The terrible news today about the Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 on fire in Tokyo is a quick reminder that in aviation, safety can never be taken for granted. Reports say that all 379 occupants were evacuated safely before the aircraft was fully engulfed in flames, while five occupants of a Coast Guard aircraft that was struck by the Airbus are feared dead. The accident on the second day of 2024 follows just a day after Dutch aviation consultancy To70 concluded that 2023 has been one of the safest years in commercial aviation.
To70 states that there have been no fatalities with large commercial turbofan aircraft in 2023, while 86 occupants died in two accidents with turboprop aircraft. This brings the fatal accident rate down to the same level as in 2017. However, there are concerns about other safety trends in commercial aviation, including the high number of runway incursions.
To70 annually compiles a review of air accidents, based on official figures from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and updated later with IATA figures. The review includes only accidents with commercial passenger aircraft of over 5.700 kilograms. This means that types like the Cessna Caravan, which has featured prominently in other accident reviews in the past few years, are omitted.
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