Around the world, 1,292 people died in plane crashes in 2006, according to the Geneva-based Aircraft Crashes Record Office (ACRO). That was the lowest total since 1963, and a drop of 11 percent from the year before. The group keeps track of crashes involving commercial airplanes that seat at least six people, plus the crew. About one-third of the accidents occurred in North America, with 45 accidents in the U.S., according to ACRO, and about three-quarters of the crashes involved piston-powered aircraft. Among airliners, two Airbus jets crashed, five built by Boeing and 16 Antonovs built in the Ukraine. More than 2 billion passengers flew during the year worldwide, according to the Associated Press. And if over a thousand people sounds like a big loss, note that on average about 1.2 million people die every year in car crashes and another 50 million are hurt.
Report: 2006 A Safe Year For Aviation
Key Takeaways:
- In 2006, global plane crash fatalities dropped to 1,292 people, marking the lowest total since 1963 and an 11% decrease from the previous year.
- Approximately one-third of these accidents occurred in North America (45 in the U.S.), and three-quarters involved piston-powered aircraft.
- Despite the fatalities, over 2 billion passengers flew worldwide in 2006, with aviation deaths significantly fewer than the average 1.2 million annual car crash fatalities.
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