EDITOR ’ S BRIEFING
Two catastrophic aviation incidents — the Azerbaijan Airlines disaster in Kazakhstan and the Jeju Air crash in South Korea — have reignited global concerns about air travel safety , highlighting the critical challenges faced by the aviation industry .
On December 25 , Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 , an Embraer E190 en route from Baku to Grozny , was diverted due to adverse weather conditions and crashed near Aktau , Kazakhstan , killing 38 of the 67 people on board . Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft was unintentionally downed by a Russian air defense system , bringing back unsettling echoes of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 , downed in Ukraine in 2014 .
Four days later , on December 29 , a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 , operating Flight 2216 from Bangkok to Muan International Airport , South Korea , crashed during landing , resulting in 179 fatalities out of 181 occupants . Preliminary investigations suggest that a bird strike occurred during approach . The aircraft attempted a belly landing , overshot the runway , and collided with a concrete structure . Notably , the flight data and cockpit voice recorders ceased recording four minutes before impact , complicating the investigation .
Both accidents stress the persistent risk posed by external threats . In the case of the Azerbaijan Airlines crash , it exposes vulnerabilities in global aviation safety standards and the management of areas of conflict . The industry must strive to ensure that no civilian flight is ever caught again in the crossfire of geopolitical strife .
On the other hand , the Jeju Air crash highlights the persistent risk of bird strikes , which can lead to critical system failures . Enhanced wildlife management around airports and improved aircraft resilience are essential to mitigate this risk .
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According to the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ), the global accident rate in 2023 was 0.80 accidents per million flights , reflecting a strong safety record , and the best results ever in the history of commercial aviation . However , these recent events serve as a reminder that continuous vigilance and improvement are necessary to maintain and enhance aviation safety standards .
To stay tuned to the latest developments of these and other stories , don ’ t forget to check our website at www . airwaysmag . com and subscribe for free to our NOTAM weekly newsletter . As usual , my email ( roberto @ airwaysmag . com ) is open to your comments and opinions on these and any other matters .
Clear skies ,
MARCH 2025 | VOLUME 32 | NUMBER 01 | ISSUE 334
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