As the year drew to a close, one of the deadliest aviation disasters of 2024 occurred on Sunday when a Jeju Air plane crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea. The tragic accident claimed the lives of 179 out of 181 passengers, marking the country’s worst plane crash since 1997.
Here is an overview of the major aviation disasters worldwide in 2024:
Brazil
On August 9, Voepass Flight 2283 crashed in Vinhedo, São Paulo state, after reportedly stalling due to ice buildup in the engine, according to CNN. All 62 passengers aboard died, making it Brazil’s worst plane crash since 2007.
In December, a private plane crash in Gramado resulted in the deaths of all 10 people on board, while 17 others on the ground were injured.
Azerbaijan Airlines Crash
An Azerbaijan Airlines flight traveling from Baku to Grozny, Russia, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024. Of the 67 passengers, 38 lost their lives.
The plane was allegedly shot at, and Russian authorities are investigating the incident. President Ilham Aliyev has called on Russia to hold those responsible accountable.
Thailand
On August 23, a plane carrying nine people crashed near Bangkok, killing everyone on board. The victims included two Thai pilots, five Chinese nationals, and two Thai passengers, according to reports.
Canada
On January 23, a plane carrying workers crashed near Fort Smith, Canada, killing six people, with only one survivor, CNN reported.
Later in the year, on December 29, an Air Canada flight encountered landing gear issues while approaching Halifax airport in Nova Scotia and caught fire. Fortunately, all 73 passengers were unharmed.
Japan
On January 2, 2024, a Japan Airlines (JAL) plane collided with a smaller Coast Guard aircraft at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. While all 379 passengers on the JAL flight survived, five of the six crew members aboard the smaller aircraft died in the collision.
