The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its annual safety report, revealing that African airlines recorded the second-highest number of plane crash incidents in 2024. According to the report, African airlines experienced 10 incidents last year, making it the region with the second-highest accident rate globally.

The African aviation industry plays a vital role in driving economic development, trade, and connectivity across the continent. However, the sector faces significant challenges, including infrastructure deficits, regulatory hurdles, financial constraints, and safety concerns. Despite these challenges, the industry has made progress in improving safety, with a decline in incidents compared to previous years.

The IATA report highlighted major aviation incidents in 2024, including a runway incident in January involving an Airbus A350-900 and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, a fuselage separation incident in January involving a Boeing 737-9 MAX, and a mid-air collision in March between a Dash 8-300 and a Cessna 172M over Nairobi National Park. The report also noted that the global aviation industry successfully transported 5 billion passengers worldwide on over 40 million flights with seven fatal accidents in 2024.

While the overall safety record of the aviation industry has improved, with one accident for every 810,000 flights in the past five years, the IATA report emphasized the need for continued efforts to make flying even safer. "We honor the memory of every life lost in an aviation accident with our deepest sympathies and ever greater resolve to make flying even safer," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.

The report also provided a regional breakdown of aviation safety performance. North America recorded 12 accidents in 2024, improving its all-accident rate from 1.53 to 1.20 per million sectors, below the five-year average of 1.26. Asia-Pacific recorded seven accidents in 2024, raising the all-accident rate from 0.92 to 1.04 per million sectors, still below the five-year average of 1.10. The Middle East and North Africa recorded two accidents in 2024, improving the all-accident rate from 1.12 to 1.08 per million sectors, below the five-year average of 1.09.

The IATA report's findings underscore the need for continued investment in safety initiatives, such as the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP), to address the unique challenges faced by African airlines. As the aviation industry continues to grow and evolve, it is crucial that safety remains a top priority to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew.

In conclusion, while the IATA report highlights the progress made in improving aviation safety, it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the industry. As the global aviation sector continues to navigate the complexities of safety, infrastructure, and regulation, it is essential that stakeholders work together to ensure that flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation.