Flight Safety Information - February 28, 2025 No. 043 In This Issue : NTSB: Vince Neil’s Learjet crash linked to landing gear failure at Scottsdale airport : USDOT Secretary Says Pilots Should Lose Their Licenses If At Fault For Accidents : Elon Musk falsely accuses Verizon of putting US air safety at 'serious risk' : Elon Musk to retired air traffic controllers: Please come back to work : Emirates looking to hire pilots in Portugal : KLM breaks ground on new The Link training centre : China tests world’s first jet fuel-powered engine to hit 16 times the speed of sound : Bombardier delivers its 1,000th super-midsize business jet : Bombardier jet takes off from SLO County Airport to set a speed record : IATA Releases 2024 Safety Report : Calendar of Events NTSB: Vince Neil’s Learjet crash linked to landing gear failure at Scottsdale airport A sensor failure and an incorrectly installed bolt were among the problems that caused a deadly crash involving Vince Neil's plane in Scottsdale. SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the viral and deadly jet crash that happened earlier this month at Scottsdale Airport. The collision happened on Feb. 10 at approximately 2:38 p.m. when Mötley Crüe rock star Vince Neil’s Learjet 35A veered off the runway after landing and crashed into a Gulfstream G-200 business jet parked at the airport. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot was killed, and the co-pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. The feds say one person inside the Gulfstream also suffered serious injuries. NTSB investigators say the captain was the plane’s regular and had regularly flown with the co-pilot since June. Data revealed that the flight had originated in Florida on the morning of the wreck and had stopped in Austin, Texas, to refuel. It approached the Scottsdale Airport around 1:34 p.m., turning to make a final approach onto Runway 21, the airport’s only runway. Surveillance and cellphone footage showed the plane making the final approach with the rear left landing gear not working correctly and in an “askew” position. Investigators discovered the plane touched down and began veering left as it began exiting the runway surface. Ultimately, the plane traveled over the safety area islands and crossed a taxiway, colliding with a windsock. Then, it entered another ramp, striking the right side of the parked Gulfstream. Federal officials say the Learjet wasn’t equipped with thrust reversers and the drag chute was not deployed. Seconds before the collision, the Learjet was traveling at about 50 knots, or approximately 57 mph. Two minutes later, at 1:40 p.m., the first fire engine from the airport arrives and begins spraying down the Gulfstream with fire retardant. Seven minutes after that, the Scottsdale Fire Department arrives. Passengers in the Gulfstream reported that one of the passengers, wearing a seatbelt, regained consciousness and woke up the other passenger, who was thrown forward in the cabin. The NTSB confirmed the flight crew also did not make any radio calls detailing that their landing gear may not be operating correctly. Learjet had suffered a landing gear issue months before the deadly wreck The preliminary report details that the same flight crew had reported an issue landing in McAlester, Oklahoma, on June 20, 2024. In that instance, a video revealed a hard landing involving the aircraft, which caused both left main landing gear tires to burst. The pilot reportedly hired a mechanic, the NTSB says, who claimed to have followed the maintenance manual for all the work performed. However, investigators say a bolt was not correctly installed into the landing gear’s aft trunnion pin, a component that allows the landing gear to rotate and retract. The report details at least three other events where “Learjet landing gear had disconnected from the airframe because the retaining bolt was not engaged through the aft trunnion pin.” Additional maintenance was conducted on the plane in December, where a mechanic performed servicing on the maintenance gear and noted that “nothing appeared unusual” but that the left landing gear “took an excessive amount of grease.” The final accident report is expected to be released within a year. https://www.azfamily.com/2025/02/27/ntsb-vince-neils-learjet-crash-linked-landing-gear-failure-scottsdale-airport/ USDOT Secretary Says Pilots Should Lose Their Licenses If At Fault For Accidents In an interview, Sean Duffy, the Secretary of Transportation, has claimed that pilots should lose their license if they had made an error that resulted in an incident, already circumventing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) by saying that some of the recent safety events involving US airlines could be pinned on pilot error. Stripping pilots’ licenses In an exclusive interview with NBC, Duffy, responding to whether he still shares the view, which he expressed following the near-miss at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), that pilots should lose their licenses if they made a mistake, said “hell yes.” The near-miss at Chicago-Midway involved a Flexjet Bombardier Challenger 350, registered as N560FX, and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registered as N8517F. The former aircraft was crossing the runway on which the latter, operating flight WN2504, was landing, prompting the Southwest Airlines pilot to initiate a go-around. The 737-800 landed safely at Chicago-Midway shortly after the go-around. In response to the incident, which had resulted in no injuries, Duffy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is “imperative that pilots follow the instructions of air traffic controllers. If they do not, their licenses will be pulled.” Meanwhile, the NTSB said that it was investigating the runway incursion involving the Challenger 350 and 737-800 , which occurred when the business jet entered the same runway on which the commercial aircraft was supposed to land. Circumventing the NTSB During the same interview, Duffy claimed that the string of recent incidents involving US airlines’ aircraft, including but not exclusive to the mid-air collision over the Potomac River, the Delta Connection Mitsubishi (née Bombardier) CRJ900 landing incident in Toronto, Canada, and now, the runway incursion at Chicago-Midway, could be traced back to pilot error. While the Secretary of Transportation noted that all of the incidents were unique, “but I do think, not all of them, and again, not exclusively, not 100%, but a majority probably of the errors go to the pilots.” “There is some pilot error at play in each of these incidents.” In an interview with Fox News, Jennifer Homendy, the chairwoman of the NTSB, pointed out that the question of why the Challenger 350 was taxiing across an active runway will be answered during the investigation of the incident. Homendy added that the NTSB does not believe that this was an air traffic control (ATC) issue and that it appeared to be a failure of the Flexjet flight crew to listen and abide by instructions that the Chicago-Midway ground controller provided to them. While Fox headlined the story by stating that the NTSB had already blamed the pilots for the incident even before the preliminary report's ink dried, Homendy reiterated during the interview that the board still had to conduct its investigation. “We have a lot of information that we have to collect, we want to know what was going on in the cockpit of that airplane. We will collect ATC communications, we have asked for the cockpit voice recorder [CVR] and flight data recorder [FDR] from Flexjet and the [FDR] from Southwest.” American Airlines Crash NTSB Investigation: Black Hawk Flying At 300 Feet The NTSB noted that it had obtained new information that indicated that the ATC saw the Black Hawk UH-60's altitude as 300 feet. Providing their conclusions This would not be the first time that members of the Donald Trump administration would conclude an accident investigation before the NTSB. Trump, following the mid-air collision of a PSA Airlines CRJ900, operating American Airlines Flight 5342 , and a US Army (USA) Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, said that he could come to the conclusion that diversity was to blame for the accident because he had “common sense.” Trump went on to claim that he changed the hiring standards from “very mediocre at best” during the Obama era to “extraordinary” for people who want to work with the National Aviation System (NAS), according to CNN. The baseless blaming of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies also involved the Delta Connection incident at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) since the first officer operating the flight was a woman. Multiple posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, blamed DEI, women pilots, and Endeavor Air , which operated Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 , for the incident. In response, Delta Air Lines issued a statement on February 20, saying that the airline was “correcting disinformation in social media containing false and misleading assertions about the flight crew of Endeavor Air 4819.” Firstly, the captain was hired in October 2007, having served as a captain and a pilot training and flight safety instructor. Any assertions that he failed training were false, the airline said. “Both crew members are qualified and FAA certified for their positions.” Secondly, the first officer was hired in January 2024, completing her training in April 2024. She has been flying for the airline since then, with Delta Air Lines highlighting that her flight experience exceeded the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) requirements. https://simpleflying.com/usdot-secretary-says-pilots-lose-licenses-if-at-fault-accidents/ Elon Musk falsely accuses Verizon of putting US air safety at 'serious risk' WASHINGTON - Billionaire presidential adviser Elon Musk on Thursday falsely accused Verizon, a rival contractor of his SpaceX Starlink system, of putting U.S. air safety at risk through a communications system that is actually operated by L3Harris. Musk admitted that he made a mistake when he said Verizon operated the Federal Aviation Administration's communications system. "Correction: the ancient system that is rapidly declining in capability was made (by) L3Harris. The new system that is not yet operational is from Verizon," Musk posted on social media. Verizon, which operates the largest U.S. wireless network, rejected Musk's initial accusation with a statement that it has only begun work on the system. "The FAA assessment is single digit months to catastrophic failure, putting air traveler safety at serious risk," Musk said in his original post. