A recent study conducted by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found that flights are safer than ever before. The study analyzed global passenger and fatality data between 2018 and 2022, showing that deaths on planes dropped by an average of 7 per cent year over year. The trend of continuous improvement in air safety started in 1968, with the death rate falling by 7.5 per cent annually.
The study also categorized countries into three tiers based on air safety records, with Tier 1 countries having the lowest risk of fatalities. The fatality risk is 36 per cent higher in Tier 3 countries, but fatalities are still decreasing overall. The researchers estimate that approximately 4,760 people died from contracting COVID-19 on a flight during the pandemic period from March 2020 to December 2022.
Despite the new risk of COVID-19 transmission, the study found that passenger safety improved significantly during this time. The researchers acknowledge the challenges in estimating the exact number of deaths due to COVID-19 on flights, as passengers who contracted the virus could have spread it to others. However, they believe that their lower-end parameter estimates may overestimate the actual number of deaths.
Overall, the study highlights the remarkable safety of air travel today, with a one in 13.7 million chance of a passenger dying onboard an aircraft globally. The researchers emphasize that despite ongoing challenges such as technical issues with aircraft, the safety of air travel continues to improve.
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