JPATS News

A United Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration N37313 performing flight UA-1207 from Newark,NJ to Jacksonville,FL (USA) with 145 people on board, was climbing through 3000 feet out of runway 22R when the crew advised they had struck a bird on departure, were checking their options and requested delay vectors. The crew subsequently reported there was damage to a window gasket and they had pressurization problems, the flight attendants seem to think there was a lot of damage. The crew consulted with their operations center and returned to Newark for a safe landing on runway 22L about 20 minutes after departure.

The FAA reported: "United Airlines Flight 1207 returned safely to Newark Liberty International Airport around 8:40 a.m. local time on Monday, March 9, after striking a bird while departing. The crew reported a cracked windshield and a possible pressurization issue. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was headed to Jacksonville International Airport. The FAA will investigate."

A replacement Boeing 737-8 MAX registration N17344 reached Jacksonville with a delay of about 3:45 hours.

https://avherald.com/h?article=536538b7&opt=0

Incident: Jetstar A320 near Adelaide on Feb 24th 2026, fumes on board

A Jetstar Airways Airbus A320-200, registration VH-VGN performing flight JQ-782 from Melbourne,VI to Adelaide,SA (Australia), was descending towards Adelaide about 50nm southeast of Adelaide when the crew donned their oxygen masks due to fumes in the cockpit. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Adelaide's runway 23. The aircraft vacated the runway and taxied to the apron.

The aircraft remained on the ground in Adelaide until Feb 27th 2026 before returning to service.

The ATSB reported: "During descent, fumes were observed in the cockpit and the flight crew donned oxygen. The engineering inspection was unable to reveal the source of the fumes."

https://avherald.com/h?article=536532bc&opt=0

Boeing 767-3Y0ER (WL) - Engine Problems (Myanmar)

Date: Sunday 8 March 2026

Time: c. 23:30

Type: Boeing 767-3Y0ER (WL)

Owner/operator: Azur Air

Registration: RA-73080

MSN: 25411/408

Year of manufacture: 1991

Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 346

Other fatalities: 0

Aircraft damage: Unknown

Location: near Yangon International Airport (RGN/VYYY) - Myanmar

Phase: En route

Nature: Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi

Departure airport: Tyumen-Roschino International Airport (TJM/USTR)

Destination airport: Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR/VVCR)

Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:

Boeing 767 flight ZF-2559 from Tyumen to Nha Trang declared an emergency (code 7700) and made an unscheduled landing at Yangon International Airport (RGN/VYYY), Myanmar. The landing proceeded as planned. Flight ZF-2559 from Tyumen to Nha Trang will be continued on a backup aircraft. Engine problems are the preliminary cause of the alarm on board the Boeing 767-300.

https://www.aviation-safety.net/wikibase/567743

FAA Cancels Brief Groundstop For JetBlue Planes

The airline said it had resolved a "system outage."

March 10 (Reuters) - A briefly issued groundstop for all JetBlue JBLU.O flights was canceled within an hour on Tuesday by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after the airline said it had resolved a “system outage.”

“A brief system outage has been resolved and we have resumed operations,” a spokesperson for JetBlue said in a statement, without providing further details.

The FAA had said the flight halt was issued at the request of JetBlue.

New York-headquartered JetBlue serves over 110 destinations across the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, Canada and Europe.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jetblue-airways-ground-stop-faa_n_69afaeb4e4b0fe5c2e76ddf3?origin=home-latest-news-unit

IATA Releases 2025 Safety Report

Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its 2025 Annual Safety Report demonstrating a solid year of safety performance with the following highlights:

The all-accident rate of 1.32 per million flights (one accident per 759,646 flights) was better than the 1.42 recorded in 2024 but slightly above the 2021-2025 five-year average of 1.27.

There were 51 accidents in 2025 among 38.7 million flights. That is fewer than the 54 accidents among 37.9 million flights in 2024, but above the 2021-2025 five-year average of 44 accidents.