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Verizon replied: "To be clear, the FAA systems currently in place are run by L3Harris and not Verizon. We are at the beginning of a multi-year contract to replace antiquated, legacy systems. Our teams have been working with the FAA's technology teams and our solution stands ready to be deployed." L3Harris did not immediately comment. On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the FAA was close to canceling a $2.4 billion 15-year contract awarded to Verizon in 2023 to overhaul a communications system, and awarding the work to Musk's Starlink. The FAA said it has not made any decision on the contract. This week, the FAA said it was testing three Starlink terminals at a government facility in Alaska to address concerns about reliable weather information for the aviation community in that state. "The FAA has been considering the use of Starlink since the prior administration to increase reliability at remote sites, including in Alaska," the FAA said this week. The agency did not immediately comment on Musk's tweet. President Donald Trump named Musk to head a group called DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency. The FAA fired 350 employees last week as part of a DOGE-directed effort to shrink the government. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said none of the fired employees were air traffic controllers or critical for aviation safety. A DOGE team of SpaceX engineers acting as special government employees visited FAA facilities last week. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/02/27/elon-musk-verizon-air-safety-communications-system/80761436007/ Elon Musk to retired air traffic controllers: Please come back to work Elon Musk, who has been tasked with leading the Department of Government Efficiency, is pleading for retired air traffic controllers to consider returning to work amid an ongoing, nationwide shortage of qualified air safety workers. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX issued his appeal on X Tuesday, citing "a shortage of top notch air traffic controllers," adding that "If you have retired, but are open to returning to work, please consider doing so." The FAA has faced a longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers, while the agency's oversight of the skies has recently faced heightened scrutiny following a string of recent aviation incidents. Currently, more than 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, and do not meet standards set by a working group that includes the FAA and the controllers' union, according to a CBS News analysis of FAA data. There are approximately 10,800 air traffic controllers working across U.S. airports, which the NATCA says is about 3,600 fewer than "what is needed to fully staff the National Airspace System." While several hundred probationary workers at the FAA were recently fired by the Trump administration through late night emails sent on Feb. 14, "Zero air traffic controllers and critical safety personnel" were among those let go according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a Feb. 17 post on X. Duffy has said he wants to extend a waiver to the current controllers who are near retirement age to help expand the workfroce. Earlier this month, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the union representing air traffic controllers, told CBS the proposal is not "an effective solution to addressing the chronic air traffic controller staffing crisis. "In the next 12 months, we anticipate 49 ATCs across 35 facilities will reach age 56. This is not enough to address the nationwide staffing shortage," the union added. "The solution to the ATC staffing crisis is a long-term commitment to hiring and training and the retention of the experience of all the highly skilled, highly trained air traffic controllers," it added. Shortage goes back to pandemic In its Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan, the FAA blames its struggle to staff air traffic control facilities in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The COVID-19 pandemic has had substantial impact on the aviation industry and the FAA," the agency said in its report. "At the onset of the pandemic, in order to protect employees and help ensure continuity of operations, certain activities were eliminated or significantly reduced at FAA's air traffic control (ATC) facilities. There are currently a number of open air traffic control jobs on the FAA's website, including for air traffic control and traffic management specialists and at various stages of their careers. Robust training is required to become an air traffic controller, including the completion of training courses at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. According to the FAA, air traffic control specialists earn a median annual wage of $127,805, plus benefits. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-retired-air-traffic-controllers-return-to-work/ Emirates looking to hire pilots in Portugal Emirates will hold a roadshow in the Portuguese capital on March 12 and 13 to “recruit experienced commercial pilots,” the Dubai-based airline said in a statement. On March 12, the Emirates roadshow will have two recruitment sessions in Lisbon, one at 1pm and another at 6pm, while the following day there will be a new recruitment session at 10am. The airline recently made significant changes to pilot careers, including higher salaries, new roles and a radical change in eligibility, with four programs for pilots depending on their experience, specifically Direct Entry Captains, Accelerated Command, First Officers Type Rated and Non-Type Rated. According to the airline, it is not necessary to register in advance to participate in this roadshow, and it is only necessary to attend one of the sessions, in which Emirates will disclose “the airline's recruitment process, available opportunities, training programs, expected career path and benefits”, and it is also possible to talk to pilots currently flying with Emirates. “Emirates pilots have the opportunity to fly