IATA says Air Accidents Declined in 2022, but Fatalities Increased

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that global air safety improved in 2022 when compared to 2021.

However, the association expressed concern that air fatalities in 2022 increased when compared to 2021.

IATA declared in its 2022 Safety Report for global aviation that the 2022 safety was the highest in the last five years.

According to IATA, the number of fatalities rose from 121 in 2021 to 158 in 2022, adding that majority of fatalities in 2022 occurred in a single aircraft accident in China that claimed the lives of 132 persons.

IATA added that in 2022, there were five fatal accidents involving loss of life to passengers and crew, compared to seven in 2021.

The report noted that the fatal accident rate improved to 0.16 per million sectors for 2022, from 0.27 per million sectors in 2021, and also was ahead of the five-year fatal accident rate of 0.20.

The all accident rate was 1.21 per million sectors, a reduction when compared to the rate of 1.26 accidents for the five years 2018-2022, but an upsurge compared to 1.13 accidents per million sectors in 2021.

The fatality risk dropped to 0.11 from 0.23 in 2021 and 0.13 for the five years, 2018-2022 period.

IATA disclosed that member airlines experienced one fatal accident in 2022, with 19 fatalities.

“Accidents are rare in aviation. There were five fatal accidents among 32.2 million flights in 2022. That tells us that flying is among the safest activities in which a person can engage. But even though the risk of flying is exceptionally low, it is not risk-free. Careful analysis of the trends that are emerging even at these very high levels of safety is what will make flying even safer.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General said “This year’s report, for example, tells us that we need to make some special efforts on turboprop operations in Africa and Latin America. Safety is aviation’s highest priority, and our goal is to have every flight take off and land safely regardless of region or aircraft type.”

IATA clarified that the airline that involved in the air accident in China was not its member, but is on the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry.

It stated further that the next largest loss of life occurred in an accident to an IATA member in Tanzania that resulted in 19 fatalities.

However, participation in IOSA is a requirement for the International Air Transport Association membership.