 "From tailstrikes to tragedy: A look back at 2024’s devastating aviation accidents")
While commercial air travel is widely recognised as the safest mode of transportation, with statistics showing that the likelihood of being involved in a plane crash is extremely low, the year 2024 has been a sobering reminder of aviation’s vulnerabilities.
According to the National Safety Council, the odds of dying in a plane crash are about 1 in 11 million. While this statistic offers solace to millions of air travellers, the year 2024 has witnessed several aviation mishaps that have shaken the world.
From severe air turbulence to crash landings, aviation in 2024 has been marked by unfortunate incidents, many of which have resulted in significant loss of life. While severe turbulence, such as that affecting the Singapore Airlines flight in May, is rare, most incidents this year occurred during the critical landing phase of flights.
Despite advancements in technology and safety protocols, the landing phase remains one of the most vulnerable points in aviation, with mishaps often linked to human error, mechanical failure and environmental challenges.
Tailstrikes
Tailstrikes occur when the rear of the aircraft contacts the runway during landing or takeoff. This often happens due to an excessive angle of descent or sudden manoeuvers, frequently exacerbated by pilot error.
Recent examples include the China Southern 787-9 tailstrike in October 2024 and the Air France A350-941 incident in January 2024. While tailstrikes rarely result in fatalities, they can cause structural damage, leading to expensive repairs and operational delays.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHard landings and veering off
Hard landings, such as Jeju Air’s catastrophic gear-up incident in December 2024, are often caused by poor weather, wind shear, bird strikes or misjudged descent rates. Aircraft veering off runways, as seen in Serve Air Cargo’s May 2024 mishap, are typically attributed to asymmetric braking, crosswinds or hydroplaning. These incidents pose significant risks to both the aircraft’s integrity and passenger safety.
Ground collisions
Ground collisions typically occur due to procedural lapses or poor visibility. Examples include the taxiway collision at Atlanta Airport in September 2024 and the January 2024 collision involving a Japan Airlines A350 at Haneda Airport.
Mechanical failures during approach or landing
Mechanical failures, such as landing gear malfunctions or brake system issues, can lead to emergencies. Notable cases include the Total Linhas Aéreas cargo fire in November 2024 and Transair’s runway overshoot in May 2024. These failures often point to gaps in maintenance practices and underscore the need for predictive technologies in aviation.
While the general statistics may offer comfort, 2024 has been marked by a series of significant aviation mishaps. The following incidents highlight some of the most tragic and impactful events in the aviation world this year:
December 29: Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 incident
A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 encountered a catastrophic gear-up landing at Muan Airport, South Korea, following its journey from Bangkok, Thailand. The aircraft skidded down runway 19 at high velocity, veering off the tarmac and striking a nearby wall. The collision caused the plane to break apart into multiple pieces and erupt in flames.
All of the 175 passengers and crew members perished except for two flight attendants seated near the rear of the aircraft in what has become one of the most tragic aviation disasters in recent years.
December 25: Azerbaijan Airlines flight J28243 tragedy
An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny with 67 individuals onboard, was forced to reroute to Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan due to severe weather conditions. The aircraft crashed during its landing attempt, resulting in the loss of 42 lives. The remaining 25 passengers survived, some with injuries.
November 25: DHL Cargo Plane crash
A Swiftair-operated DHL Boeing 737-400F, flying from Leipzig to Vilnius, was destroyed upon impact with the ground while approaching runway 19 at Vilnius International Airport. Among the five individuals onboard, one pilot tragically lost their life, while the other four sustained significant injuries but survived the accident.
November 24: Azimuth Airlines Sukhoi Superjet 100 incident
According to an AeroTime report, an Azimuth Airlines Sukhoi Superjet 100 experienced a severe landing mishap at Antalya Airport, Turkey after a routine flight from Sochi, Russia with 95 passengers onboard. The hard landing caused significant damage to the undercarriage, leading to a fuel leak that ignited a massive fire. Fortunately, all passengers and crew were safely evacuated without injuries.
November 9: Total Linhas Aereas Boeing 737-400F emergency landing
A Total Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737-400F conducted an emergency landing at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, Brazil, following a fire outbreak in its cargo hold. Both pilots escaped unharmed.
