View source for Aviation accidents and incidents

{{Short description|Accidental aviation occurrences}}
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[[File:PenAir Flight 3296（N686PA） after crash landing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[PenAir Flight 3296]] after its landing accident in 2019]]
[[File:DeltaCRJ900 main body 3 crash toronto.jpg|thumb|[[Delta Connection Flight 4819]] main body sitting upside down on Toronto Pearson International Airport runway 23]]
An '''aviation accident''' is an event during aircraft operation that causes serious injury, death, or destruction. An '''aviation incident''' is any operating event that compromises safety but does not progress to an aviation accident. Preventing accidents and incidents is the main goal of [[aviation safety]].

One of the earliest recorded aviation accidents occurred on May 10, 1785, when a [[hot air balloon]] crashed in the town of [[Tullamore]], [[County Offaly]], Ireland. The town was seriously damaged from the resultant fire that burned down over 130 homes.<ref>Byrne, Michael. [https://www.offalyhistory.com/reading-resources/history/tullamore-history/the-tullamore-balloon-fire-first-air-disaster-in-history The Tullamore Balloon Fire – First Air Disaster in History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216152553/https://www.offalyhistory.com/reading-resources/history/tullamore-history/the-tullamore-balloon-fire-first-air-disaster-in-history |date=16 December 2014 }}, Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society website, 9 January 2007 (retrieved 7 July 2011), which in turn cites:
* ''[[Faulkner's Dublin Journal]]'', 14 May 1785, and
* ''[[Finn's Leinster Journal]]''.</ref> The first involving a powered aircraft was the crash of a [[Wright Model A]] aircraft at [[Fort Myer|Fort Myer, Virginia]], in the United States on September 17, 1908, injuring its co-inventor and pilot, [[Orville Wright]], and killing the passenger, Signal Corps lieutenant [[Thomas Selfridge]].<ref>{{cite web |work=thoughtco.com |title=A Visual Timeline of What Inspired the Wright Brothers – First Fatal Airplane Crash in 1885 |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/a-visual-timeline-4086383 |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418134553/https://www.thoughtco.com/a-visual-timeline-4086383 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Definitions ==

The [[Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation|Convention on International Civil Aviation]] Annex 13 formally defines an ''aviation accident'' as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft, which takes place from the time any person boards the aircraft with the ''intention of flight'' until all such persons have disembarked, and in which (a)&nbsp;a person is fatally or seriously injured, (b) the aircraft sustains significant damage or structural failure, or (c) the aircraft goes missing or becomes completely inaccessible.<ref name=Annex13>{{cite web 
|website=The Investigation Process Research Resource Site 
|title=Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation 
|at=Chapter I, Definitions 
|url=http://www.iprr.org/manuals/Annex13.html
|date=October 12, 1993 
|access-date=July 19, 2018 
|archive-date=April 27, 2012 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427102210/http://www.iprr.org/manuals/Annex13.html 
|url-status=usurped
}}</ref>  Annex 13 defines an ''aviation incident'' as an occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft that affects or could affect the safety of operation.<ref name=Annex13 />

A ''[[hull loss]]'' occurs if an aircraft is damaged beyond repair, is lost, or becomes completely inaccessible.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.airsafe.com/events/define.htm
 |title        = Definitions of Key Terms: Industry Definitions
 |publisher    = AirSafe.com
 |date         = July 2, 2017
 |access-date  = July 20, 2018
 |archive-date = March 19, 2022
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20220319053214/http://www.airsafe.com/events/define.htm
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref>

== History ==
The first aircraft accident in which 200 or more people died occurred on March 3, 1974, when 346 died in the crash of [[Turkish Airlines Flight 981]]. {{As of|2024|May}}, there have been a total of 33 aviation incidents in which 200 or more people have died.

[[File:B.R. Allen and CAB Bureau of Safety Team Members, about 1965.jpg|thumb|Accident Investigation Team from the Civil Aeronautics Board with Director, [[Bobbie R. Allen]]{{dash}}about 1965]]
[[File:Bobbie R. Allen, CAB Supervisor & Najeeb Halaby FAA Administrator at Crash Site.jpg|thumb|CAB Supervisor [[Bobbie R. Allen]] and FAA Administrator [[Najeeb Halaby]] discuss accident details{{dash}}about 1963]]

The period from 1958 to 1968 saw tremendous growth in aviation. Improvements in aviation safety and accident investigation procedures were rapidly advancing. In 1963, the Civil Aeronautics Board, under the leadership of then Deputy Director [[Bobbie R. Allen]], established the National Aircraft Accident Investigation School in Oklahoma City.

The [[ICAO]]'s third accident investigation division meeting, held in Montreal, Canada, in January 1965, laid the foundation for accident investigations throughout the world.  The proposals were presented by the Director of the [[Civil Aeronautics Board]] Bureau of Safety, [[Bobbie R. Allen]], who headed the U.S. delegation. The U.S. formally adopted the proposals at the [[White House]] on December 1, 1965.<ref>[https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/memorandum-concerning-the-recommendations-the-white-house-conference-international   ''National Citizens Commission on International Cooperation'']</ref>

The top 10 countries with the highest number of fatal civil airliner accidents from 1945 to 2021 are the United States, Russia, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, United Kingdom, France, Indonesia, Mexico, and India.<ref name=":0" /> The United Kingdom is noted to have the highest number of air crashes in Europe, with a total of 110 air crashes within the time period, and Indonesia is the highest in Asia at 104, followed by India at 95.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Fatal civil airliner accidents by region 1945–2020|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/262867/fatal-civil-airliner-accidents-since-1945-by-country-and-region/|access-date=2021-04-08|website=Statista|language=en|archive-date=April 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423162406/https://www.statista.com/statistics/262867/fatal-civil-airliner-accidents-since-1945-by-country-and-region/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The most fatalities on board a single aircraft are the 520 fatalities of the [[Japan Air Lines Flight 123|1985 Japan Air Lines Flight 123]] accident. The largest loss of life in a single aviation accident are the 583 fatalities of the  [[Tenerife airport disaster|1977 Tenerife airport disaster]], in which two [[Boeing 747]]s collided. The largest loss of life overall in a collective incident are the 2,996 fatalities in the coordinated terrorist destruction of airplanes and occupied buildings in the [[September 11 attacks|2001 September 11 attacks]], the first plane to be hijacked and crashed as part of the attack, [[American Airlines Flight 11]], was alone responsible for an estimated 1,700 fatalities in total, making it the single deadliest aviation disaster in history.

=== September 11 attacks ===
{{main|September 11 attacks}}
[[File:UA Flight 175 hits WTC south tower 9-11 edit.jpeg|thumb|United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.]]
'''2,996:''' The deadliest aviation-related disaster regarding fatalities both on board the aircraft and casualties on the ground, was the destruction of the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] in [[New York City]] on [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]]. On that morning, four commercial [[jet airliner]]s traveling on transcontinental flights from East Coast airports to California were [[Aircraft hijacking|hijacked]] after takeoff. The four hijacked aircraft were [[Suicide by pilot|subsequently crashed]] in a series of four coordinated [[suicide attack]]s against major American landmarks by [[Hijackers in the September 11 attacks|19 Islamist terrorists]] affiliated with [[Al-Qaeda]]. [[American Airlines Flight 11]] and [[United Airlines Flight 175]], both regularly scheduled domestic transcontinental flights from Boston to Los Angeles, were hijacked by five men each, with the assigned pilot hijacker taking control of the flight, before being intentionally crashed into the [[List of tenants in 1 World Trade Center (1971-2001)|North]] and [[List of tenants in 2 World Trade Center|South Towers]] of the World Trade Center, respectively, [[Collapse of the World Trade Center|destroying both buildings in less than two hours]]. The World Trade Center crashes killed 2,753. As both planes were carrying a combined total of 157 occupants, the vast majority of fatalities were the occupants of the two towers and the emergency personnel responding to the disaster. In addition, 184 were killed by the impact of [[American Airlines Flight 77]], which crashed into [[the Pentagon]] in [[Arlington County, Virginia]], causing severe damage and partial destruction to the building's west side. The crash of [[United Airlines Flight 93]] into a field in [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania]], which occurred as passengers attempted to retake control of the aircraft from the hijackers, killed all 40 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft. This brought the [[Casualties of the September 11 attacks|total number of casualties of the September 11 attacks]] to 2,996 (including the 19 terrorist hijackers). As deliberate terrorist acts, the 9/11 crashes were not classified as accidents, but as mass-killing. The events were treated by the member nations of [[NATO]] as an act of war and terrorism. The [[war on terror]] was subsequently launched by NATO in response to the attacks, eventually leading to the death of Al-Qaeda leader [[Osama bin Laden|Osama Bin Laden]], who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks.

