A flying tire. A runway roll-off. Multiple emergency landings.
Despite recent high-profile incidents involving planes, experts assure that there is no need for major concern as the aviation industry’s safety record continues to be better than ever in terms of lives lost.
“This is not a safety trend,” stated John Cox, a pilot and the president and CEO of Safety Operating Systems LLC, regarding the recent spate of incidents.
FlightGlobal reported that there were only six fatal commercial aviation accidents globally in 2023, resulting in 115 deaths — the lowest on record.
Data from the National Transportation Safety Board also confirms the downward trend, with only 20 major accidents involving large U.S. carriers in 2022 compared to 27 in 2008.
The rate of accidents resulting in injury or death to passengers or substantial damage to planes has decreased as well, from 0.141 per 100,000 flight hours to 0.112 in 2022.
In essence, the data indicates that flying has never been safer.
Experts like Jeff Guzzetti, a pilot and president of Guzzetti Aviation Risk Discovery LLC, emphasize that incidents like these are not uncommon in the aviation industry.
While the flying public may be more alert to such reports, recent incidents like the midair blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 have garnered significant attention.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating recent incidents such as a United Airlines flight that rolled off the runway in Houston, a tire falling off a United Airlines flight from San Francisco, and a United Airlines flight from Houston to Fort Myers that had to make an emergency landing due to engine issues.
United Airlines and Boeing are also looking into each incident, emphasizing that safety is their top priority.
No likely connection to any one airline or plane manufacturer
Experts note that each incident is unique and may not be related to a specific airline or manufacturer.
While there is increased scrutiny due to recent events, the overall number of incidents has not risen significantly, according to Guzzetti.
The use of social media to broadcast mishaps in real-time has made the public more aware of these incidents, even if their frequency has not actually increased, Cox added.
While experts see little cause for alarm, they acknowledge that the air travel industry has seen changes in recent years, including a decrease in the average experience level of aviation personnel.
Newer airplanes with more advanced technology may also play a role in incidents, as managing automation can be challenging when issues arise.
Despite these challenges, the reduced accident count demonstrates that newer planes have overall improved safety in air travel.
Boeing and its 737 Max line of planes are under investigation by the NTSB, with plans for a multiple-day investigative hearing likely in late summer.
