Between 2000 to 2019 Commercial Plane Crashes
Since 2000, there have been a total of 150 fatal commercial plane crashes worldwide, an average of 14 fatalities per year, excluding 9/11. The 16-year period, on average, records one fatal commercial aviation accident every month. Of the 150 crashes, 118 were passenger planes and 32 were cargo planes. While the total number of accidents and fatalities are lower than in the 1950s through the 1970s, when flight safety was still developing; commercial plane safety has improved drastically in recent decades.
Impact of Technology on Airline Safety
Regulatory bodies – such as the FAA – have improved improved aircraft design, and introduced many protocols and standards for pilots and crew. Automation systems keep aircraft in safe flight and have reduced the threat of a human error leading to a crash. New navigation systems and other technologies help to prevent planes running into one another, while accessories such as Weather Mapping Systems make pilots aware of potential hazards and provide detailed hazard reports.
Statistics of Commercial Plane Crashes
Despite the advancements in technology and improved commercial plane safety, 2017 and 2018 saw a noteworthy rise in the number of accidents. This could be due to the increased volume of skies, and of low-cost carriers flying on older, hazard-prone aircraft models.
What We Can Do to Improve Commercial Airline Safety
The major factor contributing to commercial airline safety is maintenance. Aging aircraft need to be kept in top shape and pilots need to stay up to date on the technology and regulations imposed by regulatory bodies.
Finally, the aviation industry must invest in personnel safety and maintenance training so that pilots, mechanics and crew always stay up to date on the regulations and emerging technologies. It is also essential to ensure that safety is always placed ahead of short-term economic gains.
Ultimately, safety is a major focus of the aviation industry and technological advancements, human resources and emergency preparedness training, and efficient routing must all be taken into account to keep commercial flights safe.
