Flight Safety Foundation calling for ‘industrywide recommitment to safety fundamentals’

Alexandria, VA — Complacency and lapses in compliance with international standards, regulations and standard operating procedures are among the safety concerns facing the aviation industry, a new report from the Flight Safety Foundation says.

In the report, the foundation highlights high-profile incidents that have occurred so far this year, including the collision of a commercial airliner with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people on Jan. 29 in the nation’s capital.

“The report stresses that while these events remain rare, their frequency and severity in such a short period cannot be ignored,” the nonprofit says in a press release. “The foundation calls for an industrywide recommitment to safety fundamentals, urging regulators, air navigation service providers, airports, air operators and manufacturers to reinforce compliance as the first step toward rebuilding a resilient safety culture.

“From runway excursions and turbulence-related events to high-profile near misses and operations in conflict zones, the aviation sector must remain vigilant.”

Last year, 268 people were killed in airline incidents – the most since 2019, when 280 deaths were recorded, and more than double the 2023 total of 110.

The foundation has scheduled a webinar for 11 a.m. Eastern on March 12 to discuss its report and the safety challenges facing the industry.