There were eight fatal accidents in 2025. That is more than the seven fatal accidents recorded in 2024 and the five-year average of six fatal accidents.

There were 394 onboard fatalities in 2025, more than the 244 fatalities reported in 2024 and the five-year average of 198.

“Flying is the safest form of long-distance travel. Accidents are extremely rare and each one reminds us to be even more focused on continuous improvement through global standards and collaboration guided by safety data. The result of that effort is clear in how the five-year rolling average rate for fatal accidents has improved. A decade ago, the rate stood at one fatal accident for every 3.5 million flights (2012-2016). Today, it is one fatal accident for every 5.6 million flights (2021-2025). Flying is so safe that even one accident among the nearly 40 million flights operated annually moves the global data. Every accident is, of course, one too many. The goal for aviation remains zero accidents and zero fatalities,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Key insights from the report include:

The most common accidents in 2025 were tail strikes, landing gear events, runway excursions, and ground damage. This underscores the importance of take-off, landing, and ground handling safety measures. Notably there were no loss of control inflight (LOC-I) accidents in 2025. It is the second time this has been achieved (previously in 2020) and is significant as LOC-I are a leading cause of fatalities.

Airport facilities contributed to 16% of accidents in 2025. This reinforces the need to fully respect global standards for runway safety areas, frangible installations within safety zones, and the effective mitigation of hazards such as runway surface contaminants, inadequate markings or lighting, and obstacles within protected areas or near runways.

“Airport infrastructure and runway environments play a critical role in accident outcomes. In several events, rigid obstacles near runways increased accident severity, likely turning otherwise survivable occurrences into fatal ones. All airports and regulators should continuously review runway safety areas and the structures near runways for compliance with global safety standards,” said Walsh.

IOSA airlines: Airlines on the registry of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) had an all-accident rate of 0.98, significantly lower than the 2.55 recorded by non-IOSA carriers. The all-accident rate of IATA member airlines was 0.72 per million flights, significantly lower than the 3.09 for non-IATA members. All IATA member airlines capable of being IOSA-audited are on the IOSA registry.

Fatality risk, which measures the potential for loss of life increased to 0.17 per million flights, higher than 2024 (0.06) and the five-year average (0.12). The increase in fatality risk was driven by a small number of fatal accidents. For example, Air India 171 (with 241 fatalities) and PSA Airlines flight 5342 (with 64 fatalities) accounted for over 77% of all loss of life on board aircraft in 2025.

All Accident Safety Performance by Region of Carrier Registration

Africa: With seven accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate improved from 12.13 per million sectors in 2024 to 7.86 in 2025, which is below the five-year average of 9.37. Africa (AFI) recorded the highest accident rate of any region. The fatality risk increased from zero in 2024 to 2.19 in 2025. The most common accident types in 2025 were runway excursions and ‘other end state’. A review of ‘other end state’ cases (where precise categorization cannot be made for various reasons including insufficient information) since 2018 shows that the AFI region accounts for the majority of these events, underscoring the need for improved compliance with state investigation obligations under Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention. Of accidents involving AFI-based operators, 71% involved turboprop aircraft.

Asia-Pacific: With six accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate improved from 1.08 per million sectors in 2024 to 0.91 in 2025. This was better than the five-year average of 0.99. Fatality risk remained unchanged at 0.15 in 2025 when rounded to two decimal places, although the precise rate declined slightly. The most common accident types in 2025 were ground damage and tail strikes.

Commonwealth of Independent States: With four accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate increased from 1.44 accidents per million sectors in 2024 to 2.74 in 2025, exceeding the region’s five-year average of 2.26. The fatality risk increased from zero in 2024 to 0.69 in 2025. All accidents occurred with turboprop aircraft, including one fatal controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) event that resulted in 48 fatalities.

