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African airlines record zero fatal accidents for fourth consecutive year
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) aviation safety review for 2023 states that African airlines have experienced their fourth consecutive year of safety, having not experienced a fatal accident in 2023.
Since 2020, there have been no fatal accidents or irreparable damage to any African aircraft in the region, according to the IATA 2023 review. This marked the fifth time that Africa had recorded zero fatal accidents with the first occurrence recorded in 2015.
From 10.88 per million sectors in 2022 to 6.38 in 2023, the overall accident rate increased, surpassing the 5-year average of 7.11.
Despite a reported 37 million aircraft movements in 2023, a 17% increase compared to 2022, Africa's safety record reflected global trends with no fatal accidents involving passenger jet aircraft, but a single turboprop accident in Nepal in January 2023 which was “due to loss of control in flight” and resulted in 72 fatalities.
"2023 safety performance continues to demonstrate that flying is the safest mode of transport. Aviation places its highest priority on safety and that shows in the 2023 performance. Jet operations saw no hull losses or fatalities. 2023 also saw the lowest fatality risk and ‘all accident’ rate on record,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
“A single fatal turboprop accident with 72 fatalities, however, reminds us that we can never take safety for granted. And two high-profile accidents in the first month of 2024 show that, even if flying is among the safest activities a person can do, there is always room to improve. This is what we have done throughout our history. And we will continue to make flying ever safer,” Walsh adds.
The IATA under its Focus Africa initiative introduced in June 2023 the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Programme (CASIP) which aims to enhance aviation safety in Africa by partnering with states to enhance International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) implementation. However, only 12 out of 54 African states meet the minimum SARPs implementation threshold of 75%.
