The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Eurostat have released their 2025 Annual Safety Review, documenting 116 aviation-related fatalities. The data reveals a wide margin between safety outcomes in commercial versus non-commercial sectors.
Of the 116 deaths recorded, 109 occurred during private, non-commercial flights. Fixed-wing aircraft accounted for 79 of these incidents, while helicopters and sailplanes each recorded 18 fatalities. In contrast, commercial aviation operations saw only four deaths throughout the year. The report also noted 143 injuries across all operations, marking a decline from the 215 injuries reported in 2024.
This data highlights a persistent safety gap within the industry. While commercial aviation maintains a high standard of safety, the concentration of fatalities in the general and executive aviation sectors suggests ongoing challenges for private operators. The report specifically referenced the fatal crash of a Malta-registered Falcon 50 in Turkey as a significant event within the executive aviation category.
For regulators and operators, these figures serve as a reminder of the risks associated with non-commercial operations. EASA continues to monitor these trends to address the factors contributing to accidents outside the commercial air transport sphere.