The Context:
An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick with 242 people on board crashed shortly after take off on 12th June 2025.
Explanation:
The Key Highlights:
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- According to data from the trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA), the landing phase accounted for more than half (53%) of all aviation accidents from 2005 to 2023. The takeoff phase was the next most deadly, accounting for 8.5% of all accidents.
Why Takeoffs and Landings Are the Riskiest Flight Phases?
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- “Low and Slow” Risk Window: Aircraft are most vulnerable during takeoff and landing as they operate at low altitude and speed, leaving minimal time or space for pilots to react to malfunctions or environmental challenges like bird strikes and turbulence.
- Cruise Altitude Advantage: At 36,000 feet, planes can glide for miles even if engines fail, giving pilots time to assess and correct.
- Pilot and Engine Stress: Engines face maximum strain during takeoff, and landings require intense pilot skill due to complex variables like wind, weight, and speed—making pilot error more likely during landing.
- Aerodynamic Vulnerabilities: Risks like wing stall due to excessive nose-up attitude are higher during takeoff. At cruise altitude, pilots have more time to correct such errors due to higher gliding range.
Air Travel: Still the Safest Mode of Transport
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- Improved Safety Record: As per ICAO, global accident rates have declined significantly—from 4.9 per million departures (2005) to 1.9 per million (2023).
- Downward Trend in Fatalities: Despite occasional tragic accidents, air crash deaths have declined due to advances in aircraft design, pilot training (simulators), safety protocols, and weather forecasting.
- Systemic Improvements: Modern aviation regulations (e.g., ban on smoking in cabins post-1990s), better-built aircraft, and real-time analytics ensure that despite increased air traffic, aviation remains the safest transport mode.
Source:
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