SHERIDAN, WYOMING - April 14, 2026 - The International Air Transport Association published its 2025 Annual Safety Report on March 9, covering 38.7 million commercial flights and recording 51 accidents - fewer than the 54 in 2024 - but a fatality count of 394, up sharply from 244 the prior year. The all-accident rate of 1.32 per million flights improved year-on-year from 1.42 but remained slightly above the 2021-2025 five-year average of 1.27. IATA member airlines recorded an accident rate of 0.72 per million flights, compared to 3.09 for non-IATA carriers, a gap that illustrates the compliance and operational discipline differential between affiliated and independent operators.
Business Impact
The 2025 fatality figures were heavily concentrated in two events: Air India flight 171, which recorded 241 fatalities, and PSA Airlines flight 5342, with 64 fatalities. Together these two accidents accounted for more than 77% of all onboard deaths during the year. Fatality risk - measured as potential for loss of life per million flights - rose to 0.17, well above the 2024 level of 0.06 and the five-year average of 0.12. For airline operators, insurers, and risk managers, this concentration effect is a material modeling consideration: headline accident-rate improvements can mask tail risk that is driven by a very small number of catastrophic events.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh acknowledged the statistical distortion while affirming the long-term trend. "Flying is the safest form of long-distance travel. Accidents are extremely rare and each one reminds us to be even more focused on continuous improvement through global standards and collaboration guided by safety data. The result of that effort is clear in how the five-year rolling average rate for fatal accidents has improved. A decade ago, the rate stood at one fatal accident for every 3.5 million flights (2012-2016). Today, it is one fatal accident for every 5.6 million flights (2021-2025)," Walsh said.
Operational Considerations
The most common accident categories in 2025 were tail strikes, landing gear events, runway excursions, and ground damage - all concentrated in the takeoff, landing, and ground-handling phases. Airport infrastructure was identified as a contributing factor in 16% of accidents. Walsh specifically flagged rigid obstacles near runways as a severity multiplier: "In several events, rigid obstacles near runways increased accident severity, likely turning otherwise survivable occurrences into fatal ones. All airports and regulators should continuously review runway safety areas and the structures near runways for compliance with global safety standards." The data creates a clear compliance obligation for airport operators and national aviation authorities.
One operationally significant positive: 2025 recorded zero loss-of-control inflight (LOC-I) accidents - only the second time achieved since tracking began, the first being in 2020. Because LOC-I is historically a leading cause of aviation fatalities, its absence from the 2025 record is a meaningful performance signal for training and flight operations teams. Turboprop operations remain an elevated-risk category, with an accident rate of 4.08 per million flights in 2025, above both the 2024 rate of 3.22 and the five-year average of 3.70.
Regional Performance and Sector Context
Africa continued to record the highest regional accident rate at 7.86 per million sectors, though this improved from 12.13 in 2024 and came in below the region's five-year average of 9.37. Turboprop aircraft were involved in 71% of accidents by Africa-based operators. The Commonwealth of Independent States saw its rate increase to 2.74 from 1.44, including a fatal controlled-flight-into-terrain event with 48 fatalities. Asia-Pacific improved to 0.91 from 1.08, outperforming its five-year average of 0.99. Europe's rate fell to 1.30 from 1.48, with zero fatality risk recorded for the region. Airlines enrolled in IATA's Operational Safety Audit program posted an all-accident rate of 0.98 versus 2.55 for non-IOSA carriers, reinforcing the audit registry as a procurement and partnership screening tool for the industry.
Key facts:
- 51 accidents across 38.7 million flights in 2025; all-accident rate 1.32 per million flights, improved from 1.42 in 2024
- 394 onboard fatalities in 2025, up from 244 in 2024; two accidents accounted for more than 77% of total deaths
- IATA member airlines: 0.72 accidents per million flights versus 3.09 for non-IATA members
- Turboprop accident rate rose to 4.08 per million flights, above the 2024 rate of 3.22 and five-year average of 3.70
- Zero loss-of-control inflight accidents recorded in 2025 - only the second occurrence since IATA began tracking