Recent deadly crashes in Kazakhstan, South Korea, and the United States, along with the non-fatal flip of a crash-landed jet in Canada, have brought aviation safety into the spotlight.
At the same time, ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano has recently unveiled that only 5% of member states had fully implemented comprehensive victim support systems.
The aftermath of an aviation accident extends far beyond the crash site. Families need not just immediate crisis response, but sustained support, clear communication, and access to information throughout investigation processes.
"While we have developed comprehensive frameworks for victim assistance, established robust standards, policies, and detailed guidance for states, our recent audits reveal that only 5% of Member States have fully implemented comprehensive victim support systems. This gap between standards and implementation must be addressed with urgency,"- Sciacchitano said.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its 2024 Annual Safety Report, saying that "even with recent high profile aviation accidents, it is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare."
There were seven fatal accidents in 2024, among 40.6 million flights. That is higher than the single fatal accident recorded in 2023 and the five-year average of five fatal accidents.
There were 244 on-board fatalities in 2024, compared to the 72 fatalities reported in 2023 and the five-year average of 144.
"The long-term story of aviation safety is one of continuous improvement. A decade ago, the five-year average (2011-2015) was one accident for every 456,000 flights. Today, the five-year average (2020-2024) is one accident for every 810,000 flights. That improvement is because we know that every fatality is one too many. We honor the memory of every life lost in an aviation accident with our deepest sympathies and ever greater resolve to make flying even safer,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
IATA Safety Report underlined the growing incidents of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference, that is "a top concern for aviation safety" requiring urgent global coordination.
The December 2024 downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft is excluded from accident classification in this safety report as it is considered as a conflict-related accident.
“No civil aircraft should ever be a target—deliberate or accidental—of military operations. Governments must step up, enhance intelligence-sharing, and establish clearer global protocols to prevent such tragedies and safeguard civilian aviation,” said Walsh.
The European Parliament has delayed until next week a decision on whether to resume work on the EU–U.S. trade deal....
Hundreds of torchbearers filled the streets of Lerwick as Up Helly Aa lit the Shetland night....
Minnesota’s chief federal judge has ordered acting ICE director Todd Lyons to appear in court on Friday (30 January), saying the Trump administratio...
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington would withdraw its support for Iraq if former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki is returned to pow...
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to hold bilateral talks, attend signing ceremony, joint press conference....
The year 2025 witnessed a series of serious aviation accidents across multiple continents, involving commercial airliners, cargo aircraft, military jets and general aviation planes.
Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability, executives say, as carriers grapple with missiles and drones, airspace closures, location spoofing and the shoot-down of another passenger flight.
An American Airlines jet and U.S. Army Black Hawk collided near Reagan National Airport on January 29. Flight data shows the jet’s signal was lost over the Potomac River.
A Cessna CJ1+ aircraft (PR-GFS) crashed while landing at Gastão Madeira State Airport (UBT) in Ubatuba, Brazil, on 9 January 2025, amidst adverse weather. The crash, which claimed the pilot’s life and injured seven others, has raised concerns over private aviation safety in Brazil.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state’s National Guard following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, an incident that has triggered protests and intensified tensions between state and federal authorities.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly rejected a U.S. magazine report on the death toll during January unrest. Nationwide protests erupted in response to soaring inflation and a national currency crisis.
A mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV was illuminated on Sunday at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, continuing a centuries-old Vatican tradition marking the election of a new pope.
The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has climbed to 6,126, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, often viewed as a bellwether for the complex diplomatic currents between the Kremlin and the West, has issued a startling prediction regarding the endgame of the war in Ukraine.
Storm Chandra brought severe flooding and widespread disruption to parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday, as strong winds and heavy rain swept across the island.
The European Parliament has delayed until next week a decision on whether to resume work on the EU–U.S. trade deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington would withdraw its support for Iraq if former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki is returned to power, citing concerns over governance, stability and regional influence.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stressed to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Tuesday the importance of unifying international efforts to prevent the return of "terrorist groups", including Islamic State.
Millions of people in Britain are struggling to afford basic necessities, with a new report warning that the number living in the deepest levels of poverty has reached a 30-year high, driven by soaring housing costs and rising child poverty.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment