Nearly half of all worldwide commercial jet airplane accidents during the 10-year period from 2004 through 2013 occurred during the final approach or landing phases of flight, according to statistics published in September by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Of the 72 fatal accidents recorded during the period, 22 percent (16 accidents) occurred during the final approach phase and 25 percent (18) during landing. Those 34 final approach or landing accidents accounted for 1,554 on-board fatalities, or roughly 40 percent of the 3,848 on-board fatalities suffered during the decade (Figure 1).
Approximately 14 percent of the fatal accidents occurred during the takeoff (8 percent) and initial climb (6 percent) phases of flight; 10 percent occurred in cruise; 10 percent during taxi, towing, loading/unloading or while parked; 8 percent during climb (flaps up); 8 percent during initial approach and 3 percent during descent. Accidents in cruise accounted for 774 on-board fatalities, or approximat…