Europe: With 11 accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate improved from 1.48 per million sectors in 2024 to 1.30 accidents in 2025. This was higher than the region’s five-year average accident rate of 1.11. The fatality risk rate was zero in 2025, an improvement from 0.03 in 2024. The largest proportion of accidents were related to inflight damage and tail strike.

Latin America and the Caribbean: With five accidents in 2025, the all-accident rate improved from 1.84 accidents per million sectors in 2024 to 1.77 accidents in 2025. This was better than the five-year average of 2.02. The fatality risk decreased from 0.37 in 2024 to 0.26 in 2025. The largest proportion of accidents was runway excursions.

Middle East and North Africa: With one accident in 2025, involving a runway excursion, the all-accident rate improved from 1.09 accidents per million sectors in 2024 to 0.53 in 2025 and was also better than its five-year average of 1.01. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2019.

North America: With 16 accidents reported in 2025, the all-accident rate rose from 1.49 per million sectors in 2024 to 1.68 in 2025, which was above the region’s five-year average of 1.33. The fatality risk rate increased from zero in 2024 to 0.21 in 2025. The most common accident types in 2025 were ground damage and tail strike.

North Asia: With one non-fatal tail strike accident, the all-accident rate was unchanged from 2024 at 0.16 per million sectors in 2025. This was better than the region’s five-year average of 0.18 accidents per million sectors. Fatality risk has remained zero since 2023.

Conflict Zone Risks

The proliferation of conflict zones is driving significant rerouting and operational complexity. In some regions, military activity has occurred in or near flight corridors. The latest reminder of this is the significant disruptions that have occurred with the outbreak of war between the US/Israel and Iran. Close coordination between military and civil authorities is essential to ensure the safe operations of civil aircraft.

When conflict zones present risks that cannot be mitigated, states are responsible for restricting or closing airspace in a timely, transparent, and coordinated manner. It is essential that the process of closing and eventually to re-opening airspace remains focused on safety and security parameters and is not politicized. Moreover, clear, consistent, and professionally communicated Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and risk advisories are critical information for airlines to consider when conducting their own risk assessments in support of safe and efficient flight operations.

“Civil aircraft must never be placed at risk from military activity—deliberately or accidentally. When tensions rise, governments must share timely risk information, ensure effective civil–military coordination, restrict airspace where needed, and provide airlines with sufficient information for their own risk assessments. Whether closing or re-opening airspace, safety depends on transparency, facts, and coordination,” said Walsh.

GNSS Interference

Incidents of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference capable of misleading aircraft navigation systems have risen sharply in recent years. IATA’s Incident Data eXchange indicates that reported jamming events in 2025 increased by 67% compared to 2023 while reported GPS spoofing incidents rose by 193%.

"GNSS interference events are deeply concerning. Airlines rely on GNSS for safe and efficient flight operations. While system redundancies support safe operations in the face of these deliberate acts, immediate steps by governments and air navigation service providers are needed to improve situational awareness and enhance mitigation tools for pilots. Ultimately, the practice of GNSS interference must be stopped. Anything less is both unacceptable and irresponsible," said Walsh.

Timely, Comprehensive, and Public Accident Reports

Accident investigation reports that are delayed, incomplete, or unpublished withhold valuable safety insights that can improve safety. IATA’s analysis of investigations conducted between 2019 and 2023 indicates that only 63% of accident reports were completed in line with state obligations under the Chicago Convention. Because investigations routinely take more than one year to finalize, a five‑year dataset ending in 2023 provides an accurate view of global performance.

Investigations are the responsibility of the states in which accidents or incidents have occurred. When grouped regionally, significant variations in completion rates are noted. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) recorded the highest completion rate (81%), followed by North America (78%), Europe (75%), Asia-Pacific (68%), North Asia (67%), Middle East and North Africa (67%), Latin America and the Caribbean (60%), and Africa (19%).

