Data

Airline accident statistics, checked against official sources

A free register of 171 airline accidents and serious incidents, from 1972 to 2026. Each row gives the date, aircraft, people aboard and deaths, where established in official reports or statements. Level 0 news pages are excluded, and unknown counts remain unknown.

Updated 31 October 2026. Download CSV or JSON (free to reuse under CC BY 4.0).

Read this first. This is not every airline accident. It covers incidents documented by official reports or statements, so the totals describe this register, not world aviation, and they can't be turned into accident rates.

Accidents in the register
171
With at least one death
95
Total deaths
10,279
With no deaths
74

95 of the 169 accidents with a confirmed death count (56 percent) killed at least one person. The other two are left out of the death totals because no count is confirmed: Emirates EK524, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. 93 of the deaths were people on the ground.

The deadliest accidents in the register

The ten accidents with the most deaths, from the official reports.

RankAccidentDateDeathsOccupants
1KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 173627 March 1977583644
2Japan Airlines Flight 12312 August 1985520524
3Turkish Airlines Flight 9813 March 1974346346
4Air India Flight 18223 June 1985329329
5Saudia Flight 16319 August 1980301301
6Malaysia Airlines Flight 1717 July 2014298298
7Iran Air Flight 6553 July 1988290290
8American Airlines Flight 19125 May 1979273271
9Pan Am Flight 10321 December 1988270259
10American Airlines Flight 58712 November 2001265260

Accidents by decade

The register is weighted by which accidents have a full public report, so a decade with more rows is not necessarily a more dangerous one.

DecadeAccidentsWith deathsDeaths
1970s881,801
1980s19182,532
1990s20192,065
2000s27191,604
2010s49161,205
2020s48151,072

How the accidents break down

By type of event

Type of eventAccidentsWith deathsDeaths
Loss of control in flight26232,218
Engine failure or power loss1810852
Aircraft systems or flight controls183279
Weather, icing or turbulence176519
Collision or near collision147929
Structural failure or decompression1351,141
Runway overrun or excursion128467
Flight into terrain1210943
Fire or explosion1181,063
Landing short or hard landing105139
Security, shootdown or deliberate act761,513
Not established72133
Fuel exhaustion or fuel emergency5283
Disappearance1n/aNot confirmed

By region

RegionAccidentsWith deathsDeaths
North America55392,852
Middle East and Africa38101,058
Europe31202,672
Asia27172,001
Open ocean94783
Oceania82485
South America33428

By phase of flight

Phase of flightAccidentsWith deathsDeaths
Approach and landing65382,183
Takeoff and climb56344,710
En route47233,386
Not established300

Type is the primary event type we assign to each account. An accident can involve more than one.

The full register

Every entry, newest first. Select a name for the sourced account; the last column links to its official report or statement. News-only Level 0 accounts are excluded.

