How many plane crashes were there in 2024? The year ends with a tragic toll for worldwide commercial aviation. Several airlines around the globe have experienced air accidents with a high number of casualties, making this year one of the most difficult for the industry since 2018.
Different companies have suffered serious incidents that have cost the lives of dozens of passengers and crew members, a situation that contrasts with the safety record of 2023, considered the safest year in recent history, with no deaths in large commercial flights.
Although the civil aviation industry had shown clear signs of economic recovery after the ravages of the pandemic, the growing rate of air accidents and so-called “avionazos” during 2024 has raised alarm. Specialists point to various factors, such as the possible lack of training in atypical situations, increased conflicts in some regions, and the technical complexity of certain aircraft models.
An economic recovery overshadowed by plane crashes in 2024
During 2023, airlines managed to recover revenues to historic levels despite the number of flights still being below the pre-pandemic period. However, this strong improvement in financial terms did not translate into a year free of air safety problems. The year 2024 began with hopes of maintaining the growth momentum and the solid trend of zero deaths from plane crashes in large aircraft, but soon the facts showed otherwise.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other specialized entities have been gathering statistical data for years that confirm a drastic reduction in fatal events in aviation, especially from the 2000s onwards.
In this regard, 2023 was a safety milestone: it became the year with the fewest serious accidents and zero fatalities in commercial flights. Unfortunately, 2024 broke that positive streak with plane crashes in 2024 in different regions, some of which had enormous media impact.
How many plane crashes have there been in 2024?
Throughout the year, several “avionazos” with devastating consequences have been recorded. The death toll has risen to over 300. Among the most serious incidents are:
- December 29, South Korea: A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 veered off the runway during landing at Muan International Airport without the landing gear deployed, crashing into a concrete wall. This tragic event left 179 people dead, becoming the worst air accident in South Korean history.
- August 9, Brazil: A plane operated by the Brazilian airline VoePass fell from the sky after encountering icy weather conditions, claiming 62 lives.
- December 25, Kazakhstan: An Embraer SA 190 from Azerbaijan Airlines deviated from its route and crashed near Aktau. The president of Azerbaijan stated that the plane was accidentally shot down by Russia. This incident left 38 fatalities.
- July 24, Nepal: A Saurya Airlines plane crashed after taking off from Kathmandu, resulting in 18 deaths.
- May 21, Myanmar: A Singapore Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence, resulting in one fatality.
In addition to these, other air accidents with fewer fatalities were reported in Canada, Indonesia, Russia, Congo, and Saudi Arabia. These incidents occurred under different circumstances, ranging from technical problems to adverse weather conditions and, allegedly, geopolitical conflicts. The accumulation of these events has generated growing concern about aviation safety.
How safe is it to fly in 2025?
Despite the increase in the number of plane crashes in 2024, aviation remains one of the safest means of transportation. The industry has implemented strict safety protocols over the decades, and technological advancements have significantly reduced the accident rate.
However, the recent streak of “avionazos” serves as a reminder that aviation safety is a continuous process requiring constant vigilance, rigorous investigation, and the implementation of preventive measures.
It is important to remember that a single large-scale incident can drastically affect annual statistics. As Darren Straker told Bloomberg, the former head of air accident investigation units in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, this uptick in accidents falls within the margins of the unpredictable.
Boeing at the center of the controversy
Boeing had a critical year following several safety issues. In 2024, the incident of a Boeing 737-9 Max from Alaska Airlines —in which a door panel detached during the flight— prompted exhaustive inspections and revealed additional flaws in other aircraft of the same model.
This episode adds to the tragic 2018 and 2019 crashes involving the 737 Max 8, where nearly 350 people lost their lives, leading to global concerns about the company’s safety protocols.
According to Statista, although data shows that the risk of death in commercial flights continues to decline (between 2018 and 2022 it dropped to 1 in 13.7 million passengers), traveler confidence —especially among business customers— has plummeted.
Financially and legally, Boeing is also facing a bleak outlook: it reported losses of 5.76 billion dollars in the third quarter of 2024 and is under criminal investigation by the United States Department of Justice following the incident with the Alaska Airlines aircraft.
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A difficult year for the industry
The year 2024 has presented a complex scenario for the aviation industry. After a partial post-pandemic recovery in 2023, with record revenues for airlines, this year has brought unexpected challenges. Safety, which had reached its peak in 2023, has been affected. Air accidents have raised concerns, and ongoing investigations will be essential to determine their causes and prevent future recurrences. The industry, along with regulatory bodies, must step up efforts to ensure that aviation remains a safe and reliable mode of transport.
Public trust in air safety is vital for the industry. The events of 2024 have shown how important transparent communication and effective corrective measures are to maintain and strengthen that trust.
Investigating each of these air accidents is crucial to understanding their causes and taking preventive measures. The industry, regulators, and passengers expect that the necessary actions will be taken to prevent 2024 from becoming a precedent and to help aviation regain its upward safety trajectory.
Plane crashes in 2024
| Date | Location | Airline | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 29 | South Korea | Jeju Air | 179 |
| August 9 | Brazil | VoePass | 62 |
| December 25 | Kazakhstan | Azerbaijan Airlines | 38 |
| July 24 | Nepal | Saurya Airlines | 18 |
| January 23 | Canada | Northwestern Air | 6 |
| October 23 | Brazil | Aerotaxi Abaete | 5 |
| October 20 | Indonesia | SAM Air | 4 |
| July 12 | Russia | Gazpromavia | 3 |
| March 5 | Congo | AB Airlines | 1 |
| May 21 | Myanmar | Singapore Airlines | 1 |
| October 29 | Saudi Arabia | Lion Air | 1 |
With information from Statista and Bloomberg
