In 2025, a total of 418 people lost their lives in accidents involving commercial aircraft worldwide, according to figures released by the Aviation Safety Network and reported by the German Aviation Association (BDL). The fatalities included 352 passengers, 33 crew members, and 33 individuals on the ground.

This marks an increase from 334 deaths recorded in 2024. Despite the rise, the overall risk of dying in a plane crash continues to fall over the long term. For 2025, the statistical probability of death in an aircraft accident was 1 in 11,459,330, a dramatic improvement compared to the 1970s, when the odds were 1 in 264,000.

The increase in absolute numbers reflects the unprecedented growth of air travel. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates that 4.7 billion people flew in 2025, more than ten times the 440 million passengers in the 1970s.

The deadliest incident last year occurred on 12 June, when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India, killing 229 passengers and 12 crew. Only one passenger survived, while 19 people on the ground also died. Investigations into the sudden loss of thrust in both engines of the aircraft have not yet been concluded.

BDL notes that these statistics apply to aircraft with at least 14 seats, excluding smaller planes and all military aviation.