In other words, the odds are very low that you'll die in a plane crash. Accidents are rare in aviation. There were five fatal accidents among 32.2 million flights in 2022, Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said in a statement.

Commercial aviation remains the safest mode of transportation in the world in 2026. Statistically, the risk of being involved in a fatal plane crash on a scheduled commercial flight is approximately 1 in 11 million to 13 million. To put this in perspective, you are significantly more likely to be struck by lightning or involved in a serious car accident on the way to the airport than you are to experience a crash during your flight. Global safety reports from 2024 and 2025 show an "all-accident rate" of about 1.13 to 2.56 accidents per million departures. This incredible safety record is the result of a "Swiss Cheese" model of defense: redundant mechanical systems, rigorous pilot training, advanced air traffic management, and a global culture of sharing safety data to prevent recurring errors. While high-profile incidents still occur, they are extremely rare and are used to implement new safety mandates worldwide, ensuring that the system is constantly evolving to become even more resilient against failure.