one of the youngest and most modern long-haul fleets in the world and to more than 140 destinations around the globe. They will have the opportunity to undergo intensive in-house training at Emirates training facilities and will also be based in the vibrant city of Dubai. We look forward to having more Portuguese pilots on board our airline as we grow our operations globally,” said David Quito, Emirates Country Manager in Portugal. Emirates offers a range of benefits to pilots and their families, including “a competitive tax-free salary, 42 days of annual leave, a generous allowance for accommodation and education, full medical benefits, discounted travel benefits for family and friends, and more.” https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2025-02-28/emirates-looking-to-hire-pilots-in-portugal/95936 KLM breaks ground on new The Link training centre KLM has started construction work on the expansion of its pilot training centre. Bas Brouns, CFO of KLM, yesterday broke ground on the building, which is expected to be put into use in mid-2026. With The Link, we can secure our training capacity in the future. We consciously choose to train our pilots in-house, because that way we have the best control over the quality and continuity. It is a crucial investment in the training of our pilots and therefore in the future of KLM. The new training facility, called The Link, will be located next to buildings 203 and 204 at Schiphol-Oost. The four-story complex with a total floor area of 4,442 m2 will include space for five state-of-the-art flight simulators, which will be used by KLM and Transavia pilots. The expansion of the Crew Training Centre is an essential step for KLM considering the planned fleet expansion and the growth in the number of pilots in the coming years. The decision to build The Link is an investment in KLM's future and has been carefully weighed against other investment and savings decisions made by KLM. Due to the continuing demand for air travel and the continued importance of the Netherlands' good connections with foreign destinations, KLM expects its pilot corps to grow from over 3,000 pilots now to around 4,000 in the coming years. To meet the increasing demand for training, a significant expansion of KLM's training capacity is necessary, including the number of flight simulators. The name The Link refers to the Link Trainer, the first flight simulator that was put into use almost a century ago. On the ground floor, five flight simulators will be placed in a space of 1,100 m2 with a thickened foundation floor. Here, KLM (freight) pilots and Transavia pilots can receive optimal training in the latest aircraft types, the Airbus A321neo and Airbus A350. The other floors include instruction and technical rooms and a high-voltage room, which will eventually supply the entire Crew Training Centre with power. KLM has selected multi-technical service provider SPIE as the main contractor for construction. KLM Real Estate & Facility Contracting is supervising the construction in collaboration with Flight Operations. So-called DPA piles are used for the foundation, the installation of which results in considerably less ground vibration for the existing simulators and the Operations Control Centre in the adjacent buildings. The new building has been designed in accordance with the applicable guidelines for a sustainable and energy-efficient utility building and therefore meets the requirements for a Near Energy Neutral Building. The building is gas-free, uses heat pumps for heat generation and has solar panels on the roof for part of the power supply. It is also partly fitted with a sedum roof for better insulation and longer water retention. https://news.klm.com/klm-breaks-ground-on-new-the-link-training-centre/ China tests world’s first jet fuel-powered engine to hit 16 times the speed of sound Mach 16 speed is roughly equivalent to 12,276 miles per hour (19,756 km per hour). a major leap forward in the field of hypersonic flight, China has announced that an engine developed by it has shown to reach an operational capability of Mach 16 in tests. The oblique detonation engine (ODE) which runs on common kerosene for aviation has achieved the performance in a series of tests performed at the JF-12 shock tunnel in Beijing. The JF-12 shock tunnel can duplicate true hypersonic flight conditions, and is one of the largest and most advanced of its kind in the world. It comes under the Institute of Mechanics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The scientists from CAS stated that they were able to achieve prolonged oblique detonation waves using the RP-3 jet fuel. The tests resulted in combustion rates 1,000 times faster than common scramjet engines, as per a report by the South China Morning Post. The operational capability, as reported by them, is between Mach 6 and Mach 16. China’s engine for hypersonic flight Mach 16 speed is roughly equivalent to 12,276 miles per hour (19,756 km per hour). During the tests, the scientists report that they were able to ensure travel only at speeds of Mach 9 for about 492 feet (150 meters). Due to the constraints of power requirement, the JF-12 wind tunnel only allowed continued operations for 50 milliseconds. However, even in this short instant the scientists used technology to understand how the ODE’s ignition and other key tech performed at hypersonic speeds. According to the SCMP report, the new engine variant has an 85 percent shorter combustor than a common scramjet engine. The scientists believe that this will help in slashing the weight of the aircraft and also contribute