2024: A year of tragic air accidents

KATHMANDU, JANUARY 2: The year 2024 was a particularly tragic year for civil aviation internationally. There were numerous major plane crashes, resulting in significant loss of human life.

Two days before the end of 2024, on December 29th, a plane carrying 181 passengers crashed in Muan, South Korea, claiming the lives of 179 people. Two individuals were rescued alive from the wreckage by security personnel.

The aircraft, returning from Bangkok, had 181 people on board, including six crew members. The Jeju Air plane crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, about 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul. It skidded off the runway and collided with a concrete wall.

Prior to this, on December 25th, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ 190 AR aircraft crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan, resulting in the deaths of 38 people. These two major crashes in the latter half of the year resulted in the loss of 217 lives. Prominent figures, including Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Malian Vice President Colonel Assimi Goïta, also lost their lives in aviation accidents during 2024.

On May 20th, the Iranian president's helicopter crashed, and on June 11th, the Malian vice president's military plane met with an accident. As the new year, 2025, dawned, 2024 proved to be a tragic year for airlines. Numerous aircraft, including several large ones, crashed throughout the year.

In December alone, six major plane crashes occurred, resulting in the deaths of 234 people. The string of aviation accidents has raised serious questions about safety protocols and technical issues within the aviation sector. On December 22nd, a private plane crashed in the city of Gramado in southern Brazil, killing ten members of a single family, including the wife, three daughters, and other relatives of Brazilian businessman Luiz Claudio Gallezzi.

On December 24th, an Air Canada plane skidded off the runway during landing and caught fire. Also on December 22nd, a plane crashed in Papua New Guinea, killing all five people on board. An Islander 22 operated by North Coast Aviation crashed in Papua New Guinea on December 22nd.

In Argentina, a Bombardier Challenger 300 crashed near San Fernando Airport, killing both pilots. A Kamaka Air plane, operated by American airline Kamaka Air LLC, crashed near Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, also resulting in the deaths of both pilots. On August 9th, a plane crashed in Vinhedo, Brazil, killing all 62 people on board.

Nepal also experienced aviation tragedies in 2024. On July 24th, a Saurya Airlines plane crashed, resulting in the deaths of 18 people. On August 7th, an Air Dynasty helicopter crashed in the Shivapuri area of Kathmandu, claiming five lives. In 2023, a Yeti Airlines ATR-72 plane crashed, tragically killing all 72 people on board. This remains the deadliest domestic flight accident in Nepal's history.

Captain R.K. Sharma, Operational Director of Buddha Air, stated that while 2024 was a dismal year for aviation accidents globally, Nepal saw some improvements. He said, "For Nepal, 2024 can be considered a positive year. However, the continuous occurrence of major incidents towards the end of the year makes it a tragic year for aviation globally."

He believes that aviation safety in Nepal has improved. However, the Saurya Air and Air Dynasty helicopter accidents serve as a stark reminder of the need for airlines to focus on enhancing aviation safety and security, as well as improving managerial capabilities.

Globally, the number of air passengers has been steadily increasing in 2024. The rising demand for air travel has increased the pressure to strengthen safety and security measures alongside the industry's growth. Achyut Pahadi, an aviation expert, also considers 2024 a tragic year for aviation.

He stated, "There were major aviation accidents globally, and Nepal also witnessed the Saurya Airlines and Air Dynasty helicopter crashes. From this perspective, 2024 was not a favorable year for aviation. Not only accidents but also the significant loss of human life raises serious questions about aviation safety."

Former Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Sanjeev Gautam, stated that some aviation accidents in the final month of 2024 have created uncertainty within the aviation sector. He noted that aviation suffered significant losses as 2024 came to a close.

"While Nepal's aviation sector performed well, it was a tragic year globally," stated former Director-General Gautam. "Lessons must be learned from these accidents, and the government and relevant stakeholders must focus on strengthening aviation safety."

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set a goal of zero human-caused fatal accidents by 2030. Currently, the number of air passengers is increasing annually by 10%. Citing data from the International Air Transport Association, former Director-General Gautam stated that the global number of air passengers has reached nearly five billion.

In 2019, the number of air passengers reached 4.5 billion. Gyanendra Bhul, Information Officer at the Civil Aviation Authority, stated that while the increase in air passengers is a positive sign, the aviation sector was disheartened by the occurrence of several aviation accidents in 2024.

"Compared to 2023, the number of accidents in Nepal in 2024 has improved. However, the high number of aviation accidents in the final months of the year globally has shaken the aviation sector," he said.

Information Officer Bhul stated that flight safety and passenger growth have been improving. The number of air passengers in Nepal has also been steadily increasing. According to the Authority's data, domestic air passenger numbers increased by 13%, and international air passenger numbers increased by 7.9% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

By November 2024, a total of 8,760,302 domestic air passengers had traveled. By November 2023, a total of 7.7 million air passengers had traveled. Similarly, by November 2024, the number of international air passengers reached 4,449,133.

According to the Authority, 108 aviation accidents have occurred in Nepal so far, resulting in the deaths of 959 people.

The first aviation accident in Nepal occurred in Simra in Baisakh 2012, when a Kalinga Air aircraft from India crashed. The two major plane crashes in South Korea and Kazakhstan towards the end of the year have cast a shadow over the entire aviation sector. These incidents raise serious questions about the safety of global air travel. It is reported that over 400 people died in major plane crashes in 2024. Experts state that most accidents are caused by adverse weather conditions and human error.