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2024: A Tragic Year for Global Aviation with Rising Questions on Safety

2024: A Tragic Year for Global Aviation with Rising Questions on Safety

The year 2024 has been marked as a tragic chapter in global aviation history, witnessing numerous large-scale plane crashes resulting in significant loss of life. On December 29, just two days before the year’s end, a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 passengers crashed during landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea. The aircraft skidded off the runway and collided with a concrete barrier, claiming 179 lives while two survivors were rescued from the wreckage.

This incident followed a series of devastating crashes in December, including a December 25 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ 190 near Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport, which killed 38 people. In total, the two major crashes in late 2024 resulted in 217 fatalities.

Adding to the tragic tally, private and commercial aircraft accidents occurred globally, such as a December 22 crash in southern Brazil that killed 10 members of a family, including prominent businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi. The same day, a Papua New Guinea-bound Islander aircraft crashed, killing all five passengers. Additionally, the crash of an Air Canada flight during landing and other incidents further darkened December’s aviation safety record.

Nepal also faced aviation tragedies in 2024. On July 24, a Saurya Airlines flight crashed, resulting in 18 fatalities, and on August 7, an Air Dynasty helicopter crash near Shivapuri claimed five lives. Although these incidents were tragic, Nepal’s aviation sector witnessed improvements compared to the previous year, which saw the catastrophic Yeti Airlines ATR-72 crash that killed 72 people.

Rising Concerns Over Safety

The recurring aviation disasters in 2024 have raised concerns over safety protocols, technical issues, and operational management in the industry. Aviation experts have highlighted poor weather conditions and human error as major contributors to these tragedies. Former Director-General of Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, Sanjiv Gautam, stated, “While Nepal’s aviation sector has shown improvement, the global trend of major accidents in 2024 has been disheartening. These incidents demand a renewed focus on safety and technical efficiency.”

Buddha Air’s Operational Director, Captain R.K. Sharma, emphasized the need for continued vigilance in Nepal’s aviation sector, noting that while safety measures have improved, incidents like those involving Saurya Airlines and Air Dynasty highlight the necessity for robust aviation management.

Increased Air Traffic Amidst Challenges

Despite these tragedies, global air passenger numbers grew in 2024, with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) reporting nearly 5 billion passengers, up from 4.5 billion in 2019. In Nepal, domestic air traffic rose by 13%, and international passenger numbers increased by 7.9%.

Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) data showed that 8.76 million domestic passengers and 4.45 million international passengers traveled through Nepal’s airports by November 2024. The surge in air travel highlights the growing reliance on aviation, but it also places added pressure on safety and operational standards.

The Path Forward for Aviation Safety

ICAO has set a goal to eliminate fatal aviation accidents by 2030. However, the spate of accidents in 2024 has underscored the urgency of implementing stricter safety protocols and addressing the underlying causes of aviation disasters. As the year ends, stakeholders worldwide are called upon to take decisive action to ensure the safety of passengers and the sustainability of air travel.

2024 serves as a grim reminder that while aviation connects the world, its safety must remain paramount. Lessons from this year’s tragedies must guide efforts to create a safer and more reliable future for global air travel.

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