The year 2024 has been marked by several tragic aviation incidents, with numerous plane crashes worldwide. The most recent disaster occurred on Wednesday morning, when an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed, claiming multiple lives. Other significant crashes, including the one in Brazil, have added to the devastating toll.
These incidents highlight the continuing challenges in aviation safety, making 2024 a particularly tragic year for the industry. Here’s a recap of some of the major aviation accidents of 2024:
Japan Airlines
In January, Japan Airlines Flight 516 collided with a De Havilland Coast Guard aircraft while landing in Tokyo, resulting in a deadly fire on the runway. The crash killed five people, although the 379 passengers and crew on board the commercial flight were safely evacuated.
Alaska Airlines
Also in January, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines experienced mid-air fuselage separation, forcing an emergency landing. The plane, en route from Oregon to California with 171 passengers and six crew members, landed safely without fatalities.
Russian Military Plane
A Ukrainian missile shot down a Russian military aircraft near Belgorod, which was transporting Ukrainian prisoners of war. The crash killed all 74 people on board, including six crew members and 65 Ukrainian troops.
Singapore Airlines Turbulence
In May, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 encountered some of the most severe turbulence the airline’s pilots had ever experienced. The incident caused one passenger to suffer a fatal heart attack, while over 40 others sustained serious injuries, including fractures and head trauma.
Brazil Plane Crash
In August, Brazil experienced one of its worst aviation disasters when a Voepass Airlines ATR-72 crashed near Vinhedo, São Paulo. The aircraft, flying from Cascavel to Guarulhos, crashed close to a residential area, killing all four crew members and 58 passengers. The crash triggered a fire that made victim identification more difficult.
Azerbaijan Plane Crash
In December, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed while en route from Baku to Grozny, near the Kazakh city of Aktau. The crash resulted in the deaths of many passengers, with only 32 survivors, according to Kazakhstan’s emergency ministry.