Airlines - 1-11-.1.1
Airlines - 1-11-.1.1
Commercial Jet
Airplane Accidents
Worldwide Operations | 1959‑2023
August 2024
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Table of Contents
Leadership Message
Leadership Message 3 Regional Statistics 15
2023 Statistical Summary 2023 Statistical Summary 4 Asia and Pacific (APAC) 16
2023 Airplane Accidents 2023 Airplane Accidents 5 Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAF) 17
Accident Rate and Departure Trends by Decade 6 Europe and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) 18
Accident Summaries
and Rates Accident Summary by Injury and Damage 7 Middle East (MID) 19
Departures, Flight-Hours and Jet Airplanes in Service 8 North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACC) 20
CAST/ICAO Common
Taxonomy Team Aviation
Accident Summary by Type of Operation 9 South America (SAM) 21
Occurence Categories
Accident Rates and Onboard Fatalities by Year 10 Western and Central Africa (WACAF) 22
Fatalities
Accident Rates by Airplane Type 11 About This Document 24
Regional Statistics CAST/ICAO Common Taxonomy Team Aviation Occurrence Categories 12 Definitions 25
Fatal Accidents and Fatalities by Phase of Flight 14 Referenced ICAO and NTSB Definitions 30
Definitions and Terms
Contents
Leadership Message
Leadership Message
In 2023, there were no recorded fatalities among the airplane operations that Boeing tracks for this Statistical
Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents – a first since we started collecting data in 1959.
2023 Statistical Summary
This report – our 55th annual – shows that accident rates continue to decline to historic lows, despite air traffic
nearly returning to pre-pandemic levels. Total accident numbers are also declining, in addition to accident rates.
2023 Airplane Accidents For example, over the last two decades, we’ve seen total accidents drop by about 30%; hull losses drop by nearly
50%; and fatal accidents drop by 60%.
Accident Summaries
2023 was one of the safest years on record. But when it comes to the safety of air travel, we know – as an
and Rates
industry and as a company – that we can never be complacent.
CAST/ICAO Common That stark reminder happened in January 2024, when a door plug departed the left side of a 737-9. Thankfully,
Taxonomy Team Aviation the skilled pilots and cabin crew brought the airplane and everyone on board safely back to the ground.
Occurence Categories
Boeing took immediate containment actions to ensure the safety and quality of our 737-9s. We then developed
and have been implementing a comprehensive plan to strengthen our safety management, quality assurance and
Fatalities safety culture, based on extensive feedback from our regulator, employees, customers and independent experts.
By listening and learning, we’ve made improvements, including better training for our employees, broader use
Regional Statistics
of our Safety Management System, and stronger encouragement for employee reporting of product safety and
quality hazards.
About This Document
Elisabeth Martin While we remain focused on these efforts and more, we are also continuing our engagement with customers,
Vice President, Enterprise Safety and Mission Assurance regulators and other stakeholders around the globe. The demand for air travel continues to grow, as do our
Definitions and Terms Product and Services Safety industry efforts to ensure it remains the safest form of transportation.
Boeing teams have engaged more than 200 airline operators in supporting, developing and implementing
solutions that further strengthen the safety of the global air transportation system. We’re also taking in
operational data from the fleet to evaluate the assumptions made during initial aircraft design, address any
risks associated with outdated assumptions and inform future designs.
It takes transparency, collaboration and humility in our never-ending drive to prevent aviation accidents.
3 At Boeing, we remain committed to doing our part along this journey.
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Leadership Message
4
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
2023 Airplane Accidents
Leadership Message
Worldwide Commercial Jet Fleet
Mbuji-Mayi,
A320
1/29/23 FlyCAA Sched Pax Democratic Republic Initial Climb A portion of the left-hand elevator departed the airplane after takeoff. There were no injuries. Substantial None
(14)
of Congo
Accident Summaries
A320 Houston, The airplane sustained a tail strike during landing and received substantial damage. The airplane rolled out
and Rates 3/22/23 United Airlines
(17)
Sched Pax
United States
Landing
without any further incident and taxied to the apron. There were no injuries.
Substantial None
717 Charlotte, The airplane sustained substantial damage when the nose landing gear did not extend before landing.
CAST/ICAO Common 6/28/23 Delta Air Lines
(23)
Sched Pax
United States
Landing
There were no injuries.