DateAccidentOperatorAircraftOccupantsDeathsOfficial report
30 September 2026flydubai Flight FZ1073flydubaiBoeing 737-8 MAX1720flydubai
6 September 202621 Air Flight 759821 Air, operating cargo service for AmazonBoeing 767-33A freighterNot stated5 (5 on the ground)National Transportation Safety Board
15 April 2026Southwest Flight 2392Southwest Airlines CoBoeing 737-8Not stated0NTSB
1 April 2026Link Airways Saab 340 VH-VEFVEE H Aviation PTY LTD., operating as Link AirwaysSaab 340BNot stated0Australian Transport Safety Bureau
22 March 2026Air Canada Express Flight 8646Jazz Aviation, operating as Air Canada ExpressCRJ900 (CL-600-2D24)762National Transportation Safety Board
19 March 2026JetBlue Flight 1245JetBlue Airways CorpAirbus A320-2321640National Transportation Safety Board
12 November 2025Sharp Airlines Flight 161Sharp AirlinesFairchild Industries SA227-DC10ATSB
4 November 2025UPS Airlines Flight 2976UPS AirlinesMcDonnell Douglas MD-11F315 (12 on the ground)The NTSB main tables list 14 deaths; the 15th person died 51 days later.National Transportation Safety Board
30 October 2025Airbus A319 G-EUPSNot named in the AAIB reportAirbus A319-1311380AAIB
3 October 2025Boeing 737-800 9H-QBDScheduled passenger airline; operator not named in the AAIB reportBoeing 737-8001770AAIB
29 September 2025Air Tahiti VT807Air TahitiATR72-212A440BEA
20 August 2025Air France A320 F-HBNJAir FranceAirbus A320-2141490Five people were seriously injured in turbulence.BEA
26 July 2025American Airlines Flight 3023American AirlinesBoeing 737-8, MAX 81750National Transportation Safety Board
24 July 2025Angara Airlines Flight 2311Angara AirlinesAntonov An-24RV4848Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK)
12 June 2025Air India Flight 171Air IndiaBoeing 787-8242260 (19 on the ground)Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, India
22 April 2025G-CRUXUnnamed commercial passenger operatorBoeing 737-8Not stated0Air Accidents Investigation Branch
6 February 2025Emirates EK73EmiratesAirbus A380-861Not stated0UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
29 January 2025American Eagle Flight 5342PSA Airlines, operating as American Airlines / American EagleCRJ700 (CL-600-2C10)6467Includes the three crew of the Army helicopter.National Transportation Safety Board
29 December 2024Jeju Air Flight 2216Jeju AirBoeing 737-800181179BEA, France
7 October 2024Ameriflight N130GPUAS Transervices, doing business as AmeriflightBeech C99 cargo aircraft11NTSB
1 September 2024Air New Zealand ATR 72 ZK-MVLAir New ZealandATR72-212A-600740TAIC
21 May 2024Singapore Airlines 321Singapore Airlines, scheduled passenger flightBoeing B777-300ER2291Transport Safety Investigation Bureau, Singapore
3 May 2024JSX Flight 284Delux Public Charter, doing business as JSX AirEmbraer EMB-145LR240National Transportation Safety Board
8 February 2024G-ONEECargo airline; operator not named in the AAIB reportBoeing 747-433 freighter50AAIB
25 January 2024Batik Air 6723Batik Air IndonesiaAirbus A3201590Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi (KNKT)
5 January 2024Alaska Airlines Flight 1282Alaska Airlines; scheduled Part 121 passenger serviceBoeing 737-9, a member of the 737 MAX family1770NTSB
2 January 2024Japan Airlines Flight 516Japan Airlines and Japan Coast GuardAirbus A350-941 and Bombardier DHC-8-3153855Collision with a Coast Guard aircraft. All five deaths were Coast Guard crew; all 379 aboard the airliner survived.JTSB
4 December 2023Emirates EK421EmiratesAirbus A380-8614900UAE GCAA, Air Accident Investigation Sector
7 September 2023Bearskin Airlines Flight 4330Perimeter Aviation LP, operating as Bearskin AirlinesFairchild SA227-DC Metro 23100TSB
13 June 2023Air New Zealand Flight 8199Air New ZealandDe Havilland Canada DHC-8-311 (Q300)360TAIC
19 May 2023Etihad A6-ETPEtihad AirwaysBoeing B777-3FXER3660UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
29 April 2023Wizz Air Abu Dhabi A6-WZGWizz Air Abu DhabiAirbus A321-271NX2150UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
10 March 2023Gulf Air Flight GF504Gulf AirBoeing 787-91930UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
2 March 2023WestJet Encore flight 3532WestJet Encore Ltd.Bombardier DHC-8-402780Transportation Safety Board of Canada
30 June 2022Emirates UAE94GEmiratesAirbus A380-8425290UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Air Accident Investigation Sector
21 March 2022China Eastern 5735China Eastern Yunnan AirlinesBoeing 737-800132132CAAC
