UPDATE: The global aviation industry recorded another strong year for airline safety in 2025, although a small number of serious accidents pushed fatalities above recent averages, according to a new report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATAโs 2025 Annual Airline Safety Report shows the global all-accident rate fell slightly to 1.32 accidents per million flights, equivalent to one accident for every 759,646 flights. That was an improvement on the 1.42 rate recorded in 2024, though marginally above the five-year average of 1.27.
Airlines operated 38.7 million flights worldwide in 2025, during which 51 accidents were recorded, down from 54 accidents in 2024 but above the five-year average of 44.
Despite the overall stable safety performance, the number of fatal accidents increased slightly. Eight fatal accidents occurred in 2025, compared with seven in 2024 and a five-year average of six.
Those events resulted in 394 onboard fatalities, up from 244 in 2024 and well above the five-year average of 198.
Willie Walsh IATA’s DG, said the figures still show aviation continuing to improve its long-term safety record.
โFlying is the safest form of long-distance travel,โ Walsh said. โAccidents 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.โ
He noted that over the past decade the industryโs fatal accident rate has improved significantly. Between 2012 and 2016, the global average was one fatal accident per 3.5 million flights. Today, based on the 2021โ2025 rolling average, that has improved to one fatal accident for every 5.6 million flights.
โFlying is so safe that even one accident among the nearly 40 million flights operated annually moves the global data,โ Walsh said.
The report found that most accidents occurred during critical operational phases, particularly take-off, landing and ground handling.
The most common accident categories in 2025 were; tail strikes, landing gear events, runway excursions and ground damage.
Notably, no loss-of-control in flight (LOC-I) accidents were recorded, only the second time this has occurred since global tracking began, the first being in 2020. LOC-I events have historically been one of the leading causes of fatal accidents.
Infrastructure also played a role in several incidents. IATA said airport facilities contributed to 16% of accidents, highlighting the importance of runway safety areas, lighting, markings and obstacle-free zones around runways.
Walsh said some accidents became more severe due to rigid obstacles located close to runway environments.
โIn several events, rigid obstacles near runways increased accident severity, likely turning otherwise survivable occurrences into fatal ones,โ he said, urging airports and regulators to review runway safety areas and surrounding infrastructure.
The report also found airlines participating in IATAโs safety oversight programmes continued to outperform those outside them.
Carriers listed on the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry recorded an all-accident rate of 0.98 per million flights, compared with 2.55 for non-IOSA airlines.
Similarly, IATA member airlines reported an accident rate of 0.72 per million flights, significantly lower than the 3.09 rate for non-member carriers.
IATA said the increase in fatalities was largely driven by a small number of severe accidents. The industryโs fatality risk rose to 0.17 per million flights, up from 0.06 in 2024 and above the five-year average of 0.12.
Two accidents accounted for more than 77% of all onboard deaths in 2025: Air India Flight 171 crash, which resulted in 241 fatalities, and PSA Airlines Flight 5342 crash, which killed 64 people.
Despite those tragedies, IATA said the broader trend remains one of continuous improvement.
โEvery accident is one too many,โ Walsh said. โThe goal for aviation remains zero accidents and zero fatalities.โ
All Accident Safety Performance by Region of Carrier Registration:
- Africa: With seven accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate improved from 12.13 per million sectors in 2024 to 7.86 in 2025, which is below the five-year average of 9.37. Africa (AFI) recorded the highest accident rate of any region. The fatality risk increased from zero in 2024 to 2.19 in 2025. The most common accident types in 2025 were runway excursions and โother end stateโ. A review of โother end stateโ cases (where precise categorization cannot be made for various reasons including insufficient information) since 2018 shows that the AFI region accounts for the majority of these events, underscoring the need for improved compliance with state investigation obligations under Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention. Of accidents involving AFI-based operators, 71% involved turboprop aircraft.
- Asia-Pacific: With six accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate improved from 1.08 per million sectors in 2024 to 0.91 in 2025. This was better than the five-year average of 0.99. Fatality risk remained unchanged at 0.15 in 2025 when rounded to two decimal places, although the precise rate declined slightly. The most common accident types in 2025 were ground damage and tail strikes.ย
- Commonwealth of Independent States: With four accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate increased from 1.44 accidents per million sectors in 2024 to 2.74 in 2025, exceeding the regionโs five-year average of 2.26. The fatality risk increased from zero in 2024 to 0.69 in 2025. ย All accidents occurred with turboprop aircraft, including one fatal controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) event that resulted in 48 fatalities.
- Europe: With 11 accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate improved from 1.48 per million sectors in 2024 to 1.30 accidents in 2025. This was higher than the regionโs five-year average accident rate of 1.11. The fatality risk rate was zero in 2025, an improvement from 0.03 in 2024. The largest proportion of accidents were related to inflight damage and tail strike.ย
- Latin America and the Caribbean: With five accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate improved from 1.84 accidents per million sectors in 2024 to 1.77 accidents in 2025. This was better than the five-year average of 2.02. The fatality risk decreased from 0.37 in 2024 to 0.26 in 2025. The largest proportion of accidents was runway excursions.ย
- Middle East and North Africa: With one accident in 2025, involving a runway excursion, the all-accident rate improved from 1.09 accidents per million sectors in 2024 to 0.53 in 2025 and was also better than its five-year average of 1.01. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2019. ย
- North America: With 16 accidents reported in 2025, the all-accident rate rose from 1.49 per million sectors in 2024 to 1.68 in 2025, which was above the regionโs five-year average of 1.33. The fatality risk rate increased from zero in 2024 to 0.21 in 2025. The most common accident types in 2025 were ground damage and tail strike.ย
- North Asia: With one non-fatal tail strike accident, the all-accident rate was unchanged from 2024 at 0.16 per million sectors in 2025. This was better than the regionโs five-year average of 0.18 accidents per million sectors. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2023.ย