Substantial None
767-300 Washington, D.C., After takeoff, a landing gear disagree indication occurred. The airplane landed safely after performing an air
8/3/23 United Airlines Sched Pax Landing Substantial None
(22) United States turnback. Postflight inspection discovered substantial damage. There were no injuries.
737-800 Santa Ana, The airplane sustained damage when the left main landing gear collapsed after landing on the runway.
8/20/23 Alaska Airlines Sched Pax Landing Substantial None
Fatalities (15) United States There were no injuries.
DHL
767-300 The airplane suffered substantial damage during a hard landing that caused the fuselage skin to wrinkle.
9/18/23 International Sched Cargo Beirut, Lebanon Landing Substantial None
(24) There were no injuries.
Aviation ME
Regional Statistics 737-800 Stansted, The airplane received substantial damage to the leading edge of the wing after impacting a catering truck
10/4/23 Ryanair Sched Pax Taxi Substantial None
(13) United Kingdom while taxiing. There were no injuries.
757-200 Chattanooga, The airplane returned to land after the failure of its left hydraulic system. The landing gear failed to extend
10/4/23 FedEx Sched Cargo Landing Substantial None
(36) United States and airplane sustained substantial damage during the emergency landing. There were no injuries.
About This Document
Total
11 0 0
Accidents
5
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Accident Rate Accident Rates per One Million Departures and Total Departures, Decade View
5 400
and Departure
Departures
Leadership Message All accident rate
Hull loss rate
Fatal accident rate
Trends by
4 320
2023 Statistical Summary
Accident Summaries
and Rates Worldwide Commercial Jet Fleet
1974‑2023 2 160
CAST/ICAO Common
Over the past five decades, statistics show
Taxonomy Team Aviation
that accident rates continue to decline 1 80
Occurence Categories
even though air travel continues to grow
worldwide. Between the last two decades,
Fatalities data shows the following trends:
0 0
1974-1983 1984-1993 1994-2003 2004-2013 2014-2023
• Accident rate: 45% decline
Regional Statistics
• Hull loss rate: 58% decline
6
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Accident 1959‑2023
Leadership Message
Summary by 1,499 Nonfatal accidents
2023 Statistical Summary
Injury and 70% 515 with hull loss
2,134
897 with substantial damage
2023 Airplane Accidents
Damage total
accidents
87 without substantial damage
2014‑2023
Fatalities
Regional Statistics
251 Nonfatal accidents
279 161
23
with substantial damage
without substantial damage
Definitions and Terms total
accidents
10% 28 Fatal accidents
Note: “Hull loss” and the terms here refer to the severity of damage
7 an airplane incurs from an accident.
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2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Departures, Departure and Flight-Hours (millions) Flight-hours Departures
Flight-Hours
80
Leadership Message
70 71.5 million flight-hours
1,814 million flight-hours
04
08
06
05
09
20
07
22
23
10
14
18
16
15
19
12
21
13
17
11
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
In 2023, passenger traffic continued to
rebound worldwide and nearly returned
Fatalities
to pre-pandemic numbers. The worldwide Commercial Airplanes in Service (thousands) Worldwide fleet Boeing fleet
airplane fleet and commercial air traffic are
Regional Statistics expected to continue to grow over the next 30
29,061
two decades. total airplanes
25
About This Document
20
0
*Certified jet airplanes greater than 60,000 pounds (27,216 kilograms) maximum
04
08
06
05
09
20
07
22
23
gross weight, including those in temporary nonflying status and those in use by
10
14
18
16
15
19
12
21
13
17
11
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
non-airline operators. Excluded are commercial airplanes operated in military
8 service and CIS/USSR/PRC-manufactured airplanes.
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Accident Type of Operation All Accidents Fatal Accidents Onboard Fatalities
(External Fatalities)*
Hull Loss Accidents
Leadership Message
Summary by Passenger
1959‑2023
1,704
2014‑2023
230
1959‑2023
510
2014‑2023
24
1959‑2023
29,643
2014‑2023
1,066
1959‑2023
757
2014‑2023
63
2023 Statistical Summary
Type of – Scheduled 1,580 226 463 23
(810)
25,446
(19)
995 686 62
Operation
2023 Airplane Accidents (806) (19)
Regional Statistics
9 *External fatalities include on-ground fatalities as well as fatalities on other aircraft involved.
