Air transportation safety in the U.S. - statistics & facts

Although the United States has the largest air transportation market in the world, it also is one of the safest countries in the world in which to fly. Considering only commercial passenger transportation, there has not been a fatal accident in the U.S. between 2013 and 2018; since the year 2000, the rate of fatal accidents has never risen been above 0.03 accidents per 100,000 departures in any single year. Given that U.S. air carriers generally perform over nine million departures per year, the chances of being in a fatal aircraft accident in the U.S. are very low. This remains the case not only for fatalities, but also for serious injuries occurring on board commercial flights in the U.S.

Accidents in general aviation

Air transportation safety is not limited only to commercial travel though. The United States also has the largest global market for private and business flights, which are sadly more dangerous than commercial travel. In every year of this decade there have been somewhere between 300 and 500 fatalities from accidents in the general aviation sector, excluding flights for commercial transportation. Fortunately though, the total number of accidents in this sector has been steadily decreasing since 2000. And, even when the general aviation sector is included, the odds of dying in an aircraft accident in the United States are nearly 2,000 times lower than the odds of dying in a motor vehicle accident.

Security measures

Also included under air transportation safety are the activities carried out at airports to prevent dangerous passengers and goods from entering aircraft. Owing to the country’s high level of gun ownership, screening for firearms is an important activity at U.S. airports, with thousands of guns being confiscated annually. U.S. travelers have mixed views on the effectiveness of security at U.S. airports though. While a majority people believe there is sufficient security at U.S. airports, only a minority are confident that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would catch a terrorist trying to board an aircraft.

COVID-19 impact on the safety of air travel

As a response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, since the beginning of 2020 more and more countries across the globe shut down borders, thus cancelling all international flights to contain the spread of the virus. This was also the case for the United States, with daily passenger numbers at TSA checkpoints shrinking. This had a hard impact not only on the aviation industry but also on the decision making for people to travel. In a recent survey, 80 percent of U.S. air travelers mentioned thermal scanning would improve their confidence at the boarding gate, while 84 percent of them think the reallocation of empty seats for distancing would make them feel more confident during a flight. When it comes their airline choice, cabin cleanness is an important factor when choosing an airline to fly with in the United States.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Annual fatal accident rate for U.S. air carriers (per 100,000 departures): 0.02

Leading primary cause of aircraft accidents in North America: Meteorology

Lifetime odds of dying in an aircraft accident in the U.S.: One in 11,756

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Lifetime odds of dying in a transport accident in the United States in 2020, by mode of transport*

Logistics

Lifetime odds of dying in a transport accident in the U.S. 2020

Total revenue passenger miles of U.S. airlines from 2004 to 2021 (in billions)*

Aviation

U.S. airlines - revenue passenger miles 2004-2021

Total number of aircraft departures performed by U.S. air carriers* from 1991 to 2021 (in millions)

Aviation

U.S. air carriers - total performed aircraft departures 1991-2021

Recommended statistics

Overview

Basic Statistic Total air traffic passengers traveling to/from the United States 2006-2022
Total air traffic passengers traveling to/from the United States 2006-2022
Total number of air traffic passengers traveling to or from the United States from 2006 to 2022 (in million passengers)
Premium Statistic U.S. airlines - domestic and international passenger enplanements 2004-2021
U.S. airlines - domestic and international passenger enplanements 2004-2021
Domestic and international passenger enplanements of U.S. carriers from 2004 to 2021 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Main U.S. airports by number of operations 2022
Main U.S. airports by number of operations 2022
Leading U.S. airports in 2022, based on number of airport operations (in 1,000s)
Premium Statistic U.S. air carriers - total performed aircraft departures 1991-2021
U.S. air carriers - total performed aircraft departures 1991-2021
Total number of aircraft departures performed by U.S. air carriers* from 1991 to 2021 (in millions)
Premium Statistic U.S. airlines - revenue passenger miles 2004-2021
U.S. airlines - revenue passenger miles 2004-2021
Total revenue passenger miles of U.S. airlines from 2004 to 2021 (in billions)*
Basic Statistic U.S. air carrier fatal accident rate 2000-2019
U.S. air carrier fatal accident rate 2000-2019
Fatal accident rate for U.S. air carriers between 2000 and 2019*
Premium Statistic Primary contributing factors to aircraft accidents in North America 2015-2019
Primary contributing factors to aircraft accidents in North America 2015-2019
Leading primary contributing factors to aircraft accidents in North America between 2015 and 2019, by percentage contribution*
Premium Statistic Lifetime odds of dying in a transport accident in the U.S. 2020
Lifetime odds of dying in a transport accident in the U.S. 2020
Lifetime odds of dying in a transport accident in the United States in 2020, by mode of transport*

Accidents

Premium Statistic U.S. air carrier accidents 2000-2019
U.S. air carrier accidents 2000-2019
Number of accidents involving U.S. air carriers between 2000 and 2019*
Premium Statistic U.S. air carrier fatal accidents & fatalities 2000-2020
U.S. air carrier fatal accidents & fatalities 2000-2020
Number of fatal accidents and fatalities involving U.S. air carriers between 2000 and 2020*
Premium Statistic U.S. air carrier accidents causing serious injuries to passengers 2000-2020
U.S. air carrier accidents causing serious injuries to passengers 2000-2020
Number of serious injuries to passengers resulting from accidents involving U.S. air carriers between 2000 and 2020*
Premium Statistic Fatal and non-fatal accidents in U.S. general aviation 2000-2020
Fatal and non-fatal accidents in U.S. general aviation 2000-2020
Number of fatal and non-fatal accidents in general aviation in the United States between 2000 and 2020
Basic Statistic Fatalities from general aviation in the U.S. 2000-2020
Fatalities from general aviation in the U.S. 2000-2020
Number of fatalities from accidents in general aviation in the United States between 2000 and 2020
Premium Statistic U.S. air carrier hull loss rate 2000-2020
U.S. air carrier hull loss rate 2000-2020
Hull loss rate for accidents involving U.S. air carriers between 2000 and 2020*
Basic Statistic U.S. air carrier fatal accident rate 2000-2019
U.S. air carrier fatal accident rate 2000-2019
Fatal accident rate for U.S. air carriers between 2000 and 2019*

Security measures

Basic Statistic Airport full body scanner - market value 2016&3032
Airport full body scanner - market value 2016&3032
Value of the global market for airport full body scanners in 2016 and 2021 (in million U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic U.S. airport infrastructure needs by type 2023-2027
U.S. airport infrastructure needs by type 2023-2027
Value of airport infrastructure needs in the United States from 2023 to 2027, by type (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Firearms discovered by screeners at U.S. airports 2005-2019
Firearms discovered by screeners at U.S. airports 2005-2019
Number of firearms discovered by screeners at airports in the United States from 2005 to 2019
Basic Statistic Top 10 airports in the U.S with the most gun confiscations 2019
Top 10 airports in the U.S with the most gun confiscations 2019
Airports with the most gun confiscations in the U.S in 2019
Premium Statistic American's views on airport security 2019
American's views on airport security 2019
Americans' opinion on security at airports in 2019

COVID-19 impact

Premium Statistic Effectiveness of TSA in tackling the COVID-19 spread in the U.S. 2020
Effectiveness of TSA in tackling the COVID-19 spread in the U.S. 2020
Do you approve or disapprove of the job TSA is doing in handling the spread of coronavirus in the United States?
Premium Statistic Responsiveness of airline companies in tackling the COVID-19 spread in the U.S. 2020
Responsiveness of airline companies in tackling the COVID-19 spread in the U.S. 2020
Do you approve or disapprove of the job airline companies are doing in handling the spread of coronavirus in the United States?
Premium Statistic Factors to determine airline choice to fly post-coronavirus in U.S. 2020
Factors to determine airline choice to fly post-coronavirus in U.S. 2020
Factors respondents considered to be more important when it comes to choosing an airline in the United States following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
Premium Statistic Boarding measures to gain confidence in flying post-coronavirus in U.S. 2020
Boarding measures to gain confidence in flying post-coronavirus in U.S. 2020
How much would the following new measures improve your confidence at the boarding gate and while boarding in the U.S.?
Premium Statistic Measures to gain confidence during a flight post-coronavirus in U.S. 2020
Measures to gain confidence during a flight post-coronavirus in U.S. 2020
How much would the following new measures improve your confidence during the flight in the U.S.?

Report on the topic

Go to report

Top Seller

Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Air transportation safety in the U.S." and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.