=== Tenerife disaster ===
[[File:Tenerife747s.png|thumbnail|[[Computer graphics]] reconstruction of the moment immediately before the disaster: Flight KLM 4805 (right) is about to collide with flight Pan Am 1736 (left). Part of the fog has been removed to give a clearer picture of the two planes.]]
{{main|Tenerife airport disaster}}
'''583:''' The [[Tenerife airport disaster]] on March 27, 1977, remains the accident with the highest number of airliner passenger fatalities. 583 people died when a [[KLM]] [[Boeing 747]] attempted to take off and collided with a taxiing [[Pan Am]] 747 at [[Los Rodeos Airport]] on the Canary Island of Tenerife, Spain. All 234 passengers and 14 crew of the KLM aircraft died and 335 of the 396 passengers and crew of the Pan Am aircraft died. Pilot error was the primary cause, as the KLM captain began his takeoff run in the mistaken belief he had obtained air traffic control clearance.<ref name="Tonyleather">{{cite web|last=Tonyleather|title=The Deadliest Airplane Accidents in History|url=http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/mass-murder/news-most-fatal-plane-crashes-past-100-years?image=|access-date=May 7, 2012|archive-date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114065825/http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/mass-murder/news-most-fatal-plane-crashes-past-100-years?image=|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Sebastien Freissinet|title=The Tenerife crash-March 27th, 1977|newspaper=1001Crash.com |url=http://www.1001crash.com/index-page-Tenerife-lg-2.html|access-date=May 7, 2012|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411111436/https://www.1001crash.com/index-page-tenerife-lg-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Other contributing factors were a terrorist incident at Gran Canaria Airport that had caused many flights to be diverted to Los Rodeos, a small airport not well equipped to handle aircraft of such size, dense fog, poor radio phraseology, and controller distraction. The KLM flight crew could not see the Pan Am aircraft on the runway until immediately before the collision.<ref name=ASN>{{cite web|title=ASN Accident Description|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19770327-0|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=July 14, 2013|archive-date=April 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402172426/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19770327-0|url-status=live}}</ref> The accident had a lasting influence on the industry, particularly in the area of communication. An increased emphasis was placed on using standardized phraseology in air traffic control (ATC) communication by both controllers and pilots alike. "[[Cockpit Resource Management]]"  has also been incorporated into flight crew training. The captain is no longer considered infallible, and combined crew input is encouraged during aircraft operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tenerife-information-centre.com/tenerife-airport-disaster.html|title=The Tenerife Airport Disaster – the worst in aviation history|work=The Tenerife Information Centre|access-date=October 29, 2014|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411111410/https://www.tenerife-information-centre.com/tenerife-airport-disaster.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Japan Air Lines Flight 123 ===
[[File:Japan Airlines JA8119.jpg|thumb|right|JA8119, the Boeing 747 involved in Flight 123]]
{{main|Japan Air Lines Flight 123}}
'''520:''' The crash of [[Japan Air Lines Flight 123]] on August 12, 1985, has the highest number of fatalities for any single-aircraft accident:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/632.pdf |title=Aircraft Accident Investigation Report Japan Air Lines Co., Ltd. Boeing 747 SR-100, JA8119 Gunma Prefecture, Japan August 12, 1985 |work=[[Japan Transport Safety Board]] |date=June 19, 1987 |access-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924102819/http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/632.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> 520 people died aboard a [[Boeing 747]]. The aircraft suffered an [[uncontrolled decompression|explosive decompression]] from an incorrectly repaired [[aft pressure bulkhead]], which failed in mid-flight, destroying most of its [[vertical stabilizer]] and severing all of the hydraulic lines, making the 747 virtually uncontrollable.<ref>{{cite web|last= AviationSafetyNetwork|title= Accident description|url= http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850812-1|access-date= May 7, 2012|archive-date= September 6, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110906025730/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850812-1|url-status= live}}</ref> Pilots were able to keep the plane flying for 32 minutes after the mechanical failure before crashing into a mountain. All 15 crew members and 505 of the 509 passengers aboard died.<ref name="mlit.go.jp">"[http://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/eng-air_report/JA8119.pdf Aircraft Accident Investigation Report Japan Air Lines Co., Ltd. Boeing 747 SR-100, JA8119 Gunma Prefecture, Japan August 12, 1985] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204052600/http://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/eng-air_report/JA8119.pdf |date=February 4, 2016 }}." 22 (33/332). Retrieved August 18, 2010.</ref> Japanese military personnel inaccurately assumed, during a helicopter flyover of the impact site, that there were no survivors. Rescue operations were delayed until the following morning. Medical providers involved in rescue and analysis operations determined that several passengers likely survived the impact and probably would have survived the incident had rescue operations not been delayed. Four passengers survived the incident in its entirety, meaning that they were alive when discharged from the hospital.<ref name="mlit.go.jp"/>

=== Other crashes with death tolls of 200 or more ===
{{See also|List of deadliest aircraft accidents and incidents|List of aircraft accidents and incidents by number of ground fatalities}}

'''349:''' On November 12, 1996, [[Saudia]] Flight 763, operated by a [[Boeing 747]], and [[Kazakhstan Airlines]] Flight 1907, operated by a Russian [[Ilyushin Il-76]], [[1996 Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision|collided mid-air]] over the town of [[Charkhi Dadri]], near [[Delhi]], India. The collision was mainly the result of the Kazakh pilot flying lower than the assigned clearance altitude. All 349 occupants on-board the two aircraft died.<ref>{{cite web|last= AviationSafetyNetwork|title= Accident description|url= http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19961112-1|access-date= May 7, 2012|archive-date= June 21, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100621073230/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19961112-1|url-status= live}}</ref> It remains the world's deadliest [[mid-air collision]] without survivors.<ref>{{cite web|last=Klein|title=Top 10 plane crashes in the world|url=http://www.planecrashes.org/top-10-plane-crashes.html|access-date=June 11, 2013|archive-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925072511/http://www.planecrashes.org/top-10-plane-crashes.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The [[Ramesh Chandra Lahoti]] Commission, empowered to study the causes, recommended the creation of the "semi-circular rule", to prevent aircraft from flying in opposite directions at the same altitude.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flightcrewguide.com/wiki/rules-regulations/semicircular-cruising-level-system-icao/|title=Semicircular Cruising Level System (ICAO)|website=Flight Crew Guide|date=September 10, 2013|access-date=January 10, 2017|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319172902/https://flightcrewguide.com/wiki/rules-regulations/semicircular-cruising-level-system-icao/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Civil Aviation Authorities in India made it mandatory for all aircraft flying in and out of India to be equipped with a [[Traffic Collision Avoidance System]] (TCAS), setting a worldwide precedent for mandatory use of TCAS.

'''346:''' On March 3, 1974, [[Turkish Airlines Flight 981]], a [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]], crashed in [[Ermenonville Forest|a forest]] northeast of [[Paris]], France. The London-bound aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Orly airport; all 346 people aboard died. It was later determined that the cargo door detached, which caused an explosive decompression; this caused the floor just above to collapse. The collapsed floor severed the control cables, which left the pilots without control of the elevators, the rudder and No. 2 engine. The aircraft entered a steep dive and crashed. It was the deadliest plane crash of all time until the Tenerife disaster in 1977. However, it is currently the deadliest single-aircraft crash with no survivors. This accident was also the deadliest single-aircraft crash that did not involve a [[Boeing 747]].

'''329:''' On June 23, 1985, [[Air India Flight 182]], a [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-237B]] en route from [[Toronto]] and [[Montreal]] to [[London]] and [[Delhi]], crashed off the southwest coast of Ireland when a bomb exploded in the cargo hold. All 307 passengers and 22 crew members died.<ref>{{cite web|last= AviationSafetyNetwork|title= Accident description|url= http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850623-2|access-date= May 7, 2012|archive-date= June 17, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130617025738/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850623-2|url-status= live}}</ref> One passenger had checked in as "M. Singh". Singh did not board the flight but his suitcase, containing the bomb, was loaded onto the aircraft. "M. Singh" was never identified or captured. It was later determined [[Sikh]] extremists were behind the bombing as a retaliation for the Indian government's [[Operation Blue Star|attack]] on the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] in the city of [[Amritsar]], spiritually the most significant shrine in Sikhism. This was, at the time, the deadliest terrorist attack involving an airplane.<ref>{{cite web|last= Touchton|title= Recent Major Bomb Blasts and Terror Attacks in India|url= http://voices.yahoo.com/recent-major-bomb-blasts-terror-5964202.html?cat=16|access-date= May 7, 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140715034520/http://voices.yahoo.com/recent-major-bomb-blasts-terror-5964202.html?cat=16|archive-date= July 15, 2014|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

'''301:''' On August 19, 1980, [[Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 163]], a [[Lockheed L-1011]], became the world's deadliest aviation accident that did not involve a crash. The crew performed an emergency landing at [[Riyadh]] after a fire broke out in an aft baggage compartment. The fire burned through the ceiling of the compartment and into the passenger cabin. While the crew managed to land the aircraft safely, the captain did not stop immediately and order an evacuation. He taxied off the runway instead, by which time everyone in the cabin had become unconscious due to fumes and were unable to open any doors or evacuate. All 301 passengers and crew aboard died of suffocation before rescue ground crews could open any door, after which the aircraft burst into flames and was consumed by fire.<ref name=AccidentReport>{{cite web |url=http://lessonslearned.faa.gov/Saudi163/AircraftAccidentReportSAA.pdf |title=Saudi Arabian Airlines flight 163 Accident Report |publisher=Saudi Arabian Presidency of Civil Aviation |access-date=31 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101170608/http://lessonslearned.faa.gov/Saudi163/AircraftAccidentReportSAA.pdf |archive-date=January 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