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Accident Rates Accident Rates and Onboard Fatalities per One Million Departures
50 1,500
and Onboard
Onboard fatalities
Leadership Message All accident rate
Hull loss accident rate
Fatal accident rate
Fatalities
40 1,200
2023 Statistical Summary
Accident Summaries
and Rates Worldwide Commercial Jet Fleet
20 600
1959‑2023
CAST/ICAO Common
The first decade of the jet age saw
Taxonomy Team Aviation
dramatic improvements in fatal accident 10 300
Occurence Categories
rates. Since then, safety advancements
across the industry have helped continue
Fatalities the downward trend. In fact, there were
zero fatal accidents in 2023 – the first 0 0
00
04
08
06
02
20
22
10
14
80
84
60
64
18
90
94
16
88
68
86
66
98
12
96
82
62
92
70
74
78
76
72
year without a fatal accident since data
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
Regional Statistics collection began in 1959.
10
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Accident Rates by Airplane Type
Leadership Message
Hull Loss Accidents | Worldwide Commercial Jet Fleet | 1959‑2023
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Contents
CAST/ICAO Common Taxonomy Team Aviation
Leadership Message
Occurrence Categories
2023 Statistical Summary
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Commercial The CICTT Aviation Occurrence Taxonomy is designed to permit an
Aviation Safety Team (CAST), which includes government officials and assignment of multiple categories as necessary to describe the accident
2023 Airplane Accidents aviation industry leaders, have jointly chartered the CAST/ICAO Common or incident. Since 2001, the Occurrence Validation Study Group (OVSG),
Taxonomy Team (CICTT). CICTT includes experts from several air formerly Safety Indicator Steering Group (SISG), has met annually to
carriers; aircraft manufacturers; engine manufacturers; pilot associations; assign CICTT occurrence categories to the prior year’s accidents.
Accident Summaries regulatory authorities; transportation safety boards; ICAO; and members
and Rates from Canada, the European Union, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the In a separate activity, the CAST assigned each fatal accident to a single
United Kingdom, and the United States. CICTT is co-chaired by one principal category. Those accident assignments and a brief description of
representative each from ICAO and CAST. the categories are reported in the following chart.
CAST/ICAO Common
Taxonomy Team Aviation
Occurence Categories The team is charged with developing common taxonomies and The CAST’s use of principal categories has been instrumental in focusing
definitions for aviation accident and incident reporting systems. industry and government efforts and resources on accident prevention.
Common taxonomies and definitions establish a standard industry Charts using principal categories are used by the CAST to identify changes
Fatalities language, thereby improving the quality of information and to historical risk and to help to determine if the safety enhancements put in
communication. With this common language, the aviation community’s place are effective.
capacity to focus on common safety issues is greatly enhanced.
Regional Statistics
For a complete description of the categories, go to
www.intlaviationstandards.org.
About This Document
12
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Fatalities by CICTT Aviation Occurrence Categories
Leadership Message
Fatal Accidents | Worldwide Commercial Jet Fleet | 2014‑2023
400
Fatalities
Regional Statistics
200
1
9
About This Document 157
122 35
0
4 0 3 7 0 5 1 0
71
12 0 0 5 0 0 1
Definitions and Terms 0
LOC-I SCF-NP RE FUEL CFIT ICE RAMP MAC CTOL RI-VAP OTHR SCF-PP
(RE, USOS, ARC)
8 2 5 1 1 1 3 1 1 3 1 1
LOC-I SCF-NP RE FUEL CFIT ICE RAMP MAC CTOL RI-VAP OTHR SCF-PP
(RE, USOS, ARC)
13 Note: Principal categories as assigned by CAST. See “Definitions and Terms” for included and excluded event details. For a complete description of CAST/ICAO Common Taxonomy Team (CICTT) Aviation Occurrence Categories, go to www.intlaviationstandards.org.