to extending the flight range. One of the key factors behind ODE’s effectiveness is its ability to use the shock waves as a friend – for boosting combustion. This is in stark contrast to the traditional scramjet engines which have flame-out risks at super high speeds. The SCMP report states that the scientists placed a 5mm bump on the ODE’s combustor wall – which helped in inducing self-sustained shock wave-fuelled explosion. At the peak of testing phase, the engine revealed that it is capable of producing even more thrust at high speeds. Pre-compressed fuel for ODE The scientists tried a new way to ensure that the long ignition delays that are usually associated with RP-3 kerosene could not hamper the performance. The CAS team pre-compressed the RP-3 kerosene to 6,380 degree Fahrenheit (3,527 degree Celsius) before the test. They also used wing-shaped struts to boost the fuel spread speed. This test will go a long way in realizing China’s dream of having an aircraft that can travel at Mach 16 speed by 2030. It will also help the country’s military boost its arsenal of hypersonic weapons, missiles, and even drones – which are low-cost. Earlier in 2023, Chinese scientists had claimed that they have developed the ‘world’s most powerful’ hypersonic engine that could reach Mach 16 speeds. Back then, they had stated that the air-breathing engine would be able to carry an aircraft to 18.6-mile (30 km) altitudes and travel around Mach 16. Russia, and US are also in the race for developing more and more advanced hypersonic speed capable weapons and aircraft. China, however, is making rapid strides in the technology space and could come up with new surprises quite soon. https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-jet-fueled-hypersonic-flight Bombardier delivers its 1,000th super-midsize business jet Bombardier has announced the delivery of its 1,000th super-midsize aircraft. This achievement was celebrated with the delivery of a Challenger 3500 to JM Family Enterprises, a long-standing customer, during a special ceremony at Bombardier’s Challenger delivery centre in Montréal, Canada. “Reaching the delivery of our 1,000th super-midsize aircraft marks a defining moment for Bombardier,” said Éric Martel, president and CEO of Bombardier. “This milestone is a testament to the dedication and exceptional talent of our employees, as well as the trust and loyalty of our customers around the world. It holds even greater significance as we are celebrating with a client who shares our family values, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to the community. Challenger super-midsize aircraft have been a game changer in the industry as they defined a new business jet segment, and we are excited to continue building on this legacy.” During the celebration, the Bombardier team handed over the ceremonial keys of the Challenger 3500 to JM Family Enterprises and presented the aircraft to the more than 700 employees and invitees in attendance. Highlights of the Challenger 3500 cabin include voice control, and several key features integrated from the ultra-long-range Global 7500, notably the Nuage seat. The Challenger 3500 also carries an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – as does Bombardier’s entire portfolio of in-production aircraft. Bombardier also covers all its operational flights with Sustainable Aviation Fuel through the Book-and-Claim system. https://www.businessjetinteriorsinternational.com/news/orders-deliveries/bombardier-delivers-its-1000th-super-midsize-business-jet.html Bombardier jet takes off from SLO County Airport to set a speed record Aviation history was made in San Luis Obispo on Thursday. At around 2 p.m., a Bombardier Global 7500 jet took off from the SLO County Airport on its way to London to set a speed record. "It's probably the most capable business jet on the planet right now -- obviously, the ability to go from somewhere like this to London direct, nonstop, fast, quiet, efficient,” said Bill Borgsmiller, ACI Jet CEO. ACI Jet, which is located at the SLO County Airport, is a Bombardier authorized service facility and hosted Thursday’s event. “The partnership with Bombardier creates a lot of jobs for our maintenance and repair facility,” Borgsmiller said. “We have dozens of technicians working in our hangar today servicing Bombardier products and this is just one more thing to help put the community on the map.” According to Mark Masluch, Bombardier’s Senior Director of Communications, the Global 7500 can travel almost 8,000 nautical miles at more than 90% the speed of sound. “It is the 100th record we're setting, and we're very happy to celebrate it with a community that's so passionate about aviation,” Masluch said. “Just being here, you can see that people are passionate about planes, passionate about the people who fly them, and the technical knowledge here is just second to none.” https://www.ksby.com/san-luis-obispo/bombardier-jet-takes-off-from-slo-county-airport-to-set-a-speed-record IATA Releases 2024 Safety Report Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its 2024 Annual Safety Report. The industry delivered another year of strong overall performance on safety including showing improvements on the five-year average for several key parameters, but it took a step back from an exceptional performance in 2023. The all-accident rate of 1.13 per million flights (one accident per 880,000 flights) was better than the five-year average of 1.25 but worse than the 1.09 recorded in 2023. 