'''298:''' On July 17, 2014, [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]], a Boeing 777-200ER, flying from [[Amsterdam]] to [[Kuala Lumpur]], was shot down in an area of Eastern Ukraine near the Ukraine/Russian border during the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]]. There were 298 people on board: 283 passengers and 15 crew members, all of whom died. The crew were all Malaysians, while the passengers were of various nationalities, most from the Netherlands. Several [[Ukrainian Air Force]] (UAF) aircraft [[List of Ukrainian aircraft losses during the war in Donbas|had been shot down over the rebel-controlled territory]] before the MH17 incident. Immediately after the crash, a post appeared on the [[VK (service)|VKontakte]] social media profile attributed to [[Igor Girkin]], leader of the Donbas separatist militia, claiming responsibility for shooting down a Ukrainian [[Antonov An-26|An-26]] military transport near [[Torez]].<ref name="VK Wall">{{cite web|url=https://vk.com/wall-57424472_7256 |title=Wall – VK |date=17 July 2014 |website=vk.com |access-date=22 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717155720/https://vk.com/wall-57424472_7256 |archive-date=17 July 2014 }}</ref> The post was removed later the same day, and the separatists then denied shooting down any aircraft.<ref name="vk.com">{{cite web |title=Сводки от Стрелкова Игоря Ивановича |trans-title=Summaries from Strelkov Igor Ivanovich |url=http://vk.com/strelkov_info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717152222/http://vk.com/strelkov_info |archive-date=17 July 2014 |website=VKontakte |access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="Arthur Bright">{{cite web |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0717/Web-evidence-points-to-pro-Russia-rebels-in-downing-of-MH17-video |title=Web evidence points to pro-Russia rebels in downing of MH17 (+video) |author=Arthur Bright |date=17 July 2014 |website=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |access-date=July 11, 2019 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809082844/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0717/Web-evidence-points-to-pro-Russia-rebels-in-downing-of-MH17-video |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/20/three-pro-russia-rebel-leaders-suspects-over-downed-mh17 |title=Three pro-Russia rebel leaders at the centre of suspicions over downed MH17 |author=Alec Luhn |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Moscow |access-date=8 September 2014 |date=2014-07-20 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528012010/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/20/three-pro-russia-rebel-leaders-suspects-over-downed-mh17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''290:''' On July 3, 1988, [[Iran Air Flight 655]], an Iranian civilian [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300-200]] airliner, was shot down by two [[surface-to-air missile]]s from the [[U.S. Navy]] [[guided missile cruiser]] [[USS Vincennes (CG-49)|USS ''Vincennes'']] over the [[Strait of Hormuz]]. All 290 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft died. The downing was caused by a series of mistakes that led the USS Vincennes crew to believe that the airliner was an [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Iranian Air Force]] [[F-14]].

'''275:''' On February 19, 2003, an Iranian military [[Ilyushin Il-76]] [[2003 Iran Ilyushin Il-76 crash|crashed]] in mountainous terrain near [[Kerman]] in Iran. The official report says bad weather brought the aircraft down; high winds and fog were present at the time of the crash.<ref>{{ASN accident|title= 15-2280|id= 20030219-0}}</ref>

'''273:''' On May 25, 1979, [[American Airlines Flight 191]], a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, crashed shortly after lifting off the runway at Chicago O'Hare Airport after the number one (left) engine and pylon separated from the wing. This broke hydraulic lines, causing leading edge lift devices to retract on that side of the aircraft and resulted in asymmetrical lift and loss of control. The accident was attributed to improper maintenance procedures. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 271 passengers and crew on board, as well as two people on the ground. It remains the deadliest commercial aircraft accident in United States history,<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Kilroy |title=Special Report: American Airlines Flight 191 |url=http://www.airdisaster.com/special/special-aa191.shtml |access-date=May 7, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721184540/http://www.airdisaster.com/special/special-aa191.shtml |archive-date=July 21, 2006 |website=AirDisaster.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|author=David Young
|title=The crash of American Airlines Flight 191 near O'Hare
|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-chicagodays-flight191-story,0,4407421.story
|access-date=May 7, 2012
|work=Chicago Tribune
|archive-date=April 23, 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423112312/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-chicagodays-flight191-story,0,4407421.story
|url-status=live
}}</ref> and was also the country's deadliest aviation disaster until the September 11 attacks in 2001.

'''270:''' On December 21, 1988, [[Pan Am Flight 103]], a Boeing 747-121 bound for [[New York–JFK]] from [[London–Heathrow]] with continued service to [[Detroit]], was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over the town of [[Lockerbie]], Scotland. All 259 occupants and 11 people on the ground (all residents of Sherwood Crescent, Lockerbie), died,<ref>{{cite news|author=The Washington Post Company|title=The Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/panam103/timeline.htm|access-date=May 7, 2012|date=May 19, 1999|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111015103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/panam103/timeline.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=The Learning Network|title=December 21, 1988: Pan Am Flight 103 Crashes Over Lockerbie, Scotland|url=http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/dec-21-1988-pan-am-flight-103-crashes-over-lockerbie-scotland/|access-date=March 22, 2014|work=The New York Times|date=December 21, 2011|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319172903/https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/dec-21-1988-pan-am-flight-103-crashes-over-lockerbie-scotland/|url-status=live}}</ref>
making it the worst terrorist attack involving an aircraft in the UK and the deadliest terrorist attack on British soil. Following the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed new security measures on American airlines flying out of 103 airports in Western Europe and the Middle East.<ref>{{cite news|author=The Washington Post Company|title=Security Rukes Tightened for U.S. Airlines Abroad|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/panam103/stories/faa123088.htm|access-date=May 7, 2012|date=September 8, 1998|archive-date=March 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331010439/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/panam103/stories/faa123088.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''269:''' On September 1, 1983, a Soviet [[interceptor aircraft|interceptor]] [[Sukhoi Su-15]] shot down [[Korean Air Lines Flight 007]], a [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-230B]], bound for [[Gimpo International Airport]] in [[Seoul]], South Korea, after it flew into Soviet airspace; all 269 occupants on board died.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/1/newsid_2493000/2493469.stm|title=1983: Korean airliner 'shot down'|access-date=June 1, 2009|work=BBC News|date=September 1, 1983|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019071354/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/1/newsid_2493000/2493469.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''265:''' On November 12, 2001, [[American Airlines Flight 587]], an [[Airbus A300]], crashed in the Belle Harbor neighborhood of [[Queens]], New York, just after departing [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] bound for [[Las Américas International Airport]], [[Santo Domingo]].  The first officer's overuse of the rudder in response to wake turbulence from a [[Japan Airlines]] 747 was cited as cause. All 260 people on board, as well as five people on the ground, died from the crash.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR0404.pdf |title=In-Flight Separation of Vertical Stabilizer American Airlines Flight 587 Airbus Industrie A300-605R, N14053 Belle Harbor, New York November 12, 2001 Aircraft Accident Report NTSB/AAR-04/04 |work=[[NTSB]] |date=October 26, 2004 |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-date=April 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430010317/https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR0404.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=AirSafe.com|title=Investigation of the Crash of American Airlines Flight 587|url=http://www.airsafe.com/events/aa587.htm|access-date=May 7, 2012|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319053217/http://www.airsafe.com/events/aa587.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AviationSafetyNetwork">{{cite web |title=Accident description N14053 |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20011112-0 |work=[[Aviation Safety Network]] |access-date=2017-07-06 |archive-date=April 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420004450/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20011112-0 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the second-deadliest aviation accident on U.S. soil, after [[American Airlines Flight 191]].

'''264:''' On April 26, 1994, [[China Airlines Flight 140]] was completing a routine flight and approach at [[Nagoya Airfield|Nagoya Airport]], Japan, when the [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300B4-622R]]'s First Officer inadvertently pressed the [[Takeoff/go-around switch|takeoff/go-around button]], which raises the throttle position to the same as that for take offs and go-arounds.  The action and the two pilots' reaction resulted in a crash that killed 264 (15 crew and 249 passengers) of the 271 people aboard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sunnyday.mit.edu/accidents/nag-4-7.html |title=Nagoya A300 Accident Report |publisher=Sunnyday.mit.edu |access-date=April 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708104715/http://sunnyday.mit.edu/accidents/nag-4-7.html |archive-date=July 8, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''261:''' On July 11, 1991, [[Nigeria Airways Flight 2120]], a [[Douglas DC-8-61]] aircraft operated by [[Nationair Canada]], crashed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after two tires ignited upon takeoff, leading to an in-flight fire. All 261 occupants were killed. It is the deadliest aviation accident involving a DC-8, the largest aviation disaster involving a Canadian-registered aircraft and the second-worst accident in Saudi Arabia (after Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 163{{dash}}see above).<ref>{{cite web|title=Anniversary of Nationair plane crash passes quietly|date=July 10, 2011|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/anniversary-of-nationair-plane-crash-passes-quietly-1.668163|publisher=The Canadian Press|access-date=August 28, 2014|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195048/http://www.ctvnews.ca/anniversary-of-nationair-plane-crash-passes-quietly-1.668163|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''257:''' On April 11, 2018, an [[Algerian Air Force]] [[2018 Algerian Air Force Il-76 crash|transport aircraft crashed]] shortly after take-off from [[Boufarik Airport]], killing all 257 occupants on board the [[Ilyushin Il-76]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180411-0 |title= Aircraft accident : Ilyushin Il-76TD 7T-WIP * Boufarik Airport |work= Aviation Safety Network |publisher= Flight Safety Foundation |access-date= April 12, 2018 |archive-date= April 12, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001435/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180411-0 |url-status= live }}</ref>