“Accident investigation helps us improve safety, but many reports are not published in a timely, complete, or accessible way. Some are not made public while others lack clear recommendations. Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention is clear about state obligations. While compliance with this obligation is improving, anything less than 100% shortchanges everyone on opportunities to improve. Where accident investigation capacity is the challenge, coordinated global support to strengthen investigation capabilities is needed,” said Walsh.

To support transparency and strengthen industry-wide safety learning, IATA has established a centralized platform that consolidates safety recommendations from final investigation reports into a single global repository. This improves access to critical safety insights, enables data-driven analysis, and supports industry efforts to prevent similar events in the future.

> Learn more about the IATA Annual Safety Report 2025

For more information, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Tel: +41 22 770 2967

Email: [email protected]

https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2026-releases/2026-03-09-01/

Global Airline Safety Reaches New Benchmark in 2025

IATA’s 2025 safety report shows fewer accidents and lower risk even as global air traffic hits record highs, underscoring aviation’s strong safety trajectory.

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Global commercial aviation recorded its safest year on record in 2025, with accident rates falling even as passenger traffic and flight numbers climbed to unprecedented levels, according to new data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Record Traffic, Fewer Accidents

IATA’s newly released 2025 Annual Safety Report shows that airlines safely operated tens of millions of flights worldwide last year, with the overall accident rate improving despite record traffic volumes. Industry capacity and demand both exceeded pre-pandemic levels, yet the likelihood of an accident per flight continued its long-term downward trend.

The global all-accident rate in 2025 declined compared with 2024, even as scheduled commercial flights increased. The report highlights that when measured over a rolling five-year period, the chance of an accident per million sectors is now significantly lower than it was a decade ago. In practical terms, that means a traveler could fly daily for many lifetimes before statistically facing an accident on a modern commercial airline.

Fatal accidents remain exceedingly rare events. While IATA notes that the number of serious accidents and fatalities can fluctuate from year to year, the fatality risk to individual passengers fell again in 2025. The association attributes this progress to both technological advances and a maturing safety culture across much of the industry.

The new figures reinforce aviation’s position as one of the safest modes of mass transportation, even as demand for air travel continues to grow around the globe.

Long-Term Safety Trend Reaches New High

Beyond the year-on-year numbers, IATA emphasizes the long-term trend: a steady reduction in accidents over several decades, even as global fleets and route networks have expanded. Since the mid-2000s, the industry has more than halved its rate of accidents per million flights, a trajectory that continued into 2025.

Data in the 2025 report show a marked improvement in the five-year rolling average accident rate compared with the early 2010s. Improvements in aircraft design, more reliable engines, advanced navigation systems, and enhanced pilot training have all contributed to a lower probability of serious incidents. At the same time, improved reporting and analysis of minor events have allowed airlines to address risks before they lead to accidents.

IATA also underscores the effectiveness of collaborative, data-driven safety programs. Voluntary safety reporting systems, confidential incident databases, and global data-sharing initiatives mean regulators, manufacturers, and airlines can identify emerging hazards earlier than ever before. These tools, the report suggests, are crucial to sustaining the current trajectory as traffic volumes grow.

While the industry did see isolated high-profile events in recent years, IATA stresses that these outliers do not reflect the overall performance of commercial aviation. When viewed through the lens of exposure, the sector continues to deliver safer outcomes with each passing decade.

Regional Picture: Gains and Gaps

The 2025 safety data reveal a broadly positive picture across most regions, though performance remains uneven. Many mature markets either maintained very low accident rates or improved further, while several developing regions recorded notable gains compared with their own historical averages.

North America and Europe, which already operate extensive, high-density networks, continued to report accident rates well below the global average. In these markets, robust regulatory oversight, widespread use of advanced aircraft, and strong adherence to safety management systems helped keep serious events rare even as traffic pressure mounted.