9 January 2022Emirates EK524Emirates AirlinesEK524: Boeing 777-31H(ER). EK568: Boeing 777-36N(ER).498Not confirmedThe summary report gives 187 people aboard EK524 and 311 aboard EK568 but states no fatality or injury total.UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
19 December 2021Emirates Flight EK231EmiratesBoeing 777-300ER3720UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
28 September 2021Etihad ETD2333Etihad AirwaysBoeing 787-92350The summary report gives no injury total; the aircraft stopped on the runway without damage or casualties.UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
21 July 2021flydubai A6-FER and Gulf Air A9C-NCflydubai and Gulf AirBoeing 737-800 and Airbus A321-2002400Two aircraft: 124 aboard the flydubai 737-800 and 116 aboard the Gulf Air A321.UAE GCAA AAIS
17 January 2021Emirates EK957EmiratesBoeing 777-31HER640UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
9 January 2021Sriwijaya Air Flight 182PT Sriwijaya AirBoeing 737-5246262Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi (KNKT)
7 August 2020Air India Express Flight 1344Air India Express LimitedBoeing 737-80019021Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, India
6 June 2020Etihad Flight EY9878Etihad AirwaysBoeing B787-1030UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
22 May 2020Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303Pakistan International AirlinesAirbus A320-2149998 (1 on the ground)Aircraft Accident Investigation Board of Pakistan
2 February 2020Emirates Flight UAE216EmiratesAirbus A380-8613610UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Air Accident Investigation Sector
16 January 2020Emirates Flight EK763EmiratesAirbus A380-8615260UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
8 January 2020Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752Ukraine International AirlinesBoeing 737-800176176Iran Aircraft Accident Investigation Board
15 July 2019Vistara 944VistaraAirbus A320 251N1620Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, India
10 July 2019Emirates UAE449EmiratesAirbus A380-8614070UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
5 May 2019Aeroflot 1492Aeroflot, PJSCRRJ-95 (RRJ-95B model)7841Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK)
10 March 2019Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302Ethiopian AirlinesBoeing 737-8 MAX157157Ethiopian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau
23 February 2019Atlas Air Flight 3591Atlas Air Inc.; cargo flight for Amazon.com Services LLCBoeing 767-375BCF33National Transportation Safety Board
29 October 2018Lion Air Flight 610PT Lion Mentari Airlines, Lion AirBoeing 737-8 MAX189189Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi
20 September 2018Saudia HZ-AS55Saudia AirlinesAirbus A320-2141260UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
17 April 2018Southwest Airlines Flight 1380Southwest AirlinesBoeing 737-7H41491National Transportation Safety Board
5 March 2018Etihad A6-EIFEtihad AirwaysAirbus A320-232820Air Accident Investigation Sector, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority
30 September 2017Air France Flight 66Air FranceAirbus A380-861, four Engine Alliance GP7270 engines5210BEA
27 September 2017Etihad A6-DDEEtihad AirwaysBoeing B777-200FFX41UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
8 August 2017flydubai Flight 81flydubaiBoeing B737-8KN350UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
7 July 2017Air Canada Flight 759Air CanadaAirbus A320-2111400NTSB
9 November 2016Emirates A6-EDQEmiratesAirbus A380-8613720UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
27 September 2016Etihad A6-ETLEtihad AirwaysBoeing 777-3FXER3520UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
3 August 2016Emirates Flight 521EmiratesBoeing 777-31H3001 (1 on the ground)UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
19 March 2016flydubai Flight 981Dubai Aviation Corporation, trading as flydubaiBoeing 737-8KN6262Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK)
25 November 2015Etihad A6-EIYEtihad AirwaysAirbus A320-232920UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Air Accident Investigation Sector
24 September 2015Shaheen Air AP-BJRShaheen Air InternationalBoeing 737-4001560UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Air Accident Investigation Sector
13 September 2015Emirates Flight 806EmiratesAirbus A380-8001860Air Accident Investigation Sector, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority
12 September 2015Rotana Jet A6-RRARotana Jet AviationEmbraer EMB-145MP140UAE GCAA AAIS
