According to preliminary estimates from Canada’s Transportation Safety Board, the number of aircraft accidents increased last year compared to 2020.
This was due in part to a gradual restoration of commercial air transportation operations, as well as higher-than-average activity in other categories, such as aerial firefighting, according to the agency.
Nonetheless, in 2021, the aggregate number of accidents and incidents was lower than the five-year average.
The number of aviation accidents reported to the TSB in 2021 (190) was up 12% from the previous year (170), but still down 11% from the five-year average of 214.
In 2021, there were 22 fatal accidents with 31 fatalities, up from 12 deadly accidents with 16 fatalities in 2020.
Accidents involving commercial operators (including business aircraft charters) increased from 54 in 2020 to 62 in 2021 (a 15% rise), while those involving private operations (including leisure and business flying) went from 114 to 127 in 2021 (a 15% increase) (or approximately 11 percent).
In 2021, the TSB received 495 reports of aircraft mishaps. This figure is up from 421 the previous year, but still falls short of the five-year average of 794.
