Africa recorded the highest aviation accident rate in 2025, raising renewed concerns among global aviation regulators and safety experts about infrastructure challenges, accident investigation gaps, and operational risks across the continent.
This revelation was contained in the 2025 Annual Safety Report released by the International Air Transport Association, which highlighted persistent safety challenges affecting aviation operations in Africa despite modest improvements in accident numbers compared with the previous year.
According to the report, Africa recorded seven aviation accidents in 2025, a drop from 11 incidents in 2024. However, the continent still posted the highest aviation accident rate globally, with 7.86 accidents per million flights, significantly above the global average.
The findings underscore the complex safety environment facing African aviation operators, particularly in areas such as runway safety management, turboprop aircraft operations, and slow accident investigation processes.
Africa records highest aviation accident rate amid turboprop incidents
The report noted that turboprop aircraft were involved in a majority of the accidents recorded in Africa, accounting for about 71 percent of all incidents involving African operators during the period under review.
Experts say turboprop aircraft are widely used across the continent because they are well suited for short-haul routes and airports with limited infrastructure. However, the aircraft type has also been linked to a higher share of operational incidents compared with jet aircraft.
Many of the accidents were associated with runway excursions and other end-state events, situations where aircraft veer off the runway during landing or takeoff. In some cases, limited data and incomplete reporting prevented investigators from accurately classifying the exact causes of the incidents.
While the accident rate remains high, the report acknowledged that Africa’s overall accident rate in 2025 was still below the region’s five-year average of 9.37 per million flights, suggesting some gradual improvements in safety oversight and operational procedures.
Fatality risk rises despite fewer accidents
Despite the reduction in the number of accidents, the report revealed a troubling increase in fatality risk across African aviation operations.
Africa’s fatality risk rose sharply from zero in 2024 to 2.19 per million flights in 2025, driven largely by the turboprop-related incidents recorded during the year.
Globally, the aviation industry recorded 51 accidents among 38.7 million flights in 2025, slightly lower than the 54 accidents reported in 2024. However, the number of fatal accidents increased to eight in 2025, leading to 394 onboard fatalities, compared with 244 fatalities the previous year.
Despite these figures, aviation remains the safest form of long-distance travel worldwide.
Regional comparison shows Africa trailing
Compared with other regions, Africa’s aviation safety performance remains significantly weaker.
According to the IATA report:
- The Asia-Pacific region recorded six accidents in 2025, down from seven in 2024, with a fatality risk of 0.15 per million flights.
- Europe recorded 11 accidents, improving slightly from 12 in 2024, while maintaining zero fatality risk.
- Latin America and the Caribbean recorded five accidents, with fatality risk declining to 0.26 per million flights.
- North America reported 16 accidents, up from 14 the previous year, with a fatality risk of 0.21 per million flights.
- The Middle East and North Africa region recorded one accident with no fatalities.
- North Asia also recorded one non-fatal accident, keeping fatality risk at zero.
These comparisons highlight the gap between Africa and other aviation markets in terms of operational safety performance.
Infrastructure challenges worsen accident outcomes
Speaking on the findings, IATA Director General Willie Walsh emphasised the role of airport infrastructure and runway environments in determining the severity of aviation accidents.
According to him, several accidents in Africa became fatal due to rigid obstacles located near airport runways, which significantly worsened the outcomes of otherwise survivable incidents.
Walsh urged regulators and airport operators to review runway safety areas and surrounding infrastructure to ensure compliance with international safety standards.
“Aviation safety does not end with aircraft operations,” he explained. “Airport infrastructure and runway environments play a critical role in accident outcomes.”
He stressed that removing obstacles near runways and improving safety zones could significantly reduce the severity of accidents across the region.
Weak accident investigation systems highlighted
Another major concern raised in the report is the slow pace of accident investigations in Africa.
Only 19 percent of accident reports in Africa were completed in accordance with Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention, the international standard governing aviation accident investigations.
This figure is significantly lower than investigation completion rates in other regions. For example:
- The Commonwealth of Independent States achieved an 81 percent completion rate
- North America recorded 78 percent
According to Walsh, incomplete or delayed accident reports limit the aviation industry’s ability to learn from incidents and implement safety improvements.
“Accident investigation helps us improve safety, but many reports are not published in a timely or accessible way,” he said.
He called for greater global cooperation and support to strengthen Africa’s accident investigation capabilities.
Emerging risks from conflict zones and navigation interference
Beyond operational and infrastructure challenges, the report also warned about emerging aviation safety threats, particularly those arising from geopolitical conflicts and technological interference.
IATA highlighted the growing risk posed by Global Navigation Satellite System interference, which can disrupt aircraft navigation systems and potentially mislead pilots during critical phases of flight.
Walsh stressed that governments must ensure that civil aircraft are never exposed to risks from military activities, whether deliberate or accidental.
He urged authorities to improve civil–military coordination and information sharing, especially during periods of geopolitical tension, to help airlines carry out effective risk assessments.
Industry pushes for stronger safety oversight
Aviation experts say addressing Africa’s high accident rate will require a combination of infrastructure upgrades, stronger regulatory oversight, better pilot training, and faster accident investigations.
Industry stakeholders also emphasise the need for African governments to invest more heavily in airport infrastructure and safety management systems, while ensuring that aviation regulators enforce global standards consistently.
Despite the challenges highlighted in the report, IATA reiterated that the long-term goal of the aviation industry remains zero accidents and zero fatalities.
For Africa, achieving that goal will require sustained commitment from governments, airlines, regulators, and international aviation bodies working together to improve safety standards across the continent.
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