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Fatal Accidents Percentage of Fatal Accidents and Onboard Fatalities | 2014‑2023
Taxi, load/
21% 43%
and Fatalities
unload,
Leadership Message parked, Initial Climb Initial Final
tow Takeoff climb (flaps up) Cruise Descent approach approach Landing
Exposure
Accident Summaries (percentage Initial Final
and Rates Worldwide Commercial Jet Fleet of flight time approach approach
estimated for a fix fix
2014‑2023 1.5-hour flight) 1% 1% 14% 57% 11% 12% 3% 1%
Onboard fatalities
Fatal accidents
and landing phases. 15 300
278
About This Document
10
10 200
174
Definitions and Terms
100
5 91 100
4 71
3 3 3
2 2
17 1
0 0 0
0 0
Taxi Takeoff Initial Climb Cruise Descent Initial Final Landing
load/unload, climb (flaps up) approach approach
parked,
14 tow
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Regional Statistics
Contents
Leadership Message
CAST/ICAO Common
Taxonomy Team Aviation
Occurence Categories
Fatalities
This section organizes accident data into
seven regions aligned with the ICAO’s
Regional Statistics
annual Safety Report. Each region is
different in terms of air travel growth rates, Asia and Pacific
About This Document operational profiles and other important (APAC)
factors, and the data is reflected with those
factors in mind. However, all regions share Western Middle East
Definitions and Terms one common trend – the continued decline and Central (MID)
in accident rates across recent decades. Africa
South
(WACAF)
America
Accident statistics are aligned with (SAM)
operators and their home state of operation. Eastern and
This regional data perspective provides Southern Africa
(ESAF)
additional safety data for ICAO members
as they develop and implement their global,
15 regional and national aviation safety plans.
The Boeing Company
ICE 0
Regional Statistics Percentage of Fatal Accidents and Onboard Fatalities | 2014‑2023
LOC-I 3 14% 42%
Taxi, load/
unload,
About This Document MAC 0 parked, Initial Climb Initial Final
tow Takeoff climb (flaps up) Cruise Descent approach approach Landing
RI-VAP 0
Exposure
SCF-NP 0 (percentage Initial Final
of flight time approach approach
estimated for a fix fix
SCF-PP 0 1.5-hour flight) 1% 1% 14% 57% 11% 12% 3% 1%
16
Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% because of numerical rounding.
The Boeing Company
ICE 0
Regional Statistics Percentage of Fatal Accidents and Onboard Fatalities | 2014‑2023
LOC-I 0 0% 0%
Taxi, load/
unload,
About This Document MAC 0 parked, Initial Climb Initial Final
tow Takeoff climb (flaps up) Cruise Descent approach approach Landing
RI-VAP 0
Exposure
SCF-NP 1 (percentage Initial Final
of flight time approach approach
estimated for a fix fix
SCF-PP 0 1.5-hour flight) 1% 1% 14% 57% 11% 12% 3% 1%
17
Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% because of numerical rounding.
The Boeing Company
ICE 1
Regional Statistics Percentage of Fatal Accidents and Onboard Fatalities | 2014‑2023
LOC-I 1 16% 50%
Taxi, load/
unload,
About This Document MAC 0 parked, Initial Climb Initial Final
tow Takeoff climb (flaps up) Cruise Descent approach approach Landing
RI-VAP 1
Exposure
SCF-NP 0 (percentage Initial Final
of flight time approach approach
estimated for a fix fix
SCF-PP 0 1.5-hour flight) 1% 1% 14% 57% 11% 12% 3% 1%
18
Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% because of numerical rounding.
The Boeing Company
ICE 0
Regional Statistics Percentage of Fatal Accidents and Onboard Fatalities | 2014‑2023
LOC-I 2 0% 100%
Taxi, load/
unload,
About This Document MAC 0 parked, Initial Climb Initial Final
tow Takeoff climb (flaps up) Cruise Descent approach approach Landing
RI-VAP 1
Exposure
SCF-NP 0 (percentage Initial Final
of flight time approach approach
estimated for a fix fix
SCF-PP 0 1.5-hour flight) 1% 1% 14% 57% 11% 12% 3% 1%
19
Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% because of numerical rounding.
The Boeing Company
ICE 0
Regional Statistics Percentage of Fatal Accidents and Onboard Fatalities | 2014‑2023
LOC-I 2 33% 32%
Taxi, load/
unload,
About This Document MAC 0 parked, Initial Climb Initial Final
tow Takeoff climb (flaps up) Cruise Descent approach approach Landing
RI-VAP 0
Exposure
SCF-NP 1 (percentage Initial Final
of flight time approach approach
estimated for a fix fix
SCF-PP 1 1.5-hour flight) 1% 1% 14% 57% 11% 12% 3% 1%
20
Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% because of numerical rounding.
