2024 ends how it started: With aviation safety in the spotlight

Less than a week into 2024, it has become clear that aviation safety will be a key theme for this year.

January 2nd, Japan Airlines Airbus A350 collides with Japan Coast Guard DHC Dash 8 Five of the six crew members of a Japan Coast Guard plane died while landing at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The A350 skidded off the runway and burst into flames, but miraculously all 367 passengers and 12 crew members survived. I was able to evacuate Only a few minor injuries were reported. This is the first major accident involving the A350 since it entered service in 2015.

A few days later,door plug“Falled from Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 departing from Portland International Airport (PDX)an explosive depressurization occurred in the cabin as the plane climbed 16,000 feet. Despite the traumatic experience, the plane returned to PDX safely without any serious injuries to the passengers.

Both incidents sparked a long debate about safety in civil aviation, which statistics show is the safest form of transport for many people. Japan Airlines evacuation It took a surprisingly long timeThat said, the behavior of the crew, the willingness of passengers to comply with regulations and check their carry-on baggage, and the composite material used to construct the aircraft’s hull all contributed to the positive result.

Meanwhile, the Boeing incident marks the beginning of new scrutiny for the company, which has had problems for years after a bolt that holds a door plug in place broke. was found to be missing. of the crisis has begun Due to the incident that triggered multiple surveys, Ouster of top management and its reconstruction Safety and quality control process and Dissatisfaction between airlines all over the world. It is also Airline safety has been the focus of public discourse for months.many routine and precautionary events make headlines and attract news cameras (for example, an “emergency landing” due to an abundance of caution that poses no danger to passengers).

As the year draws to a close, safety is once again in the spotlight following two horrifying and tragic events that resulted in far worse outcomes than at the beginning of the year.

Last week, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 flew from Baku, Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russia. It crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. after rReportedly hit by Russian anti-aircraft firewhich operated during the ongoing war with Ukraine. The plane deviated from its flight plan due to interference with its navigation system, another aspect of the Russian air war. Of the 67 people on board, 38 died.

Then on Sunday, Jeju Air flight crash from Bangkok Landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea. Video showed the Boeing 737-800 flying past the end of the runway with its landing gear, flaps and speed brakes not extended, before crashing into a wall and bursting into flames. There were two flight attendants. reported to have survived All 179 people on the plane died but were seriously injured.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. According to the report, the plane hit the bird However, that alone doesn’t explain the catastrophic crash landing.

Both incidents are likely to have an impact in the new year.

U.S. airlines and most European airlines have avoided Russian airspace during the conflict, both as a result of sanctions and for safety reasons. This includes posed challenges for airlines Aiming to connect Asia with the US and Europe, many airlines have since adjusted their networks.

Still, many Asian and Middle Eastern airlines continue to fly over parts of Russia, including Etihad Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways. As the conflict continues to evolve and airlines continue to assess risks, flight routes may be subject to temporary or permanent changes, which may impact the viability of some routes. there is.

As the investigation into the Jeju Air crash continues, its findings could lead to changes in certain procedures and practices within the airline, among all airlines in South Korea, or globally. Because commercial aviation is so much safer with backups and redundancies in everything, it typically takes a series of things going wrong to cause a fatal crash. In other words, the study is likely to uncover many other factors.

But one thing is for sure: all eyes are once again on aviation and what can be done to make it even safer.