Other regions that historically faced greater safety challenges, including parts of Africa and Asia-Pacific, showed encouraging progress. The 2025 numbers indicate fewer accidents per million flights than in earlier years, reflecting targeted initiatives on pilot training, infrastructure upgrades, and operational oversight. However, IATA notes that some disparities remain and that sustained investment is required to close the gap with the best-performing markets.

Crucially, airlines registered under IATA’s Operational Safety Audit program continued to outperform non-audited carriers. The report highlights a significantly lower accident rate for IOSA-registered airlines, underscoring the value of common global benchmarks and rigorous independent auditing.

Why Safety Is Improving Despite Growing Complexity

Aviation’s improved safety performance in 2025 comes despite rising operational complexity. More aircraft, more congested airspace, and a growing mix of new technology all create potential new risks. Yet the industry’s layered approach to safety is proving effective at managing them.

Central to that approach is the widespread adoption of safety management systems that rely on continual monitoring and proactive risk mitigation. Airlines now routinely analyze vast quantities of operational data, from flight data recorders to maintenance logs, to identify subtle patterns that could foreshadow future incidents. This predictive, rather than reactive, mindset is one of the key reasons accident rates can fall even as the number of flights climbs.

Technological innovation is another major factor. Modern airliners incorporate advanced flight-control systems, more precise navigation capabilities, and increasingly sophisticated alerting tools designed to keep crews aware of potential threats. Enhanced air traffic management technologies and better runway safety systems have also reduced the likelihood of ground collisions and incursions.

The human element remains critical. The 2025 IATA report points to continuing investment in pilot and maintenance training, as well as initiatives to strengthen safety culture within airlines. Programs that encourage staff at every level to speak up about hazards without fear of reprisal are seen as vital to catching issues early and sustaining improvements.

Emerging Risks and the Road Ahead

Despite the positive headline figures, IATA warns that the industry cannot afford complacency. The 2025 report highlights several emerging and persistent risks that will require careful management if safety gains are to be preserved in the years ahead.

One area of growing concern involves external threats to flight operations, including interference with satellite navigation signals and cyber-related vulnerabilities. Reports of GPS spoofing and jamming incidents have increased along some routes, prompting airlines and regulators to develop new procedures and backup systems to protect navigation integrity.

The report also notes that uneven infrastructure quality, particularly at smaller or rapidly growing airports, can contribute to runway excursions and ground incidents. Addressing these risks will demand coordinated investment in airfield design, air traffic control capabilities, and rescue and firefighting resources, especially in regions experiencing rapid growth in air travel demand.

Looking ahead, IATA argues that continued collaboration between airlines, manufacturers, regulators, and international bodies will be essential. As new technologies such as more automated flight systems and advanced data analytics spread across the fleet, they offer powerful tools to reduce accident rates even further. The 2025 performance suggests that, with sustained focus and investment, global commercial aviation can continue to grow while becoming safer still for travelers worldwide.

https://www.thetraveler.org/global-airline-safety-reaches-new-benchmark-in-2025/

CDB Aviation Leases 5 A321neo Aircraft to LATAM

Aircraft to Support Airline's Fleet Strategy Enhancing Flexibility Across Its Hubs

CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (“CDB Leasing”), announced on the sidelines of the ISTAT Americas conference the execution of lease agreements for a fleet of five Airbus A321-271NX aircraft with its existing customer, LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (“LATAM;” NYSE: LTM; SSE: LTM).

The A321neos will be delivered to the airline in the second quarter of 2026. The five aircraft will be joining another A321neo that is already on lease to LATAM, previously delivered from CDB Aviation’s orderbook.

“We are happy to strengthen our relationship with the leading airline group in Latin America, supporting its initiatives to invest in the latest generation aircraft to enhance the flexibility of its hubs with environmental stewardship top of mind,” said Luís da Silva, CDB Aviation’s Head of Commercial, Americas.