29 June 2015Etihad A6-EYNEtihad AirwaysAirbus A330-2432120UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
14 April 2015Asiana Flight 162Asiana Airlines, Inc.Airbus A320-200810Japan Transport Safety Board
29 March 2015Air Canada Flight 624Air CanadaAirbus A320-2111380Transportation Safety Board of Canada
24 March 2015Germanwings Flight 9525GermanwingsAirbus A320-211150150BEA
15 February 2015flydubai A6-FDCflydubaiBoeing 737-80000The aircraft was parked at the gate and no crew or passengers had boarded.UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
4 February 2015TransAsia Airways Flight 235TransAsia AirwaysATR72-212A (ATR72-600)5843Aviation Safety Council
28 December 2014Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501PT. Indonesia AirAsiaAirbus A320-216162162KNKT
22 October 2014Emirates A6-EMJEmiratesBoeing 777-21H (ER)Not stated0The summary report reports no fatalities or injuries and gives no occupant total.UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
4 October 2014Emirates EK609EmiratesAirbus A330-243820UAE GCAA AAIS
17 July 2014Malaysia Airlines Flight 17Malaysia AirlinesBoeing 777-200298298Dutch Safety Board
27 March 2014Qantas VH-OQLQantas Airways LimitedAirbus A380-8425030UAE GCAA AAIS
8 March 2014Malaysia Airlines Flight 370Malaysia AirlinesBoeing 777-200ER239Not confirmedAircraft not located. The 2018 report states no survivors or bodies were found and injuries could not be established.Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370
18 January 2014Etihad A6-EIDEtihad AirwaysAirbus A319Not stated0UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Air Accident Investigation Sector
6 December 2013flydubai A6-FEBFlydubaiBoeing 737-80020UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
14 August 2013UPS Flight 1354UPSAirbus A300-600F (A300 F4-622R)22National Transportation Safety Board
6 July 2013Asiana Airlines Flight 214Asiana AirlinesBoeing 777-200ER3073NTSB
3 February 2013Etihad A6-EHFEtihad AirwaysAirbus A340-6002950UAE GCAA AAIS
16 November 2012Etihad A6-EIIEtihad AirwaysAirbus A320-232760UAE GCAA AAIS
30 January 2012Etihad A6-EYEEtihad AirwaysAirbus A330-2432270UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
2 December 2011Emirates A6-EMREmiratesBoeing 777-3002490UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
18 October 2011Boeing 777 A6-ETCScheduled passenger airline; operator name unstatedB777-300ER150UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
1 April 2011Southwest Flight 812Southwest AirlinesBoeing 737-3H41220National Transportation Safety Board
5 March 2011Emirates A6-EMHEmiratesBoeing 777-200Not stated0The summary report reports no fatalities and gives no occupant total.UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
14 February 2011Emirates flight EK203EmiratesBoeing 777-300ER3610UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
4 November 2010Qantas Flight 32QantasAirbus A380-8424690Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
3 September 2010UPS Flight 6United Parcel Service (UPS)Boeing 747-44AF22UAE General Civil Aviation Authority
8 August 2010Emirates A6-EWCEmiratesBoeing 777 - 200LR2870UAE GCAA Air Accident Investigation Sector
25 January 2010Ethiopian Flight 409Ethiopian AirlinesBoeing 737-8009090Republic of Lebanon Ministry of Public Works and Transport
21 October 2009Northwest Flight 188Northwest AirlinesAirbus A320 212Not stated0National Transportation Safety Board
21 October 2009Sharjah B707 ST-AKWAzza Air TransportBoeing 707-330C66UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Air Accident Investigation Sector
1 June 2009Air France Flight 447Air FranceAirbus A330-203228228Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA)
23 March 2009FedEx Flight 80Federal Express CorporationMcDonnell Douglas MD-11F22Japan Transport Safety Board
25 February 2009Turkish Airlines Flight 1951Turkish AirlinesBoeing 737-8001359Dutch Safety Board
12 February 2009Colgan Air Flight 3407Colgan Air, as Continental Connection flight 3407Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400)4950 (1 on the ground)NTSB
15 January 2009US Airways Flight 1549US AirwaysAirbus A320-2141550National Transportation Safety Board
20 December 2008Continental Flight 1404Continental AirlinesBoeing 737-5001150National Transportation Safety Board
7 October 2008Qantas Flight 72Qantas Airways; scheduled passenger transportAirbus A330-3033150ATSB
20 August 2008Spanair Flight 5022SpanairMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82)172154CIAIAC