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. Fatality risk remained low at 0.06, below the five-year average (0.10), although double the 0.03 reported in 2023. “Even with recent high profile aviation accidents, it is important to remember that accidents are extremely rare. There were 40.6 million flights in 2024 and seven fatal accidents. Moreover, 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. And for that, the accumulation of safety data, including the 2024 safety report, is our most powerful tool,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Key safety insights include: Rising Conflict Zone Risks: The downing of two aircraft in conflict zones (Kazakhstan with 38 fatalities and Sudan with five fatalities) has reinforced the importance of the Safer Skies initiative, established in the aftermath of the PS752 tragedy to facilitate safeguards in high-risk airspace. Most Common Accidents: Tail strikes and runway excursions were the most frequently reported accidents in 2024, underscoring the importance of take-off and landing safety measures. Notably, there were no controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFIT) accidents. Airlines on the registry of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) (including all IATA member airlines) had an accident rate of 0.92 per million flights, significantly lower than the 1.70 recorded by non-IOSA carriers. Accidents and incidents related to conflict zones are considered security-related events and are not included in this report. While they do not appear in this data of this safety report, they, along with growing incidents of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference, are a top concern for aviation safety requiring urgent global coordination. “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. North America With 12 accidents, the all-accident rate improved from 1.53 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.20 in 2024 and was better than the region’s five-year average of 1.26. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2020. The most common accident types in 2024 were tail strikes, followed by runway damage and runway excursions. While no accidents have been linked to debris from space operations, the increasing number of rocket launches presents challenges for air traffic management. Asia-Pacific With seven accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate increased from 0.92 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.04 in 2024 but remained below the five-year regional average of 1.10. Fatality risk was unchanged from 2023 at 0.15. There was no dominant classification for accidents in the region which included tail strikes, runway damage and turbulence, among others. Africa With 10 accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate rose from 8.36 per million sectors in 2023 to 10.59 in 2024, exceeding the five-year average of 8.46. Africa (AFI) recorded the highest accident rate, though the fatality risk remained at zero for the second year in a row. The most common accident types in 2024 were runway excursions, followed by those related to landing gear. Forty percent of all accidents involving AFI-based operators, were on turboprop aircraft. Through the IATA Focus Africa initiative, the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Program (CASIP) continues to mobilize resources to address key safety challenges. Middle East and North Africa With two accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate improved from 1.12 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 1.08 in 2024 and was also better than its five-year average of 1.09. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2019. While no accidents were related to GNSS interference, it has emerged as a critical area of concern in the region. Commonwealth of Independent States With no accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate improved from 1.05 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to zero in 2024, an improvement over the region’s five-year average of 2.49. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2022. GNSS interference and security risks linked to regional conflicts remain key concerns for aviation safety in the area. Note that the December 2024 downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft in a conflict zone is excluded from accident classification in this safety report. It is also important to note that CIS has limited accident information available and may undergo larger revisions than normal once more data becomes available. This may affect accident rate as well as fatality risk calculation. Europe With nine accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate increased slightly from 0.95 per million sectors in 2023 to 1.02 accidents in 2024. This rate is on par with the region’s five-year average accident rate of 1.02. The fatality risk rate increased from zero in 2023 to 0.03 in 2024. The largest proportion of accidents were related to tail strikes followed by runway excursions. North Asia With a single accident, the all-accident rate increased slightly from zero accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 0.13 in 2024. This was better than the region’s five-year average of 0.16 accidents per million sectors. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2022. There was only one accident involving North Asian-based operators and was related to a tail strike. Latin America and the Caribbean With five accidents in 2024, the all-accident rate increased from 0.73 accidents per million sectors in 2023 to 1.77 accidents in 2024. This was better than the five-year average of 2.00. The fatality risk increased from 0.00 in 2023 to 0.35 in 2024. The largest proportion of accidents was related to tail strikes. Delayed or incomplete accident reports deny critical stakeholders—operators, manufacturers, regulators, and infrastructure providers—vital insights that could further improve aviation safety. IATA’s analysis of 2018-2023 accident investigations reveals that only 57% were completed and published as obligated by the Chicago Convention. Completion rates vary significantly across regions, with North Asia leading at 75%, followed by North America (70%) and Europe (66%), CIS (65%), Middle East and North Africa (60%), Latin America and the Caribbean (57%), Asia-Pacific (53%), and Africa (20%). “Accident investigation is a vital tool for improving global aviation safety. To be effective, the reports of accident investigations must be complete, accessible, and timely. Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention is clear that this is a state’s obligation. Burying accident reports for political considerations is completely unacceptable. And if capacity is the blocker, then we need a coordinated global effort to provide technical support to countries with limited accident investigation expertise,” said Walsh. Sharp Rise in GNSS Interference Poses Growing Risk to Aviation Safety Data from the IATA Incident Data Exchange (IDX) highlights a sharp increase in GNSS-related interference, which can mislead aircraft navigation systems. While there are several back-up systems in place to support aviation safety even when these systems are affected, these incidents still pose deliberate and unacceptable risks to civil aviation. GNSS interference is most prevalent in Türkiye, Iraq, and Egypt. Reports of GNSS interference—including signal disruptions, jamming, and spoofing—surged between 2023 and 2024. Interference rates increased by 175%, while GPS spoofing incidents spiked by 500%. "The sharp rise in GNSS interference events is deeply concerning. Reliable navigation is fundamental to safe and efficient flight operations. Immediate steps by governments and air navigation service providers are needed to stop this practice, improve situational awareness, and ensure that airlines have the necessary tools to operate safely in all areas," said Walsh. Notes for Editors: IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 340 airlines comprising over 80% of global air traffic. Fatality risk measures the exposure of a passenger or crew to a catastrophic accident with no survivors. The calculation of fatality risk does not take into account aircraft size or how many were onboard. What is measured is the percentage of fatalities among those onboard. IATA defines an accident as an event where an accident as an event where ALL of the following criteria are satisfied: Person(s) have boarded the aircraft with the intention of flight (either flight crew or passengers). The intention of the flight is limited to normal commercial aviation activities, specifically scheduled/charter passenger or cargo service. Executive jet operations, military, and test flights are excluded. The aircraft is turbine-powered and has a certificated Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of at least 5,700 kg (12,540 lb.). Either the aircraft has sustained major structural damage adversely affecting the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft and would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component exceeding USD1 million or 10% of the aircraft’s hull reserve value, whichever is lower, or if the accident is relevant by ACTF, or the aircraft has been declared a hull loss. An event in which a person is fatally injured, as a result of being in the aircraft, being in a collision with the operating aircraft, being in direct or indirect contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have become detached from the aircraft being in direct exposure to jet blast. A hull loss is an accident in which the aircraft is destroyed or substantially damaged and is not subsequently repaired for whatever reason including a financial decision of the owner. In addition to the significant improvements in safety that have taken place since 2005, evident in safety performance statistics, there is a masked improvement from inflationary pressure. As the accident criteria has not adjusted for inflation since 2005, less severe accidents have come to be considered in evaluating safety performance. https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2025-releases/2025-02-26-01/ CALENDAR OF EVENTS · · Sponsor the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! March 4 & 5, 2025 (Orlando) · · "Automation in Transportation: Lessons for Safe Implementation," on March 11-12, 2025, in Washington, DC. · · Annual Women in Aviation International Conference, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center | Denver Colorado, March 27-29, 2025 · · 59th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium is scheduled March 31 - April 2, 2025 · · Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Safety Symposium April 7-9, 2025 · · AIA Conference: The Aviation Insurance Association's annual conference in Orlando, Florida from April 25–28, 2025 · · Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore · . Flight Safety Foundation - Aviation Safety Forum June 5-6, 2025 - Brussels . . 2025 EASA-FAA International Aviation Safety Conference, 10 Jun 2025 to 12 Jun 2025, Cologne, Germany · · The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 · . ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · . CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada Curt Lewis