Business and Private Jet Market Report 2026-2036

“As air travel growth throughout South America continues its upward momentum, fleet solutions that offer innovative approaches, speed of execution, and access to the most modern aircraft types will be key to the strategic growth of the region’s airlines. Our team is actively pursuing outreach campaigns to enable South American carriers, like LATAM, to seize on market expansion opportunities, while growing our platform’s footprint in this critical, fast-growing aviation market,” added da Silva.

https://www.asdnews.com/news/aerospace/2026/03/09/cdb-aviation-leases-5-a321neo-aircraft-latam

Webinar Previews Top Experts, Timely Topics Planned for BASS2026

As the business aviation community prepares for the 2026 Business Aviation Safety Summit (BASS), safety remains at the heart of the industry. This year’s event will focus on advancing safer operations through stronger safety cultures, innovative thinking and practical solutions operators can apply in the real world.

Set for May 5-6 in Provo, UT, BASS, now in its 71st year, is organized by Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) in partnership with NBAA and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).

During a recent webinar discussing the highlights of this year’s event, NBAA Senior Vice President, Safety, Security, Sustainability, International Affairs Doug Carr and NATA COO Hector Huezo and moderator Paige Kroner, FSF director of media relations, examined the need for safety culture and some simple tips to create that culture.

“Perhaps one of the biggest things our leaders can do is to embrace slowing down,” said Carr. “When we’re facing competing attention priorities, whether it’s from ATC giving us a complex taxi instruction, whether it’s from our passengers who just changed our mission, whether it’s from other internal flight operations, changes that perhaps weren’t expected. I believe one of the biggest things we have on our side, if we’re willing to take advantage of it, is time and slowing down to ensure that everyone remains on the same page – the crew, the passengers, the operation.”

Also, Carr added, it’s important for leaders to reinforce for their staff that they should raise questions if they’re not comfortable with what they’re seeing.

Huezo reiterated the need for an environment where safety is prioritized.

“When folks on the ramp or somewhere else are juggling multiple roles, errors can happen, and that is concerning,” he said. “I go back to creating the safety culture.”

The webinar posed several poll questions to participants, including. “Which vulnerability most concerns you in the next 12 months?”

The highest response was “complacency/procedural drift,” which was selected by 57% of respondents.

“There’s a substantial amount of change happening in our industry right now,” Carr said. “And if we are static in our view of what we as an operation, as a pilot, as a crew member, as an FBO, as a ground handling agent need to do, then we could very well be contributing to the challenges, to the risks that the rest of the industry is trying to address.”

Beyond safety culture, other topics for discussion at BASS include:

Resiliency in aviation operations

Mental well-being and Its impact on safety

Human factors

Continuous improvement and proactive safety strategies

Runway, airport and surface safety

SMS

Emerging technology and new entrants

Weather

Rounding out the program, NTSB board member Michael Graham will take the keynote stage to share lessons learned for operators navigating congested airspace — and to explore why rigorous data analysis matters, from individual organizations to the FAA itself.

Learn more about BASS and register today.

https://nbaa.org/aircraft-operations/safety/webinar-previews-top-experts-timely-topics-planned-for-bass2026/

Spirit Airlines to recall furloughed pilots to combat attrition as carrier eyes bankruptcy exit

Key Points

Spirit Airlines furloughed hundreds of its pilots but is now calling them back due to a shortage after aviators left the airline, many for other carriers, according to a memo reviewed by CNBC.

The company last year filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year.

The budget airline has said it plans to emerge from bankruptcy as early as this spring.

Spirit Airlines is calling back all furloughed pilots after higher-than-expected attrition has strained its operation, according to a company memo, which was reviewed by CNBC.

The budget carrier said late last month that it plans to further cut its schedule and emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late spring or early summer. It was the airline’s second bankruptcy filing in less than a year.

Spirit Airlines furloughed hundreds of pilots in 2024 and 2025 to save millions of dollars and to match a smaller operation than the budget carrier used to operate. But pilots also chose to leave the airline, many for other carriers, leaving Spirit short on staffing.

