2017 was a tumultuous year by almost anyone’s standard. But, in terms of transportation safety, there was at least one bright spot. 2017 was the safest year on record for commercial passenger jet travel with zero accidental deaths.
The Aviation Safety Network said 2017 was “the safest year ever, both by the number of fatal accidents as well as in terms of fatalities.”
A Dutch-based aviation consulting firm cited several fatal accidents in its recently-released 2017 Civil Aviation Safety Review; however, the accidents involved small propeller planes, cargo jets and other air crafts that did not classify as commercial.
Over the last two decades aviation deaths around the world have been steadily falling. According to researchers, the chances of a plane being involved in a fatal accident is now one in 16 million.
Sources: reuters.com and independent.co.uk