25 July 2008Qantas 30Qantas Airways LtdBoeing Company 747-4383690Australian Transport Safety Bureau
17 January 2008British Airways Flight 38British AirwaysBoeing 777-236ER1520Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)
17 July 2007TAM Flight 3054TAM Linhas Aéreas S/AAirbus A-320187199 (12 on the ground)CENIPA
27 August 2006Comair Flight 5191Comair, Inc. (Delta Connection)Bombardier CL-600-2B19 (CRJ-100)5049National Transportation Safety Board
8 December 2005Southwest Airlines Flight 1248Southwest AirlinesBoeing 737-7H41031 (1 on the ground)National Transportation Safety Board
14 August 2005Helios Airways Flight 522Helios AirwaysBoeing 737-31S121121AAIASB
2 August 2005Air France Flight 358Air FranceAirbus A340-3133090Transportation Safety Board of Canada
14 October 2004Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701Pinnacle Airlines, doing business as Northwest AirlinkBombardier CL-600-2B19 (CRJ-200)22National Transportation Safety Board
8 January 2003Air Midwest Flight 5481Air Midwest, doing business as US Airways ExpressRaytheon (Beechcraft) 1900D2121National Transportation Safety Board
1 July 2002Bashkirian Airlines 2937 and DHL 611BFU identifies passenger charter BTC 2937 and cargo flight DHX 611; company names are not supplied in its aircraft-identification sections.Tupolev TU154M and Boeing B757-2007171Mid-air collision of two aircraft: 69 aboard the Tupolev and two pilots on the Boeing.BFU
24 November 2001Crossair 3597CrossairAVRO 146-RJ1003324Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of Switzerland
12 November 2001American Airlines Flight 587American AirlinesAirbus A300-605R (official designation A300B4-605R)260265 (5 on the ground)National Transportation Safety Board
8 October 2001SAS 686SAS, scheduled passenger flight SK 686Boeing MD-87 and Cessna 525-A114118 (4 on the ground)Runway collision of an MD-87 (110 aboard) and a Cessna (4 aboard).ANSV
24 August 2001Air Transat Flight 236Air TransatAirbus A330-2433060GPIAA, Portugal
31 October 2000Singapore Airlines Flight 006Singapore Airlines LimitedBoeing 747-412B17983Aviation Safety Council, Taiwan
25 July 2000Air France Flight 4590Air FranceConcorde109113 (4 on the ground)BEA
31 January 2000Alaska Airlines Flight 261Alaska AirlinesMcDonnell Douglas MD-838888National Transportation Safety Board
31 October 1999EgyptAir Flight 990EgyptAirBoeing 767-366ER217217National Transportation Safety Board
1 June 1999American Airlines Flight 1420American AirlinesMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82)14511National Transportation Safety Board
2 September 1998Swissair Flight 111Swissair Transport LimitedMcDonnell Douglas MD-11229229Transportation Safety Board of Canada
19 December 1997SilkAir Flight 185SilkAirBoeing 737-300104104Indonesia National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC)
6 August 1997Korean Air Flight 801Korean Air Company, Ltd.Boeing 747-3B5B (747-300)254228National Transportation Safety Board
2 October 1996Aeroperu Flight 603AeroperuBoeing 757-2007070Peru, Comision de Investigacion de Accidentes
17 July 1996TWA Flight 800Trans World AirlinesBoeing 747-131230230NTSB
6 July 1996Delta Air Lines Flight 1288Delta Air Lines Inc.McDonnell Douglas MD-88, with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines1422National Transportation Safety Board
11 May 1996ValuJet Flight 592ValuJet Airlines, Inc.McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32110110National Transportation Safety Board
6 February 1996Birgenair Flight 301Birgenair, flying a charter for Alas NacionalesB-757-225189189Junta Investigadora de Accidentes Aereos (JIAA), Dominican Republic
20 December 1995American Airlines Flight 965American AirlinesBoeing 757-223163159Aeronautica Civil, Colombia
31 October 1994American Eagle Flight 4184Simmons Airlines, Incorporated, doing business as American EagleAvions de Transport Regional model 72-212 (ATR 72)6868National Transportation Safety Board
8 September 1994USAir Flight 427USAirBoeing 737-3B7 (737-300)132132National Transportation Safety Board
2 July 1994USAir Flight 1016USAir, Inc.Douglas DC-9-315737National Transportation Safety Board
14 September 1993Lufthansa Flight 2904Deutsche LufthansaAirbus A320-211702Main Commission Aircraft Accident Investigation Warsaw
20 January 1992Air Inter 148Air InterAirbus A320-1119687Commission d'enquête, BEA
3 March 1991United Airlines Flight 585United AirlinesBoeing 737-291 Advanced2525National Transportation Safety Board
10 June 1990British Airways Flight 5390British Airways PlcBAC One-Eleven Series 528FL870AAIB
