• Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 7 aviation accidents in 2025, or 7.86 per million flights, down from 12.13 in 2024.
• Runway excursions and poorly classified incidents were the most common events.
• Despite progress, the region still has the highest accident rate in global aviation.

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded seven aviation accidents in 2025, bringing the region’s overall accident rate to 7.86 per million flights, down from 12.13 in 2024, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Runway excursions and incidents classified as “other end state”—events that cannot be clearly categorized due to limited information—were the most frequent cases last year. IATA also noted that 71% of accidents involving Africa-based airlines involved turboprop aircraft.

Although the accident rate improved and remains below the five-year average of 9.37, sub-Saharan Africa still ranks as the region with the lowest level of aviation safety worldwide. The fatality risk, which stood at zero in 2024, rose again in 2025 to 2.19.

Global Safety Trends Also Improve

The broader global trend also points to gradual improvement.

In the Asia-Pacific region, six accidents were recorded in 2025, producing an accident rate of 0.91 per million flights, down from 1.08 in 2024. Europe reported 11 accidents with a rate of 1.30 per million flights, compared with 1.48 the previous year.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, five accidents were reported. The accident rate declined slightly from 1.84 per million flights in 2024 to 1.77 in 2025.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region recorded just one accident, related to a runway excursion, which pushed the accident rate down from 1.09 per million flights in 2024 to 0.53 in 2025.

North America was the only region to see a deterioration. Sixteen accidents were recorded, raising the accident rate to 1.68 per million flights in 2025 from 1.49 the previous year.

Globally, the accident rate reached 1.32 per million flights in 2025, an improvement from 1.42 in 2024, though still slightly above the five-year average of 1.27.

Aviation Remains One of the Safest Forms of Transport

In total, 51 accidents were recorded worldwide in 2025 across 38.7 million flights—roughly one accident for every 759,646 flights. In 2024, there were 54 accidents across 37.9 million flights.

The number of fatal accidents rose to eight in 2025, compared with seven in 2024 and a five-year average of six. A total of 394 people died in aviation accidents worldwide, up from 244 in 2024 and above the five-year average of 198.

According to IATA, the most common incidents in 2025 included tail strikes, landing gear failures, runway excursions, and ground damage.

Expanding conflict zones also pose growing risks for aviation safety. Armed conflicts often force airlines to reroute flights, increasing operational complexity. Recent disruptions linked to the outbreak of conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran illustrate these pressures.

Despite these challenges, aviation remains one of the safest forms of transport. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said that accidents remain extremely rare and that continued improvements depend on international safety standards and stronger data sharing across the industry.

He noted that the long-term safety trend continues to improve. A decade ago, the global rate was one fatal accident for every 3.5 million flights between 2012 and 2016. Today, the rate has improved to one fatal accident for every 5.6 million flights between 2021 and 2025.

Henoc Dossa