October 21: China Southern 787-9 Dreamliner tailstrike
A China Southern 787-9 Dreamliner sustained significant damage during a hard landing at Guangzhou-Baiyun International Airport after completing a flight from Shanghai. The tailstrike incident caused no injuries among passengers or crew.
October 20: Twin Otter crash in Indonesia
A SAM Air DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed while approaching Bumi Panua Pohuwato Airport in Indonesia, claiming the lives of all four occupants, including three crew members and one passenger. The aircraft, which departed from Gorontalo-Jalaluddin Airport for a brief journey, stalled and went down in a waterlogged field near its destination, leaving the plane completely destroyed.
October 18: Turkish Airlines Airbus tailstrike
A Turkish Airlines Airbus suffered a tailstrike during a landing attempt at Dublin Airport, Ireland.
September 10: Taxiway collision at Atlanta airport
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A350-900 made contact with an Endeavour Air (Delta Connection) Canadair CRJ-900 during taxiing. While most onboard both planes remained unharmed, a flight attendant on the CRJ sustained minor injuries.
September 9: Trigana Air runway incident
A Trigana Air ATR42 veered off the runway after aborting takeoff at Serui Airport, Indonesia. The aircraft, travelling between Biak and Jayapura, came to rest in soft terrain and shrubs beside the runway. It suffered severe damage though no injuries were reported.
August 9: Fatal Voepass Airlines ATR-72 crash
A Voepass Airlines ATR-72 crashed near Vinhedo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, after encountering extreme icing conditions. The pilots lost control resulting in a crash that claimed all 62 lives onboard including 58 passengers and four crew.
July 24: Saurya Airlines CRJ200 catastrophe
A Bombardier CRJ200 operated by Saurya Airlines crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Of the 19 people onboard, 18 perished, leaving the pilot as the sole survivor. Investigations raised concerns about the airline’s maintenance practices.
May 21: Singapore Airlines flight hits severe turbulence
A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER, en route from London to Singapore, encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin. One passenger suffered a fatal cardiac arrest and 30 others required hospitalisation. The flight made an emergency landing in Bangkok.
May 9: Transair Boeing 737-300 runway overshoot
At Dakar-Blaise Diagne International Airport, Senegal, a Transair Boeing 737-300 aborted its takeoff and overshot the runway. Ten individuals were injured and the aircraft sustained irreparable damage.
May 5: Serve Air Cargo runway overrun
A Serve Air Cargo Boeing 737-300 suffered a runway overrun at Kinshasa-N’djili International Airport, Congo. An engine failure during approach caused substantial damage to the aircraft.
March 20: Lightning strikes ANA Boeing 787-9
An All Nippon Airways Boeing 787-9 flying from Los Angeles to Tokyo sustained significant fuselage damage due to lightning strikes while descending toward Tokyo-Narita Airport.
January 24: Russian Ilyushin Il-76M disaster
A Russian Ilyushin Il-76M transport aircraft crashed in Belgorod, Russia, killing all 74 onboard, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Moscow accused Ukraine of shooting down the plane, making this the deadliest aviation accident of the year.
January 21: Air France A350-941 tailstrike
An Air France Airbus A350-941 experienced a tailstrike during a go-around at Toronto-Pearson International Airport.
January 18: Jetways Kenya Fokker 50 crash
A Jetways Kenya Fokker 50 transporting humanitarian aid for the UN World Food Programme crashed on landing at Ceelbarde Airstrip, Somalia. The crash killed one pilot, seriously injured one person and caused minor injuries to two others.
January 10: United Airlines tailstrike incident
A United Airlines Boeing 737-900ER suffered a tailstrike during landing at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport after a flight from Phoenix.
January 5: Alaska Airlines rapid decompression
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 returned to Portland after its left mid-exit door plug detached mid-flight, causing rapid decompression. Eight passengers and crew members suffered minor injuries.
January 5: Flybondi tailstrike at Mar del Plata
A Flybondi Boeing 737-800 sustained substantial rear fuselage damage after a tailstrike during landing at Mar del Plata International Airport, Argentina. Despite the damage, the aircraft taxied to the apron normally.
January 2: Deadly collision at Haneda airport
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport witnessed a collision between a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft. While all 379 passengers on the commercial flight were safely evacuated, five crew members aboard the Coast Guard plane lost their lives.
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