'''257:''' On November 28, 1979, [[Air New Zealand Flight 901]], an Antarctic sightseeing flight, collided with [[Mount Erebus]] on [[Ross Island]], Antarctica, killing all 257 occupants on board.<ref>{{ASN accident|id= 19791128-0|title= ZK-NZP|accessdate=August 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=DC-10 playbacks awaited |journal=[[Flight International]] |date=December 15, 1979 |page=1987 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%204557.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105190105/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%204557.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |quote=At press time no information had been released concerning the flightdata and cockpit-voice recorder of Air New Zealand McDonnell Douglas DC-10 ZK-NZP, which crashed on Mount Erebus on 28 November. |url-status=live }}</ref>  The flight crew had not been informed that the computer coordinates for the flight path of the [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10|McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]] had been changed the night before, directing the flight directly into Mount Erebus rather than the usual path down [[McMurdo Sound]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Air NZ apologises for Mt Erebus crash |location=[[Wellington]] |work=[[The Age]] |date=October 24, 2009 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/air-nz-apologises-for-mt-erebus-crash-20091023-hdg0.html |access-date=2017-02-17 |archive-date=March 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328133557/http://www.theage.com.au/national/air-nz-apologises-for-mt-erebus-crash-20091023-hdg0.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''256:''' On December 12, 1985, a [[Douglas DC-8]], [[Arrow Air Flight 1285R]], carrying American military personnel on a charter flight home for Christmas, crashed in [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]; all 256 occupants on board died.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Aviation Safety Network]]|title=Accident description N950JW|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19851212-0|access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=September 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918020827/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19851212-0|url-status=live}}</ref> The Canadian Aviation Safety Board investigating the cause of the crash issued two different reports: the majority report cited ice on the wings as cause of the crash; the minority report suggests an explosion was the likely cause. This has been the deadliest aviation incident in Canadian history. 

'''239:''' On March 8, 2014, a [[Boeing 777-200ER]], [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 370]], flying from [[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia, to [[Beijing]], China, lost contact with air traffic controllers over the [[South China Sea]], deviated from its planned route, and was presumed lost in the southern [[Indian Ocean]]. It carried 12 Malaysian crew members and 227 passengers from 15 nations, who are all presumed dead. A multinational search effort, the most extensive and expensive in aviation history, has thus far failed to locate the aircraft, though debris from the aircraft has been recovered from beaches around the [[Indian Ocean]]. Numerous [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappearance theories|theories]] have been offered to explain the disappearance of the flight, but none have been confirmed.

'''234:''' On September 26, 1997, an [[Airbus A300B4-220]], [[Garuda Indonesia Flight 152]], which departed from [[Jakarta]], Indonesia, and was preparing to land at [[Medan]], [[North Sumatra]], crashed into mountainous terrain, killing all 234 occupants on board. The causes included turning left instead of right as instructed by ATC and descending below the assigned altitude of 2,000 feet due to pilot error. It is the deadliest aviation disaster in Indonesia's history.

'''230:''' On July 17, 1996, a [[Boeing 747-131]], [[TWA Flight 800]], carrying 230 occupants, exploded and crashed into the [[Atlantic Ocean]] near [[East Moriches]], [[New York (state)|New York]], shortly after departing from [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] on a flight to [[Paris]] and [[Rome]]. A lengthy investigation concluded that the probable cause of the accident was a short circuit in a fuel tank that contained an explosive mixture of fuel vapor and air. As a result, new requirements were developed to prevent future fuel tank explosions in aircraft.

'''229:''' On September 2, 1998, a [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]], [[Swissair Flight 111]], carrying 215 passengers and 14 crew from [[New York City]] to [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]], crashed into the [[Atlantic Ocean]] near [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]], Canada, killing all 229 people aboard. After a lengthy investigation, an official report stated that flammable material used in the aircraft's structure, specifically the Personal TV Systems recently installed in the Business Class Cabin, allowed a fire to spread, resulting in a loss of control.

'''228:''' On June 1, 2009, an [[Airbus A330-203]], [[Air France Flight 447]], carrying 228 occupants, was en route from [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil to [[Paris]], France, when it crashed into the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The aircraft's [[flight recorder]]s were not recovered from the ocean floor until May 2011, and the final investigative report was released in July 2012. It determined that the disaster was likely due to the aircraft's [[pitot tube]]s being obstructed by ice crystals, causing the [[autopilot]] to disconnect. The crew reacted incorrectly, leading to an [[stall (flight)|aerodynamic stall]] from which the jet did not recover.

'''228:''' On August 6, 1997, a [[Boeing 747-3B5]], [[Korean Air Flight 801]], crashed on approach to the international airport in the United States territory of [[Guam]], killing 228 of the 254 people aboard. Contributing factors in the crash were fatigue and errors by the flight crew, inadequate flight crew training, and a modification of the airport's altitude warning system that prevented it from detecting aircraft below a minimum safe altitude.

'''227:''' On January 8, 1996, an [[Antonov An-32B]] aircraft with six crew members on board overshot the runway at [[N'Dolo Airport]], [[Kinshasa]], Democratic Republic of Congo, and crashed into a market place. Four on board survived but 225 people on the ground were killed and an estimated 500 were injured (estimated 253 seriously injured). It is the crash with the most non-passenger ground fatalities (not including [[9/11]]). It is usually known as the [[1996 Air Africa crash]].

'''225:''' On May 25, 2002, a [[Boeing 747-209B]], [[China Airlines Flight 611]], bound for [[Hong Kong International Airport]] in [[Hong Kong]], disintegrated in mid-air and crashed into the [[Taiwan Strait]] 20 minutes after takeoff from Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (now [[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]) in Taiwan. It was determined that the crash, which killed all 206 passengers and 19 crew members aboard the plane, was caused by improper repairs to the aircraft 22 years earlier when the aircraft encountered a [[tailstrike]].

'''224:''' On October 31, 2015, an [[Airbus A321-231]], [[Metrojet Flight 9268]], crashed in the [[Sinai Peninsula]] after departing [[Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport]], [[Egypt]], en route to [[Pulkovo Airport]], [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia. All 224 occupants on board were killed. A branch of the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] claimed responsibility for bringing down the jet, and a Russian investigation concluded that a bomb was detonated inside the plane at a high altitude.

'''223:''' On May 26, 1991, a [[Boeing 767-3Z9ER]], [[Lauda Air Flight 004]], broke up in midair over a remote area of Thailand due to an uncommanded deployment of a [[thrust reverser]] on one of the plane's engines, killing all 223 occupants aboard. The flight, which originated at [[Kai Tak Airport]], Hong Kong, and made a stopover at [[Don Mueang International Airport]] in [[Bangkok]], Thailand, was en route to [[Vienna International Airport]], [[Vienna]], Austria, when the accident occurred.

'''217:''' On October 31, 1999, a [[Boeing 767-366ER]], [[EgyptAir Flight 990]], flying from [[Los Angeles International Airport]], [[United States]], to [[Cairo International Airport]], [[Egypt]], with a stop at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York City]], crashed into the [[Atlantic Ocean]] south of [[Nantucket Island]], [[Massachusetts]], killing all 217 occupants onboard. The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] determined that the probable cause of the crash was deliberate action by the relief first officer in response to his removal from international service within [[Egyptair]], a finding disputed by Egyptian authorities who maintain another cause of the accident.

'''213:''' On January 1, 1978, a [[Boeing 747-237B]], [[Air India Flight 855]], crashed into the [[Arabian Sea]] just off the coast of [[Bombay]], India, killing all 213 occupants on board. An investigation concluded that the captain became disoriented after the failure of one of the flight instruments in the cockpit, leading to "irrational control inputs" that caused the plane to crash.

'''202:''' On February 16, 1998, an [[Airbus A300B4-622R]], [[China Airlines Flight 676]], en route from [[Ngurah Rai Airport]] in [[Bali]], Indonesia, to Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (now [[Taoyuan International Airport]]), Taiwan, crashed into a road and residential neighborhood in [[Taoyuan, Taiwan]], killing 182 passengers, 14 crew, and six people on the ground. An investigation determined that when the control tower ordered the pilot to abort his landing and "go around" for a second attempt, the pilot, who had unintentionally released the plane's autopilot, did nothing to take control of the plane for 11 seconds as he apparently thought the autopilot would initiate the go around. As the aircraft approached the airport, the pilot executed a sudden steep ascent that produced a [[Stall (flight)|stall]] and crash. [[China Airlines]] was also criticized for "insufficient training".

'''200:''' On July 10, 1985, a [[Tupolev Tu-154B-2]], [[Aeroflot Flight 7425]], on a domestic [[Karshi]]–[[Ufa]]–[[Leningrad]] route, crashed near [[Uchkuduk]], [[Uzbek SSR]], [[Soviet Union]], on the first leg of its route. All 200 occupants onboard were killed. An investigation concluded that the plane went down due to pilot error. The air crew used an inappropriately low airspeed, causing vibrations that they incorrectly interpreted as engine surges. As a result, they further reduced engine power, causing the aircraft to [[Stall (flight)|stall]] and crash.

