The Middle East and North African (Mena) region has recorded 0% major jet accidents (measured in jet hull losses per 1mn flights) in 2017, an IATA report showed yesterday.
IATA member airlines experienced zero fatal accidents or hull losses in 2017 with jet or turboprop equipment, the report said.
The all accident rate (measured in accidents per 1mn flights) was 1.08, an improvement over the all accident rate of 1.68 in 2016 and the rate of 2.01 for the previous 5-year period (2012-2016).
The 2017 rate for major jet accidents (measured in jet hull losses per 1mn flights) was 0.11, which was the equivalent of one major accident for every 8.7mn flights. This was an improvement over the rate of 0.39 achieved in 2016 and also better than the five-year rate (2012-2016) of 0.33.
There were six fatal accidents with 19 fatalities among passengers and crew in 2017. This compares with an average of 10.8 fatal accidents and approximately 315 fatalities per year in the previous five-year period (2012-2016). In 2016, there were nine fatal accidents and 202 fatalities.
None of the six fatal accidents involved a passenger jet. Five involved turboprop aircraft and one involved a cargo jet.
The crash of the cargo jet also resulted in the deaths of 35 persons on the ground, as well as the crew of the jet.
The world turboprop hull loss rate was 1.30 per million flights, which was a deterioration from 1.01 in 2016 but an improvement over the five-year rate (2012-2016) of 2.18.
All regions saw their turboprop safety performance improve in 2017 when compared to their respective five-year rates. Notwithstanding this, accidents involving turboprop aircraft represented 44% of all accidents in 2017 and 83% of fatal accidents.
IATA’s director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said, “2017 was a very good year for aviation safety. Some 4.1bn travellers flew safely on 41.8mn flights. We saw improvements in nearly all key metrics—globally and in most regions. And our determination to make this very safe industry even safer continues. In 2017 there were incidents and accidents that we will learn from through the investigation process, just as we will learn from the recent tragedies in Russia and Iran.
“Complementing that knowledge are insights we can gain from the millions of flights that operate safely. Data from these operations is powering the development of predictive analytics that will eventually enable us to eliminate the conditions that can lead to accidents. The industry knows that every fatality is a tragedy. Our common goal is for every flight to take-off and land safely,” said.
IATA member airlines experienced zero fatal accidents or hull losses in 2017 with jet or turboprop equipment