14 February 1990Indian Airlines 605Indian AirlinesAirbus A-320-23114692Court of Inquiry, Justice K. Shivashankar Bhat; Government of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation
25 January 1990Avianca Flight 52AviancaBoeing 707-321B15873National Transportation Safety Board
19 July 1989United Airlines Flight 232United AirlinesMcDonnell Douglas DC-10-10296112The account counts 112 deaths overall; the report classifies 111 as fatal injuries.National Transportation Safety Board
24 February 1989United Airlines Flight 811United AirlinesBoeing 747-1223559National Transportation Safety Board
8 January 1989British Midland Flight 92British Midland Airways LtdBoeing 737-40012647AAIB
21 December 1988Pan Am Flight 103Pan American World AirwaysBoeing 747-121259270 (11 on the ground)UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch
31 August 1988Delta Flight 1141Delta Air Lines, Inc.Boeing 727-23210814NTSB
3 July 1988Iran Air Flight 655Iran AirAirbus A-300B2-202290290The US Department of Defense report gives about 290 people aboard and no list of deceased, and does not state how many died. Everyone aboard is counted as killed, as the aircraft was destroyed in the air.US Department of Defense
26 June 1988Air France 296Air FranceAirbus A 320-1001363French Commission of Inquiry / BEA
28 April 1988Aloha Airlines Flight 243Aloha Airlines, flight 243Boeing 737-297, in the 737-200 series951National Transportation Safety Board
16 August 1987Northwest Airlines Flight 255Northwest Airlines, Inc.McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82)155156 (2 on the ground)NTSB
19 October 1986Mozambique Presidential Tu-134 C9-CAAPeople's Republic of Mozambique, with a Soviet flight deck crewTupolev 134A-34434One passenger classed as seriously injured died on 5 January 1987 and is not in the board count of 34.South African Department of Transport, Board of Inquiry chaired by C. S. Margo
22 August 1985British Airtours Flight 28MBritish AirtoursBoeing 737-236 series 113755Air Accidents Investigation Branch
12 August 1985Japan Airlines Flight 123Japan Air Lines Co., Ltd.Boeing 747SR-100524520Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission, Japan
2 August 1985Delta Flight 191Delta Air LinesLockheed L-1011-385-1163137 (1 on the ground)Includes one motorist and two passengers who died later.National Transportation Safety Board
23 June 1985Air India Flight 182Air IndiaBoeing 747-237B329329Government of India, Court of Investigation, Justice B.N. Kirpal
23 July 1983Air Canada Flight 143Air CanadaBoeing 767, fleet number 604690Canadian Board of Inquiry, Mr. Justice George H. Lockwood
2 June 1983Air Canada Flight 797Air CanadaMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-324623National Transportation Safety Board
9 July 1982Pan Am Flight 759Pan American World Airways, Inc.Boeing 727-235145153 (8 on the ground)National Transportation Safety Board
13 January 1982Air Florida Flight 90Air Florida, flight 90Boeing 737-2227978 (4 on the ground)National Transportation Safety Board
19 August 1980Saudia Flight 163Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia)Lockheed L-1011301301Saudi Arabia Presidency of Civil Aviation
28 November 1979Air New Zealand 901Air New Zealand LimitedMcDonnell-Douglas DC10-30257257Royal Commission of Inquiry, New Zealand
25 May 1979American Airlines Flight 191American Airlines, Inc.McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10271273 (2 on the ground)National Transportation Safety Board
28 December 1978United Airlines Flight 173United AirlinesMcDonnell-Douglas DC-8-6118910National Transportation Safety Board
27 March 1977KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736KLM and Pan American World AirwaysKLM Boeing 747-206 B and Pan Am B-747-121644583Two aircraft: 248 aboard the KLM and 396 aboard the Pan Am. Includes nine later deaths.Spanish accident investigation, official CIAIAC publication
24 June 1975Eastern Air Lines Flight 66Eastern Air Lines, Inc.Boeing 727-225124113National Transportation Safety Board
3 March 1974Turkish Airlines Flight 981Turkish Airlines (THY), TK 981McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10346346French Commission of Inquiry
29 December 1972Eastern Flight 401Eastern Air Lines, Inc.Lockheed L-1011-385-1176101Includes two people who died more than seven days later.National Transportation Safety Board
18 June 1972British European Airways Flight 548British European Airways (BEA)Trident I118118Accidents Investigation Branch, Department of Trade and Industry