== Safety ==
{{Main|Aviation safety}}
[[File:Boeing 720 Controlled Impact Demonstration.jpg|thumb|right|[[Controlled Impact Demonstration]] by [[NASA]] and the [[FAA]], December 1984]]
In over one hundred years of implementation, aviation safety has improved considerably. In modern times, two major manufacturers still produce heavy passenger aircraft for the civilian market: [[Boeing]] in the United States, and the European company [[Airbus]]. Both of these manufacturers place a huge emphasis on the use of aviation safety equipment, now a billion-dollar industry in its own right; safety is a key selling point for these companies, as they recognize that a poor safety record in the aviation industry is a threat to corporate survival.

Some major safety devices now required in commercial aircraft are:
* Evacuation slides, to aid rapid passenger exit from an aircraft in an emergency situation<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/HTW-evacuation.html |title=How Things Work: Evacuation Slides |access-date=May 9, 2012 |publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]] |last=Huber |first=Mark |website=airspacemag.com |date=November 2007 |archive-date=September 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925032940/http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/HTW-evacuation.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Advanced [[avionics]], incorporating computerized auto-recovery and alert systems<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vectorsportaviation.com/AviationInstruction/AdvancedAvionicsGPSInstruction.aspx|title=Advanced Avionics & GPS Instruction|access-date=2020-08-12|work=Vector Sport Aviation|archive-date=June 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613234537/https://www.vectorsportaviation.com/AviationInstruction/AdvancedAvionicsGPSInstruction.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Turbine engines]] with improved durability and failure containment mechanisms<ref>{{cite web |url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/turbine.htm |title=How Gas Turbine Engines Work |access-date=2020-08-12 |website=[[HowStuffWorks]] |last=Brain |first=Marshall |date=April 2000 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331181559/https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/turbine.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Landing gear]] that can be lowered even after loss of power and hydraulics<ref>{{cite web |url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airplanes11.htm |title=How Airplanes Work |access-date=May 9, 2012 |website=[[HowStuffWorks]] |last1=Brain |first1=Marshall |last2=Lamb |first2=Robert |last3=Adkins |first3=Brian |date=May 26, 2011 |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331181600/https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airplanes11.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Measured on a passenger-distance calculation, air travel is the safest form of transportation available: Figures mentioned are the ones shared by the air industry when quoting air safety statistics. A typical statement, e.g., by the BBC: "UK airline operations are among the safest anywhere. When compared against all other modes of transport on a fatality per mile basis, air transport is the safest&nbsp;– six times safer than travelling by car and twice as safe as rail."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/736582.stm |date=May 8, 2000 |work=BBC News |title=Flying remains the safest form of travel |access-date=January 1, 2010 |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530202606/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/736582.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Caixa-Preta GOL.jpg|thumb|left|[[Brazilian Air Force]] personnel recover the [[flight data recorder]] of [[Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907]], which crashed on September 29, 2006.]]
When measured by fatalities per person transported, however, [[bus]]es are the safest form of transportation. The number of air travel fatalities per person are surpassed only by bicycles and motorcycles. This statistic is used by the insurance industry when calculating insurance rates for air travel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg16321985.200-flight-into-danger.html |title=Flight into danger |date=August 7, 1999 |publisher=New Scientist Space |access-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-date=August 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818011117/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg16321985.200-flight-into-danger.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

For every billion kilometers traveled, trains have a fatality rate that is 12 times higher than that of air travel, and the fatality rate for automobiles is 62 times greater than for air travel. By contrast, for every billion [[travel|journeys]] taken, buses are the safest form of transportation; using this measure, air travel is three times more dangerous than car transportation, and almost 30 times more dangerous than travelling by bus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/risks_of_travel.htm |title=The risks of travel |website=numberwatch.co.uk |access-date=2017-02-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010907173322/http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/risks_of_travel.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2001 }} The website attributes the source as an October 2000 article by editor [[Roger Ford (journalist)|Roger Ford]] in the magazine ''[[Modern Railways]]'' and based on an unidentified DETR survey.</ref>

A 2007 study by ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' magazine found that passengers sitting at the back of an aeroplane are 40% more likely to survive a crash than those sitting at the front. The article quotes Boeing, the FAA, and a website on aircraft safety, all of which claim that there is no "safest" seat. The study examined 20 crashes, not taking into account the developments in safety after those accidents.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/4219452.html?safe |title=Safest Seat on a Plane: PM Investigates How to Survive a Crash |magazine=Popular Mechanics |author=David Noland |date=July 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912000330/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/4219452.html?safe |archive-date=September 12, 2007 }}</ref> However, a [[flight data recorder]] is usually mounted in the aircraft's [[empennage]] (tail section) where it is more likely to survive a severe crash.

Between 1983 and 2000, the survival rate for people in U.S. plane crashes was greater than 95&nbsp;percent.<ref name="Watt">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2619382&page=1 |title=Staying Alive During a Plane Crash |last=Watt |first=Nick |date=January 17, 2007 |work=ABC News |access-date=2017-02-17 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032056/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2619382 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System===
In an effort to prevent incidents such as the disappearance of [[Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370]], a new standard has been issued requiring all commercial aircraft to report their position every 15&nbsp;minutes to air traffic controllers regardless of the country of origin. Introduced in 2016 by the [[ICAO]], the regulation has no initial requirement for any new aircraft equipment to be fitted. The standard is part of a long-term plan, called the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS), which will require new aircraft to be equipped with data broadcast systems that are in constant contact with air traffic controllers.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2015051500&type=hitlist&num=0|title=Airline Safety: Do recent disasters point to deeper industry problems?|last=McGlynn|first=Daniel|date=2015-05-15|publisher=CQ Press|journal=CQ Researcher|volume=25|issue=19|access-date=March 16, 2016|archive-date=June 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619123139/https://library.cqpress.com/CQResearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2015051500|url-status=live}}</ref> The GADSS is similar to the [[Global Maritime Distress and Safety System]] (GMDSS) used for maritime safety.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327125619 |title=Implementation of the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) |last=Ilcev |first=Dimov S. |journal=Aviation |volume=22 |issue=1 |date=August 2018 |pages=24–30 |doi=10.3846/aviation.2018.4741 |doi-access=free |access-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607061101/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327125619 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Aviation Safety Reporting System===
The [[Aviation Safety Reporting System]] (ASRS) collects voluntarily submitted aviation safety incident/situation reports from pilots, controllers and others. The ASRS uses reports to identify system deficiencies, issue alert messages, and produce two publications, ''CALLBACK'', and ''ASRS Directline''. The collected information is made available to the public, and is used by the FAA, NASA and other organizations working in research and flight safety.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/overview/summary.html |title=Program Briefing |publisher=ASRS |access-date=May 10, 2012 |archive-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020110601/http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/overview/summary.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Statistics==

=== Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A) ===

The Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives|url=http://www.baaa-acro.com/|access-date=2020-10-06|website= baaa-acro.com|archive-date=May 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521114042/https://www.baaa-acro.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> formerly known as the Aircraft Crashes Record Office (ACRO), a non-government organization based in [[Geneva]], Switzerland, compiles statistics on aviation accidents of aircraft capable of carrying more than six passengers, excluding helicopters, balloons, and combat aircraft. ACRO only considers crashes in which the aircraft has suffered such damage that it is removed from service, which will further reduce the statistics for incidents and fatalities compared to some other data. The total fatalities due to aviation accidents since 1970 are 83,772. The total number of incidents are 11,164.<ref>{{cite web |title=My mission, my goal |url=http://www.baaa-acro.com/presentation/ |website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives |access-date=2017-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025160002/http://www.baaa-acro.com/presentation/ |archive-date=October 25, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

According to ACRO, recent years have been considerably safer for aviation, with fewer than 170 incidents every year between 2009 and 2017, compared to as many as 226 as recently as 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baaa-acro.com/statistics/crashs-rate-per-year|title=Accidents Rate per Year |website=B3A |access-date=2018-01-01|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319053223/https://www.baaa-acro.com/statistics/crashs-rate-per-year|url-status=live}}</ref>

The annual fatalities figure is less than 1,000 for ten of the fourteen years between 2007 and 2020, the year 2017 experiencing the lowest number of fatalities, at 399, since the end of World War II.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baaa-acro.com/statistics/death-rate-per-year|title=Death Rate per Year |website =B3A|access-date=2021-04-01|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331181621/https://www.baaa-acro.com/statistics/death-rate-per-year|url-status=live}}</ref>

2014 included the [[MH370|disappearance of flight MH370]] over the [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[MH17|shootdown of flight MH17]] as part of the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]]. The total number of fatalities in 2014 was 869 more than in 2013.

