Airborne Journeys: Most Dangerous Moments Happen During Departure and Arrival
Air travel, despite the occasional headlines, remains the safest mode of transport. However, it's during the takeoff and landing phases that risks are most pronounced, making these critical stages the focus of ongoing safety improvements.
Takeoffs and landings are particularly risky due to the "low and slow" conditions. Aircraft are flying at low altitudes and low speeds, leaving little room for error or time to react to issues. During these phases, the aircraft is near maximum weight, making it vulnerable to changing weather conditions, bird strikes, and demanding precise control by pilots in compressed timeframes. If an engine failure or other problem occurs, there is minimal altitude to glide or stabilise, meaning pilots have only seconds to manage emergencies.
In contrast, at cruising altitude, pilots have much longer to respond to engine failures or anomalies because the aircraft can glide for miles before needing to land.
Statistically, though takeoff and landing account for approximately 14% of total flight time, they account for about 67% of all fatal aviation accidents. Specifically, final approach and landing alone represent 47% of fatal accidents, while takeoff and initial climb make up another 20%. This concentration of accidents during these phases is known as the "Takeoff–Landing Paradox."
To address these risks, modern aviation regulations and safety systems employ multiple layers of safeguards. Pilots undergo rigorous and continuous training focused on managing emergencies during critical phases, including managing stress, precise aircraft control, and decision-making under time constraints.
Modern aircraft use advanced autopilot systems, flight management systems, and data analytics to assist pilots during takeoff and landing, reducing pilot error, a major factor in runway incursions and other incidents. Agencies like the FAA implement Runway Safety Action Teams and Runway Incursion Mitigation programs to reduce wrong runway usage and conflicts on the ground by improving surveillance technology, communication, and coordination among pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground vehicles.
Regulatory oversight ensures compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) global aviation safety standards (Vision 2040), ensuring continuous improvement in safety policies worldwide, including accident investigation, safety data sharing, and technology adoption. Technological tools like Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) improve surface position awareness, and devices like the Runway Incursion Device (RID) serve as memory aids to prevent incorrect runway usage during clearance for takeoff or landing.
These efforts combine engineering advances, human factors management, regulatory governance, and collaborative safety culture to minimise risks during these critical flight stages and maintain commercial aviation as one of the safest transportation modes.
It's worth noting that planes can glide for miles at 36,000 feet even if engines fail, giving pilots time to assess and correct. However, during takeoff, the engines face maximum strain due to the complex variables involved, making pilot skill crucial.
Despite these efforts, tragic incidents still occur. For instance, the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with 242 people on board, crashed shortly after takeoff on 12 June 2025. The landing phase, too, accounted for more than half (53%) of all aviation accidents from 2005 to 2023.
However, the good news is that global accident rates have significantly declined from 4.9 per million departures (2005) to 1.9 per million (2023), with a downward trend in fatalities. This decline is attributed to advances in aircraft design, pilot training, safety protocols, and weather forecasting.
As we continue to strive for safer skies, it's clear that the focus on takeoff and landing phases will remain a priority in the pursuit of aviation safety.
- The "Takeoff–Landing Paradox" reveals that while these stages account for only 14% of total flight time, they are responsible for about 67% of all fatal aviation accidents.
- To address the increased risks during takeoff and landing, modern aviation regulations prioritize emergency management training for pilots and implement advanced technologies such as autopilot systems and flight management systems.
- Additionally, agencies like the FAA work to reduce wrong runway usage and conflicts on the ground through improved surveillance technology, communication, and coordination among pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground vehicles.
- Despite the focus on safety improvements, tragic incidents such as the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in 2025 still occur, demonstrating the importance of ongoing efforts to ensure aviation remains one of the safest modes of transportation.
