0.99 five-year average rate. Fatality risk remained unchanged at 0.15. The most common accident types were ground damage and tail strikes.
The Middle East and North Africa had one accident in 2025, involving a runway excursion. Its all-accident rate improved to 0.53 accidents per million flights from 1.09 in 2024, which also was better than the five-year average of 1.01. The region's fatality risk has remained zero since 2019, according to IATA.
Africa's all-accident rate also improved in 2025 to 7.86 accidents per million flights from 12.13 a year prior. The 2025 figure also is lower than the five-year average of 9.37. The region's fatality rate, however, increased to 2.19 from zero in 2024. The most common accident types in 2025 were runway excursions and "other end state," which is where a precise categorization cannot be made. Of accidents involving Africa-based operators, 71 percent involved turboprop aircraft.
The Latin America and the Caribbean 2025 all-accident rate declined to 1.84 accidents per million flights from 1.77 in 2024, which also was better than the five-year average of 2.02. The region's fatality risk decreased to 0.26 from 0.37 in 2024. The largest proportion of accidents was runway excursions.
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