Deaths and incidents in the world per year according to ACRO and Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives data, {{as of|2019|January|1|lc=y|df=US}}:

[[File:TWA800reconstruction.jpg|thumb|The reconstructed wreckage of [[TWA Flight 800]] inside a hangar at [[Calverton Executive Airpark]], New York state]]
[[File:Location of aircraft crashes in 15 years.jpg|thumb|Location of aircraft crashes from 2012 to 2022]]
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! '''Year''' || '''Deaths'''<ref name="b3aDeaths">{{cite web |title=Death Rate per Year |url=http://www.baaa-acro.com/general-statistics/death-rate-per-year/ |website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives |access-date=2017-11-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712212958/http://www.baaa-acro.com/general-statistics/death-rate-per-year/ |archive-date=July 12, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> || '''Number of incidents'''<ref name="b3aCrashs">{{cite web |title=Crashs Rate per Year |url=http://www.baaa-acro.com/general-statistics/crashs-rate-per-year/ |website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives |access-date=2017-11-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728174219/http://www.baaa-acro.com/general-statistics/crashs-rate-per-year/ |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
|1970 || 2,226 || 298
|-
|1971 || 2,228 || 271
|-
|1972 || 3,346 || 344
|-
|1973 || 2,814 || 333
|-
|1974 || 2,621 || 270
|-
|1975 || 1,856 || 316
|-
|1976 || 2,419 || 277
|-
|1977 || 2,449 || 340
|-
|1978 || 2,042 || 356
|-
|1979 || 2,511 || 328
|-
|1980 || 2,203 || 325
|-
|1981 || 1,506 || 272
|-
|1982 || 1,958 || 250
|-
|1983 || 1,921 || 238
|-
|1984 || 1,273 || 234
|-
|1985 || 2,968 || 261
|-
|1986 || 1,763 || 238
|-
|1987 || 2,064 || 277
|-
|1988 || 2,313 || 254
|-
|1989 || 2,507 || 265
|-
|1990 || 1,631 || 261
|-
|1991 || 1,957 || 240
|-
|1992 || 2,299 || 266
|-
|1993 || 1,760 || 275
|-
|1994 || 2,018 || 231
|-
|1995 || 1,828 || 266
|-
|1996 || 2,796 || 251
|-
|1997 || 1,768 || 232
|-
|1998 || 1,721 || 225
|-
|1999 || 1,150 || 221
|-
|2000 || 1,586 || 198
|-
|2001 || 1,539{{efn|Does not include victims of the [[September 11 attacks]] outside the planes.  There were 2740 fatalities outside the planes, which would bring the total to 4279 if counted.}}  || 210
|-
|2002 || 1,418 || 197
|-
|2003 || 1,233 || 201
|-
|2004 || 767 || 178
|-
|2005 || 1,463 || 194
|-
|2006 || 1,298 || 192
|-
|2007 || 981 || 169
|-
|2008 || 952 || 189
|-
|2009 || 1,108 || 163
|-
|2010 || 1,130 || 162
|-
|2011 || 828 || 154
|-
|2012 || 800 || 156
|-
|2013 || 459 || 138
|-
|2014 || 1,328 || 122
|-
|2015 || 898 || 123
|-
|2016 || 629 || 102
|-
|2017 || 399 || 101
|-
|2018 || 1,040 || 113
|-
|2019 || 578 || 125
|-
|2020 ||  463  ||  90
|-
|2021 || 414 ||  113
|-
|2022 || 357 || 100
|-
|2023 || 229 || 82
|-
|2024 || 416 || 30
|-
|As of Feb 20th 2025
|87
|89
|}

(Data have significantly changed since November 2015 after a major upgrade to the death rate and crash rate web pages.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liste des deces par annee.|url=http://www.baaa-acro.com/Liste%20des%20deces%20par%20annee.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104184622/http://www.baaa-acro.com/Liste%20des%20deces%20par%20annee.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-11-04|website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives}} Death rate page as it appeared on November 4, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Liste du nombre d'accidents par annee.|url=http://www.baaa-acro.com/Liste%20des%20deces%20par%20annee.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104184622/http://www.baaa-acro.com/Liste%20des%20deces%20par%20annee.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-11-04|website=Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives}} Crash rate page as it appeared on November 4, 2015.</ref> This may reflect a change between a [[Static web page|static]] and [[dynamic web page]], where data were made to be automatically updated based on the incidents in their [[archive]]s.)

[[File:Plane crashes in the world (1970-2020).svg|Comparison of the amount of accidents between scheduled revenue flights, and other kinds of flights]]

{|
| [[File:ACRO fatalities.svg|thumb|upright|alt=Air accident fatalities recorded by ACRO 1918–2016|Air accident fatalities recorded by ACRO 1918–2018]]
| [[File:ACRO incidents.svg|thumb|400px|upright|alt=Air accident incidents recorded by ACRO 1918–2016|Air accident incidents recorded by ACRO 1918–2019]]
|}

===Annual Aviation Safety Review (EASA)===
The [[European Aviation Safety Agency]] (EASA) is tasked by Article 15(4) of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of February 20, 2008, to provide an annual review of aviation safety.

The '''Annual Safety Review''' presents statistics on European and worldwide civil aviation safety. Statistics are grouped according to type of operation, for instance, commercial air transport, and aircraft category, such as aeroplanes, helicopters, gliders, etc.
The Agency has access to accident and statistical information collected by the [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.easa.europa.eu/the-agency/the-agency|title=The Agency |publisher=[[EASA]]|access-date=July 7, 2017|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513130023/https://www.easa.europa.eu/the-agency/the-agency|url-status=live}}</ref> States are required, according to ICAO Annex 13, on Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation, to report to ICAO information, on accidents and serious incidents to aircraft with a maximum certificated take-off mass (MTOM) over 2250&nbsp;kg. Therefore, most statistics in this review concern aircraft above this mass. In addition to the ICAO data, a request was made to the EASA Member States to obtain light aircraft accident data. Furthermore, data on the operation of aircraft for commercial air transport were obtained from both ICAO and the [[NLR Air Transport Safety Institute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nlr-atsi.nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308135957/http://www.nlr-atsi.nl/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2007|title=NLR-ATSI|website=nlr-atsi.nl |access-date=October 29, 2014}}</ref>

==Investigation==
{{Category see also|Organizations investigating aviation accidents and incidents}}

Annex 13 of the [[Convention on International Civil Aviation|Chicago Convention]] provides the international [[Standards And Recommended Practices]] that form the basis for air accident and incident investigations by signatory countries, as well as reporting and preventive measures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legacy.icao.int/eshop/pub/anx_info/an13_info_en.pdf|publisher=ICAO|access-date=January 9, 2012|title=Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation: Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522183249/http://legacy.icao.int/eshop/pub/anx_info/an13_info_en.pdf|archive-date=May 22, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>  The [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO) is specifically focused on preventing accidents, rather than determining liability.

===Australia===
In Australia, the [[Australian Transport Safety Bureau]] is the federal government body responsible for investigating transport-related accidents and incidents, covering air, sea, and rail travel. Formerly an agency of the [[Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government]], in 2010, in the interests of keeping its independence it became a stand-alone agency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atsb.gov.au/|title=Australian Transport Safety Bureau|access-date=May 9, 2012|publisher=Australian Government|archive-date=May 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530222039/https://www.atsb.gov.au/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Brazil===
In Brazil, the [[Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center]] (CENIPA) was established under the auspices of the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center, a Military Organization of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The organization is responsible for the activities of aircraft accident prevention, and investigation of civil and military aviation occurrences.  Formed in 1971, and in accordance with international standards, CENIPA represented a new philosophy: investigations are conducted with the sole purpose of promoting the "prevention of aeronautical accidents".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mexico.icao.int/Meetings/RASGPA/RASGPA4/RASGPA04WP13.pdf |title=Alternative Actions To Mitigate The Lack of Legislation To Protect Safety Information |access-date=May 9, 2012 |publisher=ICAO |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522165745/http://www.mexico.icao.int/Meetings/RASGPA/RASGPA4/RASGPA04WP13.pdf |archive-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref>

===Canada===
In Canada, the [[Transportation Safety Board of Canada]] (TSB), is an independent agency responsible for the advancement of transportation safety through the investigation and reporting of accident and incident occurrences in all prevalent Canadian modes of transportation&nbsp;– marine, air, rail and pipeline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/index.asp|title=Welcome to the TSB|access-date=May 9, 2012|publisher=Transportation Safety Board of Canada|archive-date=March 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316132951/http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/index.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>

===China===
In China, the [[Civil Aviation Administration of China]] (CAAC) is solely responsible for all air investigations and safety inside the country after the split from the formal [[CAAC Airlines]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.caac.gov.cn/en/SY/ |access-date= January 3, 2023 |title= Civil Aviation Administration of China |archive-date= May 20, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180520193810/http://www.caac.gov.cn/en/SY/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

===Ethiopia===
In Ethiopia, the Civil Aviation Accident Prevention and Investigation Bureau of the [[Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority]] (ECAA), which is an agency of the [[Ministry of Transport and Communications (Ethiopia)|Ministry of Transport and Communications]], conducts aircraft accident investigations in Ethiopia or involving Ethiopian aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ecaa.gov.et/home/ |title= Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority |access-date= November 19, 2021 |archive-date= May 25, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220525035709/http://www.ecaa.gov.et/home/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

===France===
In France, the agency responsible for investigation of civilian air crashes is the [[Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile]] (BEA). Its purpose is to establish the circumstances and causes of the accident and to make recommendations for their future avoidance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bea.aero/en/recherche_site.php|title=BEA|access-date=May 9, 2012|publisher=BEA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627073522/http://www.bea.aero/en/recherche_site.php|archive-date=June 27, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Germany===
In Germany, the agency for investigating air crashes is the [[Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation]] (BFU). It is an agency of the [[Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure]].<ref name="BFU">{{cite web  |title=BFU Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung BFU  |access-date=2017-12-31  |publisher=German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation  |url=https://www.bfu-web.de/EN/Home/homepage_node.html  |archive-date=April 2, 2022  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402223329/https://www.bfu-web.de/EN/Home/homepage_node.html  |url-status=live  }}</ref> The focus of the BFU is to improve safety by determining the causes of accidents and serious incidents and making safety recommendations to prevent recurrence.<ref name="BFU" />