The Boeing Company
ICE 0
Regional Statistics Percentage of Fatal Accidents and Onboard Fatalities | 2014‑2023
LOC-I 0 66% 0%
Taxi, load/
unload,
About This Document MAC 0 parked, Initial Climb Initial Final
tow Takeoff climb (flaps up) Cruise Descent approach approach Landing
RI-VAP 1
Exposure
SCF-NP 0 (percentage Initial Final
of flight time approach approach
estimated for a fix fix
SCF-PP 0 1.5-hour flight) 1% 1% 14% 57% 11% 12% 3% 1%
21
Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% because of numerical rounding.
The Boeing Company
15.34
Fatal Accidents 14.11
11.85
CAST/ICAO Common CICTT Category 2014‑2023 10
Taxonomy Team Aviation
Occurence Categories CFIT 0 3.95
CTOL 0
0
Fatalities Accident rate Hull loss accident rate Fatal accident rate
FUEL 0
ICE 0
Regional Statistics Percentage of Fatal Accidents and Onboard Fatalities | 2014‑2023
LOC-I 0 0% 50%
Taxi, load/
unload,
About This Document MAC 1 parked, Initial Climb Initial Final
tow Takeoff climb (flaps up) Cruise Descent approach approach Landing
RI-VAP 0
Exposure
SCF-NP 0 (percentage Initial Final
of flight time approach approach
estimated for a fix fix
SCF-PP 0 1.5-hour flight) 1% 1% 14% 57% 11% 12% 3% 1%
22
Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% because of numerical rounding.
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
About This Document
Leadership Message
The accident statistics presented in this summary are confined to 2. Commercial airplanes operated in military service. (However, if a
worldwide commercial jet airplanes that are heavier than 60,000 military-owned commercial jet transport is used for civilian
2023 Statistical Summary pounds (27,216 kilograms) maximum gross weight. Within that set of commercial service, that data will be included in this summary.)
airplanes, there are two groups excluded:
Definitions and Terms Flight operations data for Boeing airplanes is developed internally from Readers may note that cumulative accident totals from year to year may
airline operator reports. Flight operations data for non-Boeing airplanes not exactly correlate with the expected change from the previous year’s
is compiled by Cirium. The source of jet airplane inventory data is accidents. This is a result of periodic audits of the entire accident history
Jet Information Services Inc. for updates to the data.
Accident data is obtained, when available, from government accident Definitions related to the development of statistics in this summary are
reports. Otherwise, information is from operators, manufacturers, various primarily based on corresponding ICAO, U.S. National Transportation
government and private information services, and press accounts. Safety Board (NTSB) and Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) terms, as
24 explained in the next section.
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2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Definitions
Leadership Message
Airplane Accident Excluded Events
2023 Statistical Summary An occurrence associated with the operation of an airplane that takes • Fatal and nonfatal injuries from natural causes.
place between the time any person boards the airplane with the intention
of flight and such time as all such persons have disembarked, in which: • Fatal and nonfatal self-inflicted injuries or injuries inflicted by
2023 Airplane Accidents other persons.
• The airplane sustains substantial damage. • Fatal and nonfatal injuries of stowaways hiding outside the areas
Accident Summaries normally available to the passengers and crew.
• Death or serious injury results from:
and Rates
• Nonfatal injuries resulting from atmospheric turbulence, normal
- Being in the airplane.
maneuvering, loose objects, boarding, disembarking, evacuation, and
CAST/ICAO Common - Direct contact with the airplane or anything attached thereto. maintenance and servicing.
Taxonomy Team Aviation - Direct exposure to jet blast.
Occurence Categories • Nonfatal injuries to persons not aboard the airplane.
25
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2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Definitions
Leadership Message
Excluded Events (continued) Destroyed
2023 Statistical Summary The following occurrences are not considered airplane accidents: The estimated or likely cost of repairs would have exceeded 50% of the
new value of the airplane had it still been in production at the time
• Those that are the result of experimental flight tests. (However, of the accident.
