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Increase in Aviation Fatalities Worldwide in 2025

Published January 3, 2026, 08:22
Increase in Aviation Fatalities Worldwide in 2025

The number of fatalities in aviation accidents worldwide increased in 2025 to 418 people, compared to 334 in 2024. This included 352 passengers, 33 crew members, and 33 people on the ground. Despite the increase, BDL notes that the ratio of fatalities to passengers continues to decrease in the long term, indicating an improvement in aviation safety. In 2025, the probability of dying in a crash was 1 in 11,459,330, significantly lower than the 1 in 264,000 of the 1970s. IATA estimates that 4.7 billion people traveled by air in 2025, a huge increase compared to the 440 million in the 1970s. This means that, despite the increase in total journeys, aviation remains a very safe mode of transport. The BDL statistics relate to aircraft with at least 14 seats and do not include data for smaller aircraft or military aviation. The worst aviation accident of 2025 occurred in India, with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashing shortly after takeoff, resulting in 241 fatalities (229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 on the ground). The investigation into the cause of the Boeing 787 crash in India, which was due to a sudden loss of thrust in both engines, is ongoing. BDL emphasizes that the increase in fatalities is short-term and that the general trend remains towards a reduction in the risk of aviation accidents.