===Hong Kong===
The [[Air Accident Investigation Authority]] (AAIA) is responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents in Hong Kong, as well as those in other territories involving a Hong Kong-registered aircraft. It is led by Darren Straker, Chief Inspector of Accidents, and headquartered at [[Hong Kong International Airport]]. AAIA was established in 2018 in response to an ICAO directive instructing that member states maintain air accident investigation authorities that are independent of civil aviation authorities and related entities. Prior to 2018, accident investigation duties were held by the [[Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong)|Civil Aviation Department]]'s Flight Standards & Airworthiness Division and Accident Investigation Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cad.gov.hk/english/cad_division.html#fsad|title= Introduction to our divisions |website=Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department |access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319172911/https://www.cad.gov.hk/english/cad_division.html#fsad|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cad.gov.hk/english/notifyairacc.html|title= Accident Investigation Division |website=Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department |date=16 November 2016 |access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724110653/http://www.cad.gov.hk/english/notifyairacc.html|archive-date=July 24, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== India ===
Until May 30, 2012, the [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] investigated incidents involving aircraft. Since then, the [[Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (India)|Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau]] has taken over investigation responsibilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://civilaviation.gov.in/aaib/Formation%20of%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Investigation%20Bureau.pdf |title=Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau India |date=May 4, 2017 |access-date=July 6, 2017 |work=[[Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (India)]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315202940/http://civilaviation.gov.in/aaib/Formation%20of%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Investigation%20Bureau.pdf |archive-date=March 15, 2014 }}</ref>

=== Indonesia ===
In Indonesia, the [[National Transportation Safety Committee]] (NTSC; {{langx|id|Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi}}, KNKT) is responsible for the investigation of incidents and accidents, including air accidents. Its aim is the improvement of transportation safety, not just aviation, in Indonesia.

===Italy===
Created in 1999 in Italy, the [[Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo]] (ANSV), has two main tasks: conducting technical investigations for civil aviation aircraft accidents and incidents, while issuing safety recommendations as appropriate; and conducting studies and surveys aimed at increasing flight safety. The organization is also responsible for establishing and maintaining the "voluntary reporting system".  Although not under the supervision of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the ANSV is a public authority under the oversight of the [[Prime Minister of Italy|Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Italy]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20040318161159/http://www.ansv.it/It/AnsvChi.asp?Area=chi Chi siamo]." [[Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo]]. Retrieved on April 6, 2014. "Per garantire la suddetta posizione di terzietà, l'ANSV è stata posta sotto la vigilanza della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri. Si tratta quindi dell'unica istituzione aeronautica che non è sottoposta vigilanza del Ministero delle infrastrutture e dei trasporti."</ref>

===Japan===
The [[Japan Transport Safety Board]] investigates aviation accidents and incidents. The [[Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission]] investigated aviation accidents and incidents in Japan until October 1, 2001, when the [[Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission]] (ARAIC) replaced it,<ref>Yasuo Sato [http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr33/pdf/f20_sat.pdf "Activities of Japan's Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120210211605/http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr33/pdf/f20_sat.pdf Archive]) ''Japan Railway & Transport Review'' No. 33</ref> and the ARAIC did this function until October 1, 2008, when it merged into the JTSB.<ref>"[http://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/english.html Establishment of the JTSB]." ({{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120419192923/http://www.mlit.go.jp/jtsb/english.html Archive]}}) ''Japan Transport Safety Board''. Retrieved on March 24, 2009.</ref>

=== Malaysia ===
Established in 2016, the [[Air Accident Investigation Bureau (Malaysia)|Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Malaysia]] is the main investigation body for aircraft accident/incident. Separate from [[Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia]] (CAAM) and [[Malaysian Aviation Commission]] (MAVCOM) that is the national aviation authority and commission that oversee aviation economy respectively. The AAIB operates from the ministry of transport headquarters in [[Putrajaya]], and its [[Flight recorder|black box]] laboratory situated in STRIDE, the ministry of defenses research institute. AAIB Malaysia is teamed by civilians and seconded [[Royal Malaysian Air Force|Royal Malaysian Airforce]] senior officer and a group of pool investigators from [[Malaysia Institute of Aviation Technology]]

===Mexico===
In Mexico, the [[Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] (DGAC) investigates aviation accidents.<ref>{{Cite web| last = ICAO| title = Accident Investigation Authorities Addresses| work = ICAO Safety| access-date = 2018-08-01| date = July 2018| url = https://www.icao.int/safety/AIA/Pages/default.aspx#InplviewHash6263f282-925e-4cb8-b829-bf66db2a176f=Paged%3DTRUE-p_Title%3DKuwait-p_ID%3D90-PageFirstRow%3D101| archive-date = May 4, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220504161935/https://www.icao.int/safety/AIA/Pages/default.aspx#InplviewHash6263f282-925e-4cb8-b829-bf66db2a176f=Paged%3DTRUE-p_Title%3DKuwait-p_ID%3D90-PageFirstRow%3D101| url-status = live}}</ref>

===Netherlands===
In the Netherlands, the [[Dutch Safety Board]] (''Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid'') is responsible for the investigation of incidents and accidents, including air accidents. Its aim is the improvement of safety in the Netherlands. Its main focus is on those situations in which civilians are dependent on the government, companies or organizations for their safety. The Board solely investigates when incidents or accidents occur and aims to draw lessons from the results of these investigations. The Safety Board is objective, impartial and independent in its judgment. The Board will always be critical towards all parties concerned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en|title=Dutch Safety Board|access-date=May 27, 2015|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505195148/https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===New Zealand===
In New Zealand, the [[Transport Accident Investigation Commission]] (TAIC) is responsible for the investigation of air accidents.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.taic.org.nz/ |title= Transport Accident Investigation Commission |access-date= May 9, 2012 |publisher= TAIC |archive-date= May 10, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220510234023/https://www.taic.org.nz/ |url-status= live }}</ref> ''"The Commission's purpose, as set out in its Act, is to determine the circumstances and causes of aviation, rail and maritime accidents, and incidents, with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future, rather than to ascribe blame to any person."''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.taic.org.nz/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=dZJEVt%2fHiTg%3d&tabid=203&language=en-NZ |title=Te Komihana Tirotiro Aitua Waka Transport Accident Investigation Commission Statement of Intent 2011 – 2014 |access-date=July 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412173710/http://www.taic.org.nz/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=dZJEVt%2FHiTg%3D&tabid=203&language=en-NZ |archive-date=April 12, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The TAIC investigates with accordance with annex 13 of the [[ICAO]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taic.org.nz/sites/default/files/page/documents/Logic%20guide%20supporting%20decision.pdf |title=Logic guide supporting decision making whether to open an inquiry |date=2010-06-24 |website=taic.org.nz |access-date=2020-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130053711/https://www.taic.org.nz/sites/default/files/page/documents/Logic%20guide%20supporting%20decision.pdf |archive-date=2018-01-30 |url-status=live}}</ref> and specific New Zealand legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TAIC Legal Framework |url=https://www.taic.org.nz/about/legal-framework |access-date=15 January 2024 |website=TAIC}}</ref>

=== Poland ===
In Poland, [[State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation]] (Polish: ''Państwowa Komisja Badania Wypadków Lotniczych'', ''PKBWL'') is responsible for investigating all civil aviation accidents and incidents occurring in the country. Headquartered in Warsaw, the commission is a division of the [[Ministry of Infrastructure (Poland)|Ministry of Infrastructure]]. As of November 2022, the head of the PKBWL is Bogusław Trela.

===Russia===
In Russia, the [[Interstate Aviation Committee]] (IAC, MAK according to the original Russian name) is an executive body overseeing the use and management of civil aviation in the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]]. This organization investigates air accidents in the former [[USSR]] area under the umbrella of the Air Accident Investigation Commission of the Interstate Aviation Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://g3rep.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Presentation_IAC.27680054.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220331181628/http://g3rep.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Presentation_IAC.27680054.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= March 31, 2022 |title= Interstate Aviation Committee |access-date= May 9, 2012 |publisher= MAK }}</ref> There are active discussion to dismantling the committee, and in 2020, Armenia and Russia has signed on a joint agreement establishing the [[International Bureau for investigating aviation accidents and serious incidents]] (In [[Russian language|Russian]]: Международное бюро по расследованию авиационных происшествий и серьезных инцидентов), designed to replace the committee and to act as upper body for investigation of aviation incidents and, subordinate to the [[Eurasian Union]]. The new body has been assigned duties to investigate serious accidents and incidents in accordance with the requirements of ICAO documents, ensuring independent investigation of accidents, cooperation and interaction between the parties in relation to investigating aircraft accidents, development and use of common rules and procedures for investigating aircraft accidents.