How the figures are built

  • Source. Occupants and deaths come from the final report of the investigation authority. Where a report is still pending, the figure is the latest official statement and the row is marked in the account.
  • Deaths. Total deaths include people on the ground and people who died later of their injuries, as the report counts them. Where reports differ on the rule, the row carries a note. Why death counts differ between sources.
  • Checked twice. Each death count is checked against the account and against the separate classification table behind our incident filters. The site build stops if the two disagree.
  • Not included. Accidents we have not written up, general aviation, and military flights.

Using the data

The CSV and JSON files are released under CC BY 4.0. You can copy, share and build on them, including commercially, if you credit the source. Suggested credit: Airline accident register, AirlineIncidents.com (https://airlineincidents.com/statistics/), figures from the cited investigation reports. The underlying facts come from public investigation reports; each row links to its report so you can check it. Rows based on NTSB reports: Courtesy National Transportation Safety Board.

Questions

How many people died in the accidents covered here?

The 169 accidents with a confirmed death count killed 10,279 people in total, including 93 on the ground. 95 accidents had at least one death and 74 had none. This describes our register, not all aviation.

What is the deadliest airline accident in the register?

KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736 on 27 March 1977, with 583 deaths. Deaths aboard both aircraft count toward the one accident.

Is this every airline accident?

No. It holds the accidents we have documented from a published investigation report. Many accidents are missing, so the totals are not worldwide figures and should not be used to calculate accident rates.

Why do some totals include people on the ground?

Investigation reports count people killed on the ground as deaths from the accident. We follow the report and show the ground deaths separately. More on why counts differ.

Where do the numbers come from?

From the investigation authority's own report, such as the NTSB, BEA, AAIB or JTSB. Each row links to that report and to our account, which cites it page by page.

Can I reuse the data?

Yes. The CSV and JSON files are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 if you credit AirlineIncidents.com.

Cite or link to this data

Using these figures? You are free to, under CC BY 4.0. Credit AirlineIncidents.com with a link to this page.

Credit line

AirlineIncidents.com. Airline accident statistics from official reports. Published 16 October 2026. https://airlineincidents.com/statistics/

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