On average, there are fewer than 50 commercial aviation accidents globally each year, with even fewer resulting in fatalities. Recent data show that the global aviation industry operates over 36 million flights annually, making the crash rate very low. For example, in 2022, there were 38 commercial aviation accidents worldwide. Over the last several years, the average fatal accidents per year for commercial aircraft has been about five, with around 140 fatalities annually on average. The safety trend has been improving due to technology and safety protocols, although the number of accidents can vary year by year.
Summary:
- Less than 50 commercial plane crashes per year worldwide
- About 5 fatal accidents on average per year in recent years
- Around 140 fatalities per year on average from these crashes
- Vast majority of flights (over 36 million annually) occur safely without incident
This reflects how commercial air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation despite occasional accidents.