2023 Airplane Accidents
maintenance flight tests, ferry, positioning, training and demonstration
flights are not excluded.) Note: This definition is consistent with the FSF definition. NTSB defines
Accident Summaries “destroyed” as damaged due to impact, fire or in-flight failures to an extent
• Those that are the result of a hostile action, including sabotage, not economically repairable.
and Rates
hijacking, terrorism and military action.
Fatal Injury
CAST/ICAO Common Note: This is generally consistent with the ICAO and the NTSB definition
Taxonomy Team Aviation of an accident. (See the “Referenced ICAO and NTSB Definition” section.)
Any injury that results in death within 30 days of the accident.
Occurence Categories
The differences are:
Note 1: This is consistent with both the ICAO and the NTSB definitions.
Fatalities
1. The ICAO and NTSB references to “aircraft” were changed to
Note 2: External fatalities include on-ground fatalities as well as fatalities
“airplane” and references to propellers and rotors were eliminated.
on other aircraft involved.
Regional Statistics 2. This publication excludes events that result in nonfatal injuries from
atmospheric turbulence, normal maneuvering, etc.; nonfatal injuries
to persons not aboard the airplane; and any events that result from
About This Document
an experimental flight test or from hostile action, such as sabotage,
hijacking, terrorism and military action.
Definitions and Terms
Note: Within this publication, the term “accident” is used interchangeably
with “airplane accident.”
26
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2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Definitions
Leadership Message
Major Accident Serious Injury
2023 Statistical Summary An accident in which any of three conditions is met: An injury that is sustained by a person in an accident and that:
2023 Airplane Accidents • The airplane was destroyed. • Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing
within seven days from the date the injury was received.
• There were multiple fatalities.
• Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of
Accident Summaries • There was one fatality and the airplane was substantially damaged. fingers, toes or nose).
and Rates
Note: This definition is consistent with the NTSB definition. It also is • Causes severe hemorrhage, nerve, muscle or tendon damage.
CAST/ICAO Common generally consistent with FSF, except that the FSF definition specifies that
• Involves injury to any internal organ.
Taxonomy Team Aviation fatalities include only occupants of the airplane. ICAO does not normally
Occurence Categories define the term “major accident.” • Involves second- or third-degree burns or any burns affecting
more than 5% of the body surface.
Regional Statistics Note: This is generally consistent with the ICAO definition. It is also
consistent with the NTSB definition except for the last bullet, which is
not included in the NTSB definition.
About This Document
27
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2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Definitions
Leadership Message
Substantial Damage Note 1: This definition is generally consistent with the NTSB definition of
substantial damage except it (1) deletes the reference to “small puncture
2023 Statistical Summary Damage or failure that adversely affects the structural strength, holes in the fabric” and “ground damage to rotor or propeller blades,” and
performance, or flight characteristics of the airplane, and that would (2) deletes “damage to landing gear” from the list of items not considered
normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component. to be substantial damage.
2023 Airplane Accidents
Substantial damage is not considered to be: Note 2: ICAO does not define the term “substantial damage.” Still, the
Accident Summaries definition is generally consistent with the ICAO definition of damage or
and Rates • Engine failure or damage limited to an engine, structural failure contained within part (B) of the ICAO accident definition.
if only one engine fails or is damaged.
Note 3: Boeing does not consider damage to be substantial if repairs
CAST/ICAO Common • Bent fairings or cowlings. to an event airplane enable it to be flown to a repair base within 48 hours
Taxonomy Team Aviation of the event.
Occurence Categories • Dents in the skin.
• Damage to tires.
Regional Statistics
• Damage to flaps.
• Damage to brakes.
Definitions and Terms
• Damage to wingtips.
28
The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Boeing Terms*
Leadership Message
Accident Rates Hull Loss
2023 Statistical Summary In general, this expression is a measure of accidents per million departures. Airplane totally destroyed or damaged and not repaired. Hull loss also
Departures (or flight cycles) are used as the basis for calculating rates includes, but is not limited to, events in which:
because there is a stronger statistical correlation between accidents
2023 Airplane Accidents
and departures than there is between accidents and flight-hours, or • The airplane is missing. An aircraft is considered to be missing
between accidents and the number of airplanes in service, or between when the official search has been terminated and the wreckage
Accident Summaries accidents and passenger miles or freight miles. Airplane departures data has not been located.
and Rates is continually updated and revised as new information and estimating
processes become available. These form the baseline for the measure of • The airplane is completely inaccessible.
accident rates, and, as a consequence, rates may vary between editions
CAST/ICAO Common of this publication. State of Operation
Taxonomy Team Aviation
Occurence Categories Regional data is reported based on the ICAO member state that serves as
Airplane Collisions
the headquarters location of the operator involved in the accident.
