2024 ends as it began: Aviation safety is emphasized

Less than a week into 2024, it’s clear that aviation safety will be the main topic of the year.

On January 2, one A Japan Airlines Airbus A350 crashed into a DHC Dash-8 of the Japan Coast Guard landing at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, killing five of the six crew members on the Coast Guard plane. The A350 crashed onto the runway and caught fire, but miraculously all 367 passengers and 12 crew members died. was able to evacuate only a small number of minor injuries were reported. This is the first major accident involving the A350 since the aircraft entered service in 2015.

A few days later, a “door socket” fell out of one Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 departs from Portland International Airport (PDX)causing explosive decompression in the cabin as the plane flew past 16,000 feet. The plane returned safely to PDX with no passengers suffering serious physical injuries despite the traumatic experience.

Both incidents sparked lengthy discussions about safety in the commercial aviation industry, where statistics show that for many people the safest form of transportation is. Evacuation of Japanese Airlines takes an alarmingly long timeAlthough the actions of the crew, the willingness of passengers to follow regulations and leave their hand luggage behind, and the composite materials used to construct the fuselage all contributed to the positive outcome.

Meanwhile, the Boeing incident has sparked fresh scrutiny of the long-troubled company after bolts used to hold door latches in place failed. was discovered missing. the crisis begins caused by the incident many investigationsfemale Fire top executives and refit it quality control and safety processes And frustration among airlines around the world. It also leads to months of intense public focus on aviation safetywith many routine events and precautionary incidents making headlines and attracting news cameras (e.g., “emergency landings” out of an abundance of caution without endangering those on board ).

Now, as the year comes to a close, safety is back in the spotlight after two terrifying and tragic episodes that ended much worse than those at the beginning of the year.

Last week, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 jet flew from Baku, Azerbaijan to Grozny, Russia crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan after rbelieved to have been hit by Russian anti-aircraft fireoperating in the context of the country’s ongoing war with Ukraine. The plane was diverted from its flight plan due to interference with its navigation system, another aspect of Russia’s air warfare. Of the 67 people on the plane, 38 died.

Then on Sunday, one Jeju Air flight from Bangkok crashed upon landing at Muan International Airport in Korea. Video shows the Boeing 737-800 skidding across the end of the runway without its landing gear, flaps or speed brakes extended, before crashing into a wall and bursting into flames. Two flight attendants were reported to have survived seriously injured, while all 179 people remaining on the plane died.

It is unclear what caused the accident. Reports suggest that The plane crashed into a bird during initial approach, although that in itself does not explain the disastrous landing.

Both incidents are likely to have consequences well into the new year.

US airlines and most European airlines are avoiding Russian airspace amid the conflict, both as a result of sanctions and in the interest of safety. This one does creates challenges for airlines was looking to connect the US and Europe with Asia, and many airlines have since adjusted their networks.

However, many Asian and Middle Eastern airlines continue to fly through Russian regions, including Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways. As the conflict continues to develop and airlines continue to assess risks, it is possible that flight routes will change, either temporarily or permanently, which could affect the viability of some routes .

As the investigation into the Jeju Airlines crash continues, the results may result in changes in certain procedures or practices, within the airline, among all Korean airlines. Nationally or globally. As commercial aviation becomes safer, with backups and redundancies for almost everything, it often takes a lot for something to go wrong to cause a fatal crash. In other words, it is likely that the investigation will uncover many other factors.

One thing is certain, however: All eyes are once again on the aviation industry and what can be done to make it even safer.