Despite several high profile incidents 2015 was the safest year on record by number of fatal accidents and fifth in terms of fatalities.
According to data from the Aviation Safety Network there was a record low of 16 fatal airline accidents, resulting in 560 fatalities.
Given the expected worldwide air traffic of 34 million flights, the accident rate is one fatal passenger flight accident per 4.8 million flights.
The low number of accidents comes as no surprise, according to ASN President Harro Ranter: “Since 1997 the average number of airliner accidents has shown a steady and persistent decline, for a great deal thanks to the continuing safety-driven efforts by international aviation organisations such as ICAO, IATA, Flight Safety Foundation and the aviation industry.”
Two out of 16 accident airlines were operated by carriers on the EU ‘black list’.
Statistics are based on a selection of worldwide fatal accidents involving civil aircraft with a minimum capacity of 14 passengers.
The worst accident last year happened on October 31 when a Metrojet Airbus A321 crashed in the Sinai Desert, killing 224.
This accident represents the dark side of 2015, together with the accident involving Germanwings flight 9525. The Airbus A320 crashed in France on March 25 and is likely attributed to pilot suicide.
Two out of 16 accident airplanes were operated by airlines on the E.U. “black list”.
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