Global airlines carried nearly 5 billion passengers in 2025, marking the busiest year in aviation history, while the number of accidents declined compared with the previous year, according to the latest global safety data released by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). However, despite improvements in overall accident and fatal accident rates, the number of fatalities increased, highlighting the continuing challenge of preventing rare but catastrophic aviation accidents as global demand for air travel continues to grow.
The data cover scheduled commercial air transport involving airplanes with a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) of more than 5,700 kilograms and were published in ICAO’s latest Safety Report. The report monitors progress under the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan, which provides a framework for Member States, regional organizations and industry stakeholders to develop and implement strategies aimed at strengthening international civil aviation safety.
In 2025, commercial airlines carried approximately 5 billion passengers on 38 million flights, both figures higher than those recorded in 2024. At the same time, the total number of accidents declined from 95 in 2024 to 85 in 2025 according to Airlines. ICAO Council President Toshiyuki Onuma said the results demonstrate that aviation can and must continue to become safer even as more people take to the skies. He attributed the progress to decades of collaboration among States and industry stakeholders to identify risks, learn from accidents, strengthen regulatory oversight and improve aviation safety worldwide.
Accident rate falls as airlines’ travel continues to expand
One of the clearest indicators of aviation safety performance is the global accident rate, which measures the number of accidents per one million flight departures. In 2025, the rate improved from 2.6 to 2.2 accidents per million departures from airlines, representing a decline of nearly 13 percent. The improvement indicates that airlines operated more flights while recording fewer accidents overall.
The most significant progress was recorded in the area of fatal accidents. The number of fatal accidents fell sharply from 10 in 2024 to four in 2025, while the fatal accident rate declined by 60 percent, from 0.27 to 0.11 fatal accidents per million departures. The reduction is particularly important because ICAO’s global safety strategy focuses not only on reducing the overall number of accidents but also on preventing the types of accidents most likely to result in loss of life. Achieving zero fatalities in international aviation resulting from accidents and acts of unlawful interference is one of the three key aspirations outlined in ICAO’s Strategic Plan.
Fatalities rise in airlines despite decline in fatal accidents
Despite the reduction in the number of fatal accidents, total aviation fatalities increased from 296 in 2024 to 387 in 2025. The fatality rate of airlines, measured as the number of deaths per billion passengers carried, also rose from 65 to 78. ICAO said the increase was largely driven by a small number of highly catastrophic accidents, with one accident alone accounting for 260 fatalities and significantly influencing the overall annual total.
The figures of the airlines highlight one of the central challenges facing modern aviation safety. Although the airline industry has made substantial progress in reducing the frequency of accidents, the rare catastrophic events that result in large-scale loss of life remain difficult to eliminate. ICAO said preventing such incidents continues to be a major priority for the global aviation community.
High-risk accident categories remain a major safety priority for airlines
ICAO continues to focus its global safety efforts on accident categories that have historically resulted in the greatest loss of life. These categories, identified in the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan as Global High-Risk Categories of Occurrences, include Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), Loss of Control in Flight (LOC-I), Mid-Air Collision (MAC), Runway Excursion (RE) and Runway Incursion (RI).
CFIT refers to incidents in which an otherwise functioning aircraft unintentionally flies into terrain, water or another obstacle, often without the crew being aware of the danger. Loss of Control in Flight occurs when pilots are unable to maintain control of the aircraft and, although such incidents are rare, they are often extremely severe.
Mid-Air Collision involves aircraft colliding or coming dangerously close to one another while airborne, while Runway Excursion occurs when an aircraft overruns the end of a runway or veers off its side during takeoff or landing. Runway Incursion involves an aircraft, vehicle, or person being incorrectly present on an active runway, creating the potential for a collision.
Together, these five categories accounted for more than half of all fatal accidents recorded in 2025. Loss of Control in Flight remained the category requiring the greatest ongoing attention, accounting for nearly one-third of fatal accidents within ICAO’s high-risk categories. Because such accidents from airlines can develop rapidly and leave little time for recovery, preventing them requires continuous investment in pilot training, aircraft systems, safety management and initiatives focused on human performance.
CFIT also remained a significant concern. Although only one CFIT accident was recorded in 2025, it accounted for more than 10 percent of all fatalities worldwide. The data reinforce the longstanding pattern that CFIT accidents are relatively infrequent but can have catastrophic consequences when they occur. ICAO said continued attention to terrain-awareness technology, flight crew situational awareness and operational safeguards will remain essential to further reducing the risk of such accidents.
Four accidents from airlines associated with mid-air collisions in 2025 accounted for nearly 15 percent of all fatalities worldwide, making the category one of the most lethal when such accidents occur. The findings underscore the importance of collision-avoidance technologies, air traffic management systems, and safe separation between aircraft in increasingly busy and complex airspace. With air traffic expected to continue expanding and new entrants such as drones and advanced air mobility vehicles being integrated into the airspace system, managing collision risks will remain a critical global safety priority.
Runway incursion accidents fall to zero
The ICAO report also highlighted significant progress in runway safety. No runway incursion accidents involving commercial air transport and airlines were recorded in 2025, a development that reflects the impact of improvements in airport procedures, technology, communication systems and pilot awareness. The achievement is aligned with the objectives of ICAO’s Global Runway Safety Action Plan.
However, ICAO stressed that the aviation industry and airlines must continue building on this progress. Seven runway excursion accidents were recorded during the year, including one that resulted in fatal injuries. The airlines’ figures show that while progress has been made in preventing certain types of runway accidents, continued investment and vigilance remain necessary to address the broader range of risks associated with aircraft operations on and around runways.
Global safety oversight continues to improve
Beyond accident statistics, ICAO also evaluates the effectiveness of national aviation authorities in overseeing aviation safety. This assessment is carried out through the organization’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme, which examines whether States have the laws, regulations, inspectors, technical expertise, oversight systems and State Safety Programmes necessary to ensure safe aviation operations.
According to the airlines report, global safety oversight performance continued to improve in 2025, with the worldwide average score reaching 69.8 percent. The number of States meeting ICAO’s target level of safety oversight also increased. However, the report identified several areas that continue to require attention, including resolving identified safety issues, maintaining sufficient numbers of qualified technical personnel, and conducting effective ongoing safety surveillance and inspections. ICAO said strengthening these areas within national civil aviation regulatory authorities is essential because strong safety oversight systems play a vital role in identifying risks and preventing accidents before they occur.
ICAO calls for data-driven action to close the gap to zero fatalities
ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar said data-driven findings allow States to intensify their focus on areas where evidence reveals the greatest risks or gaps. He reaffirmed ICAO’s commitment to providing targeted capacity building, technical assistance and implementation support to help States achieve measurable improvements in aviation safety.
The findings presented in the latest Safety Report provide ICAO Member States with important insights into the implementation of the Global Aviation Safety Plan. The data will help national and regional safety authorities identify priority areas requiring greater attention and may lead to updates to national and regional aviation safety strategies. ICAO said the continued cycle of reporting, analysis, monitoring and action will be essential to further reducing aviation risks and closing the gap toward the goal of zero fatalities.
The International Civil Aviation Organization is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for supporting safe, secure and sustainable air transport. It brings together 193 Member States to develop and adopt international Standards and Recommended Practices that provide the global framework for civil aviation. Through technical guidance and implementation support, ICAO works to strengthen global connectivity while advancing the goals of zero fatalities and net-zero carbon emissions in international aviation.
