AAIB publishes Annual Safety Review 2024

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published its Annual Safety Review which provides an overview of occurrences notified to the AAIB in 2024 as well as the safety action taken or planned in response to AAIB investigations concluded in 2024.

• The AAIB received 762 occurrence notifications (compared to 790 in 2023) and opened 20 field investigations. A further 57 investigations were opened by correspondence
• The AAIB provided support to 53 new overseas investigations where there was a UK interest.
• There were 10 investigations into fatal accidents which involved 11 deaths. All involved General Aviation (eight light aircraft, two gliders).
• In 2024, the AAIB published final reports on 36 field investigations and 65 correspondence investigations and 160 record only investigations.
• The Branch made 20 Safety Recommendations and 103 significant Safety Actions were taken proactively by the industry in 2024 as a direct result of AAIB investigations.

The Annual Safety Review also contains an article on the categorisation of events reported on by the AAIB in 2024, it highlights some of the safety themes emerging from investigations into passenger transport events, General Aviation fatal accidents and Unmanned Aircraft System events reported to AAIB in 2024.

Crispin Orr, Chief Inspector of Air Accidents said “Commercial aviation remains one of the safest forms of public transport, with global accident rates continuing their long-term decline. Nevertheless, major accidents in Japan, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Korea in 2024 serve as a sobering reminder that safety must never be taken for granted. Thorough investigations into accidents and serious incidents continue to be needed to uncover remaining vulnerabilities.”

Further comments from the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents can be found in the report foreword.

The Annual Safety Review is available for download below or on the AAIB website.