Fatalities Events involving two or more airplanes are counted as separate events,
one for each airplane. For example, destruction of two airplanes in a
collision is considered to be two separate accidents.
Regional Statistics
Fatal Accident
About This Document
An accident that results in fatal injury.
29 *The terms on this page were created by Boeing for this publication and do not have corresponding equivalents in ICAO or NTSB.
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2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Referenced ICAO and NTSB Definitions
Leadership Message
Accident B. The aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which:
2023 Statistical Summary • Adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight
ICAO defines an “accident” as follows:
characteristics of the aircraft.
2023 Airplane Accidents Accident. An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft that, • Would normally require major repair or replacement of the
in the case of a manned aircraft, takes place between the time any person affected component, except for engine failure or damage, when
boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such the damage is limited to a single engine (including its cowlings
Accident Summaries persons have disembarked, or in the case of an unmanned aircraft, takes or accessories), to propellers, wingtips, antennas, probes,
and Rates place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of vanes, tires, brakes, wheels, fairings, panels, landing gear doors,
flight until such time as it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the windscreens, the aircraft skin (such as small dents or puncture
primary propulsion system is shut down, in which: holes), or for minor damages to main rotor blades, tail rotor
CAST/ICAO Common
blades, landing gear, and those resulting from hail or bird strike
Taxonomy Team Aviation A. A person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of: (including holes in the radome).
Occurence Categories
• Being in the aircraft. C. The aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible.
Fatalities • Direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which
have become detached from the aircraft. NTSB defines an “aircraft accident” as follows:
Regional Statistics • Direct exposure to jet blast, except when the injuries are from
Aircraft accident means an occurrence associated with the operation
natural causes, self-inflicted or inflicted by other persons, or when
of an aircraft that takes place between the time any person boards the
the injuries are to stowaways hiding outside the areas normally
About This Document aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked,
available to the passengers and crew.
and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the
aircraft receives substantial damage. For purposes of this part, the
Definitions and Terms definition of “aircraft accident” includes “unmanned aircraft accident,”
as defined in 49 CFR 830.2.
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The Boeing Company
2023 Statistical
Summary
Contents
Referenced ICAO and NTSB Definitions
Leadership Message
Safety Management System (SMS) NTSB defines “serious injury” as follows:
2023 Statistical Summary ICAO defines an “SMS” as follows: Serious injury means any injury that:
2023 Airplane Accidents An SMS is a systematic approach to managing safety, including 1. Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within
the necessary organizational structures, accountabilities, policies seven days from the date the injury was received.
and procedures. Visit www.icao.int/safety/SafetyManagement for
more information. 2. Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers,
Accident Summaries
toes or nose).
and Rates
Serious Injury 3. Causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle or tendon damage.
CAST/ICAO Common 4. Involves any internal organ.
ICAO defines “serious injury” as follows:
Taxonomy Team Aviation
Occurence Categories 5. Involves second- or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more
Serious injury. An injury that is sustained by a person in an accident
than 5% of the body surface.
and which:
Fatalities Substantial Damage
A. Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing
within seven days from the date the injury was received. NTSB defines “substantial damage” as follows:
Regional Statistics
B. Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of
fingers, toes or nose). Substantial damage means damage or failure that adversely affects the
About This Document structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft,
C. Involves lacerations that cause severe hemorrhage, nerve, and which would normally require major repair or replacement of the
muscle or tendon damage. affected component. Engine failure or damage limited to an engine if
Definitions and Terms only one engine fails or is damaged, bent fairings or cowling, dented
D. Involves injury to any internal organ. skin, small puncture holes in the skin or fabric, ground damage to rotor or
propeller blades, and damage to landing gear, wheels, tires, flaps, engine
E. Involves second- or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting
accessories, brakes, or wingtips are not considered “substantial damage”
more than 5% of the body surface.
for the purpose of this part.
F. Involves verified exposure to infectious substances or
injurious radiation. ICAO does not define the term “substantial damage.”
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2023
Statistical
Summary