“Pilot attrition has been higher than forecast, making precise alignment between staffing and the reduced schedule more challenging,” the airline told employees in a memo last week. “While these recalls won’t arrive in time to support the spring break—Easter period, they strengthen the foundation of our post-bankruptcy future.”

Spirit confirmed that on Monday, it sent notices to about 500 pilots who were involuntarily furloughed between Sept. 1, 2024, and Nov. 1, 2025, to call them back to work as “we continue to make adjustments to meet the evolving needs of our business.”

Last month, Spirit similarly said it would recall furloughed flight attendants.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/spirit-airlines-pilots-bankruptcy.html

Africa still leads world in aviation accident rate despite fewer crashes in 2025

Africa recorded the highest aviation accident rate in the world in 2025, despite a drop in the number of crashes, according to a new safety report by the International Air Transport Association.

Africa recorded the world’s highest aviation accident rate in 2025 despite a drop in the number of crashes, according to the International Air Transport Association.

The continent reported seven accidents, with turboprop aircraft involved in most incidents.

Runway excursions and weak airport infrastructure were cited as key safety concerns.

IATA also warned that delays in accident investigations are slowing efforts to improve aviation safety.

The global airline industry body’s latest Annual Safety Report shows that while the number of aviation incidents on the continent declined, Africa still had the worst safety record globally when measured against the number of flights.

Seven accidents involving African airlines were recorded in 2025, down from 11 in 2024. But the region still posted 7.86 accidents per million flights, the highest among all global regions.

The figure is slightly better than Africa’s five-year average of 9.37 accidents per million flights, but far higher than rates reported in Europe, Asia and North America.

The report also showed a sharp rise in fatality risk. After recording no fatal accidents in 2024, the risk increased to 2.19 fatalities per million flights in 2025, largely driven by incidents involving turboprop aircraft.

Turboprops are commonly used across Africa for regional travel because they are cheaper to operate and can land on shorter runways often found in smaller airports. However, IATA said they accounted for about 71% of accidents involving African operators last year.

Runway-related incidents were the most frequent accidents recorded on the continent. These include runway excursions, where aircraft overshoot or veer off the runway during landing or take-off.

A new IATA safety report says Africa recorded the world’s highest aviation accident rate in 2025, with turboprop aircraft involved in most incidents.

Infrastructure concerns

According to IATA, airport infrastructure is a major factor affecting the severity of accidents in some cases.

The association’s Director General, Willie Walsh, warned that poorly designed runway environments can worsen crash outcomes.

“Rigid obstacles near runways increased accident severity, likely turning otherwise survivable occurrences into fatal ones,” he said.

He urged regulators and airport operators to review runway safety areas and ensure that structures around airfields comply with international safety standards.

Weak accident investigations

The report also highlighted a major gap in aviation safety oversight in Africa, delays in accident investigations.

Only 19% of accident investigations in the region were completed in line with international standards, far below other parts of the world. In comparison, completion rates reached 81% in the Commonwealth of Independent States and 78% in North America.

These investigations follow rules set out under the Chicago Convention, the global treaty that governs civil aviation.

Walsh said incomplete or delayed accident reports prevent the industry from learning lessons that could improve safety.

“Accident investigation helps us improve safety, but many reports are not published in a timely, complete, or accessible way,” he said, adding that stronger international support is needed to help some countries build investigation capacity.

Global comparison

Across the world, aviation safety performance improved slightly in 2025, although fatal accidents increased.

IATA said 51 accidents were recorded globally across 38.7 million flights, compared with 54 incidents the previous year.

However, fatal crashes rose to eight, leading to 394 deaths, up from 244 in 2024.

Despite the increase, Walsh said air travel remains the safest form of long-distance transportation.

“Flying is the safest form of long-distance travel… every accident is, of course, one too many,” he said.

Emerging safety risks

The report also warned of new safety threats linked to geopolitical conflicts and interference with satellite navigation systems used by aircraft.

