This December 2024 has proven to be a harrowing month for global aviation, with a series of tragic air crashes leaving a trail of devastation and loss.
From small private planes to commercial jets, the skies have witnessed an unusual spike in fatal incidents, claiming hundreds of lives and leaving many more affected.
Here is a breakdown of six significant crashes that have marked this sombre period.
1. Cessna aircraft crashes in Amazon
On December 20, 2024, a Cessna aircraft piloted by 29-year-old Rodrigo Boer Machado and carrying a 27-year-old passenger Breno Braga Leite vanished during a flight from Porto Velho to Manaus in the Amazon rainforest.
The wreckage was discovered five days later, with both occupants found deceased.
The lack of a flight plan and radar detection hampered search efforts, highlighting the dangers of untracked flights over remote areas.
2. Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243
Tragedy struck on December 25, 2024, when Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR, was hit by a missile from a Russian air defence system.
The plane, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, crash-landed near Aktau International Airport in Kazakhstan.
Of the 67 people on board, 38 perished.
The incident, linked to heightened tensions from a Ukrainian drone attack in the region, prompted an apology from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Air crash investigation is ongoing.
3. Light plane crashes in Australia
On December 28, a light plane crashed during takeoff from McIntyres Airfield near Yamba, New South Wales.
67-year-old businessman Jim Auld, who was piloting the aircraft, lost his life, while his son, Robert Auld, 32, sustained severe injuries.
Investigators are examining potential mechanical issues as the cause of the crash.
4. KLM Flight 1204
A near-disaster was narrowly averted on December 28, 2024, when KLM Flight 1204, a Boeing 737-800, made an emergency landing at Sandefjord Airport, Torp, in Norway.
After departing from Oslo bound for Amsterdam, the crew detected abnormal sounds and diverted the flight.
Upon landing, the plane veered off the runway but stopped on adjacent grass terrain.
All 182 passengers and crew escaped unharmed. Preliminary investigations point to a hydraulic system malfunction.
5. Jeju Air flight 2216
On Sunday, December 29, 2024, a horrific crash occurred as Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737, crash-landed at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
The aircraft, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members from Bangkok, went off the runway and collided with a wall.
At least 176 lives were lost, making this one of the deadliest crashes in recent South Korean aviation history.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation as of the time this article is being written.
6. Air Canada flight 2259
Just hours after the Jeju Air tragedy, Air Canada Flight 2259 suffered a rough landing at Halifax Airport on Sunday, December 29, 2024.
The plane, arriving from St. John’s, skidded down the runway due to a malfunctioning tyre and caught fire.
Passengers described hearing a loud crash sound as the plane tilted to one side and its wing scraped the runway.
Fortunately, all passengers were evacuated safely, with no fatalities reported.
The world is mourning
This string of accidents underscores the inherent risks of air travel despite its reputation as one of the safest modes of transportation.
While each incident, from mechanical failures to external threats, carries its unique circumstances, the collective toll has left families grieving and aviation authorities reevaluating safety measures.
As investigations unfold, the global aviation community will undoubtedly strive to learn from these tragedies, implementing measures to prevent such events in the future.
For now, the world currently mourns the loss of those who perished in the Jeju Air crash and offers solace to the survivors and their loved ones.
President William Ruto has paid tribute to Jeju Air crash victims.
“We are devastated by the Jeju Air accident that has claimed more than 170 lives. Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and the people of South Korea at this sorrowful time,” Ruto wrote on X on Sunday.
