In aviation and safety management systems (SMS) as of 2026, incidents are generally categorized into three levels based on their severity and potential for harm. 1. Minor Incidents: Occurrences that do not significantly affect the safety of the flight but deviate from standard procedure (e.g., a minor technical glitch that is easily resolved). 2. Major Incidents: Significant events where the safety of the aircraft or its occupants was compromised, but no accident occurred (e.g., a near-miss or a serious system failure). 3. Serious Incidents: Situations where an accident nearly occurred (e.g., a runway incursion where two planes came within meters of each other). These are distinct from Accidents, which involve actual hull loss, serious injury, or death. Categorizing incidents this way allows safety boards to identify "precursor" events and implement changes before a catastrophic failure happens.