EU-registered aircraft: 121 deaths in the EU in 2021

In 2021, 121 people died in aviation accidents on EU territory involving aircraft registered in the EU Member States, representing a 0.8% drop compared with 2020 (122 deaths). 

This information comes from data on air transport safety published by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article.

Source datasets: tran_sf_aviaca, tran_sf_aviaaw, tran_sf_aviagah, tran_sf_aviagal

Like in the last five years, most of the air accident fatalities in 2021 (93% or 112 deaths) involved aircraft with a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) of less than 2 250 kg in the ‘general aviation’ category. This subcategory comprises small aeroplanes, dirigibles, para- and motor-gliders, 'microlights', small helicopters, as well as hot air balloons.

Most of the deaths (77%) in the category under 2250 kg were registered in France (46 fatalities) and Germany (40 fatalities).

The ‘general aviation’ category involving large aircraft over 2 250 kg MTOM was the second category with the most deaths (7% or 9 deaths). 

No deaths were recorded involving the other two aviation categories:  'commercial air transport' and ‘aerial work'.