Connect with us
In focus Magazine Dec 2024 advertise

Business

Deadly December: Surge in Aviation Disasters Leaves Everyone on Edge

Published

on

Deadly December: Surge in Aviation Disasters Leaves Everyone on Edge

The holiday season, typically a time of joy and travel, turned tragic for hundreds of families as December 2024 witnessed a terrifying spike in aviation accidents. A total of eight deadly plane crashes occurred in the month, claiming more than 200 lives and igniting global debates over the safety of air travel. While the aviation industry has long prided itself on its safety record, these recent incidents have cast a shadow over the reliability of flight operations and have left both passengers and industry professionals questioning whether enough is being done to protect lives in the sky.

A Dark Week in December

The most alarming events occurred between December 17 and December 28, when four major crashes—three of them on the same day—shocked the world. These included two high-profile incidents that killed nearly 220 passengers in Azerbaijan and South Korea. The first of these occurred on December 29, when a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok to Muan in South Korea crashed after overshooting the runway and slamming into a perimeter wall. Of the 181 passengers on board, only two survived. The crash’s devastating nature eerily mirrored an incident in Norway on the same day when a KLM flight, carrying 165 passengers, veered off the runway but fortunately stopped just meters from the sea.

Simultaneously, on December 29, an Air Canada flight from St. John’s to Halifax experienced a suspected landing gear failure, causing the plane to touch down with a wingtip scraping the runway, resulting in a fire. Although the incident was dramatic and captured on video by several onlookers, miraculously, no passengers were injured.

Political Tensions Surround Azerbaijan Airlines Disaster

In addition to these two deadly crashes, December also saw the destruction of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft, which was shot down in a politically charged incident. This has turned into a bitter political dispute, with NATO countries accusing Russia of responsibility, while Russia has pointed fingers at the pilots’ decision to divert the flight to a different airport. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky weighed in on the matter, declaring that the full truth of the crash would be revealed, and that Russia would not be able to conceal it. Meanwhile, initial reports indicated that the Jeju Air aircraft may have been struck by a bird shortly before its fatal crash.

The aftermath of these crashes has seen calls for international investigations by various agencies, including national authorities, aircraft manufacturers, and global organizations like the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and IATA (International Air Transport Association). With almost all airlines operating under code-share agreements, the findings from these investigations will be accessible to airlines worldwide, ensuring transparency in the wake of these incidents.

The Global Debate on Air Safety

While the tragic events of December have raised serious questions about airline safety, it is crucial to note that aviation is still regarded as one of the safest modes of travel. According to a recent study by MIT (August 2024), the risk of death from air travel has significantly decreased, with fatalities occurring in just one out of every 13.7 million passengers between 2018 and 2022. This is a marked improvement from the previous decade, when the risk was one death for every 350,000 passengers. The study confirmed a steady decrease in fatalities, with an average annual reduction of 7%.

2023 was safest year 

Nonetheless, the recent incidents have sparked a broader conversation about the need for continued improvements in aviation safety. In an IATA report released in October 2024, Director General Willie Walsh emphasized that despite the growing complexity of the aviation environment, over 4.4 billion passengers flew safely in 2023. He reiterated that the industry’s focus must remain on global standards, continuous modernization, and the implementation of best practices. Yet, the IATA report also highlighted a concerning trend: only 48% of accidents since 2018 have had a final report published, despite a clear mandate for transparency.

Similarly, the ICAO’s 2024 report pointed out that 2023 was the safest year in the past five years in terms of key safety indicators, including accident rates, fatality numbers, and overall fatality rates. However, the same report also noted a 3.1% increase in accidents from 2022 to 2023, which coincided with a 13% increase in flight departures during that period. While the global accident rate decreased by 17.9%, the spike in incidents still raises concerns.

Aviation Expert Vipul Saxena offers a thought-provoking analysis of recurring global aviation accidents and incidents, highlighting multiple critical issues contributing to these mishaps. He identifies factors such as the rapid growth of passenger numbers worldwide, shortages of aircraft, engines, and critical parts, as well as a lack of trained pilots, cabin crew, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs), and Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs). Additionally, Saxena notes the insufficient capacities of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and aircraft manufacturers as significant challenges.

Saxena strongly advocates for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to conduct a comprehensive study of the global aviation sector with a 25-year vision. This study should address projected passenger growth, infrastructure requirements, and workforce needs. He urges ICAO to guide contracting states in formulating a safety-oriented vision with clear timeframes and incorporate these objectives into periodic surveillance checks to ensure robust compliance and enhanced aviation safety worldwide.

Here is a look at the tragic incidents that unfolded throughout December 2024:

  • December 17: Kamaka Air crash in Hawaii and the Argentina Challenger crash near San Fernando Airport, killing both pilots.
  • December 22: A private plane crash in Brazil and a Papua New Guinea Islander crash.
  • December 23: A small aircraft crash in Scotland.
  • December 25: Azerbaijan Airlines crash near the airport on Christmas Day.
  • December 28: Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea.