Airborne Activities: Takeoffs and Touchdowns Pose Highest Risks during a Flight

Airborne Activities: Takeoffs and Touchdowns Pose Highest Risks during a Flight

Improved Safety in Air Travel: Focus on Critical Takeoff and Landing Phases

The skies have become safer than ever, with global accident rates in air travel significantly decreasing over the years. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the number of accidents per million departures has dropped from 4.9 in 2005 to a mere 1.9 in 2023. This impressive improvement is largely due to advancements in aviation regulations, aircraft design, pilot training, safety protocols, and weather forecasting.

However, it is essential to acknowledge that takeoffs and landings remain the riskiest phases of commercial airline flights. These critical stages involve complex maneuvers with minimal margin for error, require intense pilot focus and quick decision-making, and offer fewer options to recover from mistakes or malfunctions.

During these phases, aircraft are most vulnerable due to operating at low altitude and speed, leaving minimal time or space for pilots to react to malfunctions or environmental challenges. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a significant portion of aviation accidents occur during these phases, with 770 accidents happening during landing and 124 during takeoff in 2024 alone.

Landings, in particular, are particularly risky because pilots have fewer "escape" options once descending and must manage precise control to safely touch down while avoiding midair collisions or runway incursions. The first and last minutes—typically the takeoff roll and final approach/landing—are the most dangerous parts of the flight, with about 75-80% of fatal aviation accidents occurring in these windows.

Pilots face high stress and workload due to the intricate control inputs, communication with air traffic control, and environmental challenges predominant during airport approaches and departures. Studies and accident analyses identify poor judgment, loss of situational awareness, and inadequate decision-making during these phases as common causal factors in accidents, emphasizing the critical importance of standard operating procedures, pilot training, and advanced alert systems to mitigate risks.

Despite these challenges, modern aviation regulations, such as the ban on smoking in cabins post-1990s, contribute to the safety of air travel. Better-built aircraft and real-time analytics ensure that despite increased air traffic, aviation remains the safest transport mode. Engines face maximum strain during takeoff, and landings require intense pilot skill due to complex variables like wind, weight, and speed, making pilot error more likely during landing.

However, even with the occasional tragic accidents, air travel remains the safest mode of transport. The strides made in aviation safety over the years are a testament to the industry's commitment to continuous improvement and the relentless pursuit of a safer sky for all.

[1] IATA (2025). Aviation Accident Statistics 2024. Retrieved from https://www.iata.org/contentassets/e3688e00f98248e9b26726460c05704a/2025-iata-aviation-accident-statistics.pdf [2] Human Factors in Aviation Safety (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/human_factors/ [3] Aircraft Accident Investigation (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/safety/investigation_enforcement/accident_investigation/ [5] NASA (2022). Human Factors in Aviation Safety. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/offices/oce/human_factors/aircraft_accident_analysis/index.html

1. Beyond the impressive decrease in global accident rates, the general-news continues to highlight the risky nature of the critical takeoff and landing phases in air travel, as evidenced by the IATA's 2024 report stating 770 accidents during landing and 124 during takeoff.
2. The environment plays a significant role in aviation accidents during takeoff and landing phases, particularly in unfavorable weather conditions, making weather forecasting an essential factor in maintaining safety in these risky phases.
3. The aviation industry needs to focus on improving safety measures for the finance sector, as a significant portion of aviation incidents results in financial losses for airlines, insurance companies, and the brokerage industry.
4. Transportation news outlets should also cover the need for improved safety infrastructure around transportation hubs, as mid-air collisions and runway incursions during takeoff and landing phases are still a concern for the aviation industry, according to research from Human Factors in Aviation Safety and Aircraft Accident Investigation.

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