According to official data, 19 aviation accidents occurred in Turkey in 2024, resulting in 16 fatalities. This figure marks the highest number of aviation accidents recorded in the past nine years.
Global Increase in Aviation Accidents Raises Concerns
2024 stood out as a year with a significant increase in aviation accidents worldwide. Major crashes in South Korea, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Iran, Canada, and Japan claimed the lives of 282 people in total, heightening concerns about air safety.
Data from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s Search and Coordination Center indicated a noticeable rise in aviation accidents in Turkey as well.
Turkey’s Most Significant Aviation Accidents of 2024
On December 9, 2024, two military helicopters collided mid-air during a training flight in Isparta due to rotor blade contact. The crash claimed the lives of six military personnel, including a brigadier general.
On November 24, 2024, a fire broke out on a plane landing at Antalya Airport. During the emergency evacuation operation, 95 passengers were rescued safely.
In September, a training plane owned by a private company crashed in Bursa, killing both pilots on board.
According to a report by Demirören News Agency, based on data from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, 87 aviation accidents occurred in Turkey between 2016 and 2024, resulting in a total of 86 fatalities.
2024: A Record Year for Aviation Accidents
Throughout this nine-year period, 745 people were rescued, and 39 were injured in various aviation accidents, including runway excursions and aircraft fires.
The report highlights 2024 as the year with the most aviation accidents, with 19 incidents. In these accidents, 478 people were rescued, 16 lost their lives, and 1 person was injured.
The World’s Most Severe Aviation Disaster of 2024
The most recent major aviation accident worldwide occurred on February 17, 2024, when a Delta Air Lines flight departing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, made a hard landing at Toronto’s main airport. The plane overturned after hitting the runway.
Although all 80 passengers survived, Delta officials reported that 21 people were injured.
With 2024 being a critical year for aviation safety both in Turkey and globally, experts emphasize the need for stricter measures to enhance flight safety.
