Airline fatal accidents have hit a historical low in the first half of 2007, according to Flight International's analysis of the year to 30 June.

There have been only 11 fatal accidents in the first six months of this year, taking into account all categories of commercial airline operations, including cargo.

The lowest previous total for a comparable period was 12 fatal airline accidents, achieved in the first six months of both 2003 and 1984, Flight International reveals in its 10-16 July issue.

But in 1984, traffic was about one-third of what it is today. Because there were several accidents involving large aircraft, the actual number of deaths - 312 - is not the lowest on record. In 2001 to 30 June there were 13 fatal accidents, but the total of fatalities that half-year was the lowest ever at 114.

Indonesia is bottom of the world safety league table for this year so far, having suffered two fatal accidents involving mainline carriers Adam Air and Garuda.

Last month the European Union added all Indonesian carriers to its "safety blacklist", and Indonesia has just reacted by signing a declaration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation that it will do whatever is required to upgrade its aviation safety standards.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo also saw two fatal accidents, but these involved small turboprop aircraft, one of them a freighter. The worst accident of the year - in terms of casualties - involved a Kenya AirwaysBoeing 737-800 that crashed into a swamp within 5km (2.7nm) of the airport at Douala, Cameroon, from which it had just taken off.

All 114 people on board the aircraft died. This was the only latest-generation jet aircraft that has crashed fatally this year. Although the Adam Air and Garuda aircraft were also 737s, they were both -400 models, and TAAG Angola also lost a 737-200.

Flight International provides a list of all the accidents with all the details known so far.

Related stories

 

Source: FlightGlobal.com

Topics