The year 2024 was marked by some of the most devastating aviation accidents in recent memory, with several incidents drawing global attention due to their scale and impact. Here is an overview of the most significant aviation accidents that occurred during the year:
1. Jeju Air Crash in South Korea: On December 29, 2024, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport, killing 179 of the 181 individuals on board. The plane, which had flown from Bangkok, Thailand, suffered a catastrophic failure, believed to be related to a landing gear malfunction, leading to a belly landing and subsequent collision with an airport wall. This incident is noted as the deadliest crash on South Korean soil and has led to a comprehensive safety review of the airline's operations.
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2. Voepass Linhas Aéreas Crash in Brazil: On August 11, 2024, a Voepass regional flight 2283, operating an ATR-72 turboprop, crashed in Vinhedo, Brazil. The flight was heading from Cascavel to São Paulo when it plummeted from the sky, killing all 62 passengers and crew on board. Preliminary investigations suggest that ice accumulation in the engine might have played a role in the crash, leading to a stall and uncontrolled descent.
3. Azerbaijan Airlines Crash in Kazakhstan: An Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190, flight J2-8243, crashed near Aktau on December 25, 2024, after diverting from its route from Baku to Grozny. The incident claimed 38 lives out of the 67 people on board. Early reports and investigations hint at the possibility of the plane being hit by debris from a Russian air defense system, although this has not been officially confirmed.
4. Japan Airlines Runway Collision: The year started with a close call on January 2, 2024, when a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. All 379 passengers and crew on the JAL flight escaped without fatalities, but five of the six crew members on the smaller Coast Guard plane perished. This incident highlighted significant issues with runway management and communication protocols.
5. Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 Incident: Just days into the new year, on January 5, 2024, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 experienced a mid-air incident where a plug covering an unused exit door blew out, leading to an emergency landing. Although there were no fatalities, this event led to widespread safety checks on similar aircraft and brought renewed scrutiny on Boeing's 737 MAX series.
6. Singapore Airlines Turbulence: In May, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 encountered severe turbulence over the Bay of Bengal, leading to one passenger's death due to a heart attack and several others sustaining serious injuries. This incident underscored the unpredictable nature of weather patterns and their impact on flight safety.
7. KLM Flight 1204 in Norway: On December 28, 2024, a KLM Boeing 737 skidded off the runway at Oslo Airport after losing hydraulics. While there were no fatalities, the incident resulted in significant damage to the aircraft and highlighted issues with aircraft maintenance and emergency procedures.
These accidents, while rare in the context of the millions of flights that take off and land safely each year, underscore the ongoing challenges in aviation safety. They have led to calls for tighter regulations, better technology for weather and aircraft monitoring, and a reevaluation of pilot training and aircraft maintenance protocols. The aviation industry, now more than ever, is focused on learning from these tragedies to prevent future incidents.