World airline safety in 2012 was exceptionally good whichever way the statistics are cut, particularly in terms of accident rates and in simple accident numbers.

Flightglobal figures show there were 21 fatal airline accidents in 2012, resulting in a total of 425 fatalities. This compares with respective figures of 32 and 514 in 2011, and that year itself had, at the time, a best-ever result.

Flight International's comprehensive statistical methodology produces figures that vary slightly from other sources even if they tell the same story. They take into account all fatal airline accidents that involve Western or Eastern-built aircraft, and also include aircraft of all weights, sizes and engine types, in both passenger and non-passenger airline operations.

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Source: Flight International