===Taiwan===
In Taiwan, the [[Taiwan Transportation Safety Board]] (TTSB) is the independent government agency that is responsible for major transportation accident investigations. TTSB's predecessor was ASC, which was established in 1998. TTSB is under the administration of the Executive Yuan and independent from [[Civil Aviation Administration (Republic of China)|Civil Aviation Administration]]. The TTSB consisted of five to seven board members, including a chairman and a vice chairman, appointed by the [[Premier of the Republic of China|Premier]]. The managing director of TTSB manages the day-to-day function of the organization, including accident investigations.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ttsb.gov.tw/ |title= Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (Taiwan) |access-date= February 6, 2015 |archive-date= May 13, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120513040455/http://www.asc.gov.tw/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
[[File:BA38 Crash.jpg|thumb|right| The wreckage of [[British Airways Flight 38]], a [[Boeing 777#777-200ER|Boeing 777]] that crashed at [[EGLL|London Heathrow Airport]]]]

In the United Kingdom, the agency responsible for investigation of civilian air crashes is the [[Air Accidents Investigation Branch]] (AAIB) of the [[Department for Transport]]. Its purpose is to establish the circumstances and causes of the accident and to make recommendations for their future avoidance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aaib.gov.uk/home/index.cfm|title=AAIB|access-date=May 9, 2012|publisher=AAIB|archive-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403041837/http://www.aaib.gov.uk/home/index.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===United States===
United States civil aviation incidents are investigated by the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] (NTSB). NTSB officials piece together evidence from the crash site to determine likely cause, or causes. The NTSB also investigates overseas incidents involving US-registered aircraft, in collaboration with local investigative authorities, especially when  significant loss of American lives occurs, or when the involved aircraft is American-built.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/about/history/Pages/default.aspx|title=History of the National Transportation Safety Board|access-date=July 6, 2017|publisher=[[NTSB]]|archive-date=June 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601192209/https://www.ntsb.gov/about/history/Pages/default.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Retirement of flight numbers==
Out of respect for the deceased and injured, it is common for an airline to cease using the [[flight number]] of a fatal crash.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-03-13 |title=Malaysia Airlines to Retire Flight Number 370 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/malaysia-airlines-to-retire-flight-number-370-1394702372 |access-date=2024-12-27 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |quote=Airlines often retire flight numbers following fatal crashes so as not to evoke negative emotions among other passengers and crew}}</ref> For example, following the shootdown of [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]], the flight number was changed to MH19. [[Japan Airlines]] stopped using the flight number 350 after a [[Japan Air Lines Flight 350|fatal plane crash in Tokyo Bay]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jansen |first=Bart |title=Malaysia will stop using flight No. 17 next week |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/07/18/malaysia-flight-17-retired-numbers/12827633/ |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727050159/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/07/18/malaysia-flight-17-retired-numbers/12827633/ |url-status=live }}</ref> TransAsia Airways retired the flight number 235 and changed it to 2353 after [[TransAsia Airways Flight 235|a plane crash in 2015 that left 15 survivors]]. However, that is not always the case.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |last1=Grossman |first1=David |url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/grossman/2005-10-31-grossman_x.htm |title=Check your travel superstitions, or carry them on? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318173635/https://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/grossman/2005-10-31-grossman_x.htm |archive-date=March 18, 2009 |website=[[USA Today]] |date=October 31, 2005  }}</ref> For example, [[China Southern Airlines]] and [[FedEx Express]] continued using the flight number 3456 and 14 respectively even after China Southern Airlines [[China Southern Airlines Flight 3456|had a fatal accident in 1997]] and a FedEx Express aircraft [[FedEx Express Flight 14|crashed on landing]] a month later. Similarly, [[Japan Airlines]] and [[Singapore Airlines]] continued using the flight number 516 and 321 respectively, even after the Japan Airlines flight was [[2024 Haneda Airport runway collision|involved in a collision in 2024]] while the Singapore Airlines flight [[Singapore Airlines Flight 321|encountered severe turbulence]] and caused one death a few months later.

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[:Category:19th-century aviation accidents and incidents]]
* [[:Category:20th-century aviation accidents and incidents]]
* [[:Category:21st-century aviation accidents and incidents]]

;By person(s) killed:
* [[List of fatalities from aviation accidents]]
* [[List of heads of government and state who died in aviation accidents and incidents]]
* [[List of sole survivors of airline accidents or incidents]]

;Lists of airliner accidents:
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft|by year]]
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving airliners by airline|by airline]]
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving airliners by location|by location]]
* [[List of deadliest aircraft accidents and incidents|by death toll]]
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving airliners in the United States|in the United States]]

;Types of accidents:
* [[:Category:Aviation accidents and incidents by aircraft]]
* [[:Category:Aviation accidents and incidents by type]]
* [[Bird strike]]
* [[Controlled flight into terrain]]
* [[Fuel tank]] explosion
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft]]
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving general aviation]] (including chartered / non-scheduled passenger flights)
* [[List of aircraft structural failures]]
* [[List of airship accidents]]
* [[Mid-air collision]]
* [[Pilot error]]
* [[Runway incursion]]
* [[List of airliner shootdown incidents|Shootdown]]
* [[Uncontrolled decompression]]

;Lists of military aircraft accidents:
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving the Lockheed C-130 Hercules]]
* [[List of aviation accidents and incidents in the war in Afghanistan]]
* [[List of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Iraq War]]
* [[List of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the Syrian Civil War]]
* [[Lists of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft]]

;Aviation safety:
* [[Aviation archaeology]]
* [[Aviation safety]]

;Aviation authorities:
* [[National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil|Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil]] (ANAC, Brazil)
* [[Civil Aviation Administration of China]] (CAAC, China)
* [[Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand]] (CAA, NZ)
* [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)]] (CAA, UK)
* [[Civil Aviation Safety Authority]] (CASA, Australia)
* [[Directorate General for Civil Aviation (France)]] (DGAC, France)
* [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] (DGCA, India)
* [[European Aviation Safety Agency]] (EASA)
* [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA, United States)
* [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO)
* [[Italian Civil Aviation Authority]] (ENAC, Italy)
* [[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt]] (LBA, Germany)
* [[Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority]] (CAA, Pakistan)
* [[Transport Canada]] (TC, Canada)

;Other:
* [[Accident analysis]]
* [[Aircraft hijacking]]
* [[Disaster]]
* [[Flight 191 (disambiguation)]]
* [[Flight 901 (disambiguation)]]
* [[List of air show accidents and incidents in the 20th century]]
* [[List of news aircraft accidents and incidents]]
* [[List of spaceflight-related accidents and incidents]]
* [[Civil aviation authority]]
* [[Skydiving regulation in the United States]]
* [[Talk-down aircraft landing]]
{{Div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|32em}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* KLu Crash Archief; Ongevallenfoto's 1945 – 1965, 'Flash Aviation', 2003.
* KLu Crash Archief 2; Ongevallenfoto's 1964 – 1974, 'Flash Aviation', 2004.
* BLu Crash Archief; Ongevallenfoto's 1945 – 1965, 'Flash Aviation', 2004.
* USAF & NATO Report RTO-TR-015 AC/323/(HFM-015)/TP-1 (2001).
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book|url=http://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/company/about_bca/pdf/statsum.pdf|title=Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents Worldwide Operations {{!}} 1959 – 2017|publisher=Aviation Safety {{!}} Boeing Commercial Airplanes|year=2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412014033/http://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/company/about_bca/pdf/statsum.pdf|archive-date=2015-04-12}}
*Airbus Industrie. ''Commercial Aviation Accidents, 1958–2014: A Statistical Analysis''. Blagnac Cedex, France: Airbus, 2015 13p.<!-- https://www.slideshare.net/SedaESKILER/commercial-aviation-accidents-1958-2014 -->
* Bordoni, Antonio. ''Airlife's Register Of Aircraft Accidents: Facts, Statistics and Analysis of Civil Accidents since 1951''. Shrewsbury: Airlife, 1997 {{ISBN|1853109029}} 401p.
* S A Cullen MD FRCPath FRAeS. "[http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public/PubFullText/RTO/EN/RTO-EN-HFM-113/EN-HFM-113-03.pdf Injuries in Fatal Aircraft Accidents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102193544/http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public//PubFullText/RTO/EN/RTO-EN-HFM-113///EN-HFM-113-03.pdf |date=January 2, 2011 }}" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110102193544/http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public//PubFullText/RTO/EN/RTO-EN-HFM-113///EN-HFM-113-03.pdf Archive]). [[NATO]].

==External links==
{{Commons category|Aviation incidents}}
* [http://www.aviation-safety.net Aviation Safety Network] Established in 1996. The ASN Safety Database contains descriptions of over 15800 airliner, military and corporate jet aircraft accidents/incidents since 1921.
* [http://www.baaa-acro.com Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives] Established in 2000. The B3A contains descriptions of over 22,000 airliner, military and corporate jet aircraft accidents since 1918.
* [https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/month.aspx National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Synopses – by month]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150311032334/http://www.aviationstatistics.org/ Aviation Statistics] Statistical and geospatial analysis of general aviation accidents.
* [https://www.accidents.app Aviation Accidents App] Access the NTSB Aviation Accidents Database and Final Reports from all over the world on your mobile device
* [https://www.geostathub.com/maps/interactive-map-of-airplane-crash-sites Aviation Accidents Map] Explore an interactive map showcasing airplane crash sites

{{Lists of aviation accidents and incidents}}
{{Aviation accident orgs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aviation Accidents and Incidents}}
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents| ]]
[[Category:Aviation safety]]
[[Category:History of aviation]]