Disruptions to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) can mislead aircraft navigation and have become more common in areas affected by military activity.

Walsh said governments must improve coordination between civil aviation authorities and the military to prevent risks to passenger aircraft.

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/africa-records-highest-aviation-accident-rate-in-2025-despite-fewer-crashes-iata/cxxr4dw

Photo/Image Courtesy: NASA

Incoming! 1,300-pound NASA satellite will crash to Earth on March 10

NASA's Van Allen Probe A satellite, launched in 2012 to study Earth's radiation belts, is expected to crash back to Earth on March 10, 2020.

The twin Van Allen Probes orbit in Earth's inner and outer radiation belts.

The twin Van Allen Probes orbit in Earth's inner and outer radiation belts. | Credit: JHU/APL, NASA

A big NASA satellite will crash back to Earth on Tuesday (March 10) after nearly 14 years in orbit, experts say.The spacecraft in question is the 1,323-pound (600-kilogram) Van Allen Probe A, which launched in August 2012 along with its twin, Van Allen Probe B, to study the radiation belts around Earth for which they're named.Both spacecraft were deactivated in 2019, and Van Allen Probe A's time off Earth is now nearly up. As of Monday afternoon (March 9), the U.S. Space Force predicted that the satellite will reenter Earth's atmosphere on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. EDT (2345 GMT), plus or minus 24 hours.

"NASA expects most of the spacecraft to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some components are expected to survive reentry," NASA officials wrote in an update on Monday. "The risk of harm coming to anyone on Earth is low — approximately 1 in 4,200."That low risk of injury — about 0.02% — takes into account the fact that water covers about 70% of Earth's surface. So, any parts that survive reentry will likely splash down in the open ocean, not land in or around a city.The Space Force's estimated reentry time is just that — an estimate. It will be updated in the coming hours, as more and better data come in.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/incoming-1-300-pound-nasa-220000766.html

GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY

Dear Airline Pilot,

As a doctoral candidate in the Psychology Department at Liberty University, I am conducting research as part of the requirements for a doctoral degree. The purpose of my research is to examine the pilot acceptability and effectiveness of a training protocol designed to inform pilots of the latest research in fatigue and in ways to individually mitigate fatigue within the challenging environment of airline flying, and I am writing to invite you to join my study.

Participants must be active pilot flight crew members operating under 14 CFR121 or the equivalent ICAO regulations. Participants will be asked to take two online surveys, view a web delivered training program, take two more confidential online surveys at the conclusion of the training, and finally, 30 days after the training, to take two online surveys as follow-up. This study involves a relatively serious commitment of time, and the only compensation is the ability to receive the training package. This package is modified for pilots from one developed and tested by researchers connected to the DOD medical research community. It contains the latest information on sleep, circadian rhythms, and individual sleep skills. It should take approximately 15 minutes to complete each survey and 37 minutes for the training. Participation will be completely confidential, and other than email addresses to facilitate the follow-on survey, no personal identifying information will be collected. These addresses will be exported from the software in a separate file to create the follow-on email invites and then will be deleted following data collection. They will not be associated with your responses.

Any questions you may have before or after deciding to participate can be directed to [email protected]. Participation is entirely voluntary, and you can opt out at any time with no repercussions.

To participate, please click the link at the bottom of this message to complete the screening, surveys and training. Participants will complete the initial surveys and the training package. Thirty days later, they will be emailed an invitation to complete the final surveys. I am grateful to each of you for considering/participating in this study.

A study information sheet is provided as the first section of the initial survey. The document contains additional information about my research. You do not need to sign and return the document. After you have read the information, please click the button next to YES in order to proceed to the survey. Doing so will indicate that you have read the information and would like to take part in the study.

LINK: https://liberty.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2t6rgnOTA9lq8rc

Sincerely,

Scott Reeves

Captain FedEx (Retired)

[email protected]