December 2024 has proven to be a tumultuous month for global aviation, with a string of tragic air disasters leaving a trail of misery and loss.
From small private planes to large jets, the skies have seen an unexpected increase in fatal occurrences, killing hundreds and affecting many more.
Here is a breakdown of the six major crashes that have occurred during this somber period.
1. A Cessna plane crashed in Amazon
On December 20, 2024, a Cessna plane piloted by 29-year-old Rodrigo Boer Machado and carrying a 27-year-old passenger, Breno Braga Leite, disappeared while flying from Porto Velho to Manaus in the Amazon rainforest.
The wreckage was located five days later, and both occupants were found dead.
The absence of a flight plan and radar detection impeded search operations, emphasizing the risks of untracked flights over isolated locations.
2. Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243
On December 25, 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, an Embraer 190AR, was shot down by a Russian air defense missile.
The plane crashed at Kazakhstan’s Aktau International Airport while flying from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia.
Of the 67 individuals on board, 38 died.
Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the event, which was linked to heightened tensions in the region as a result of a Ukrainian drone assault.
The air crash inquiry is still ongoing.
3. A light plane crashes in Australia
On December 28, a small plane crashed on takeoff from McIntyres Airfield in Yamba, New South Wales.
Jim Auld, 67, a businessman, died while piloting the plane, while his son, Robert Auld, 32, suffered serious injuries.
Investigators are looking into probable mechanical faults as the reason for the incident.
4. KLM Flight 1204
On December 28, 2024, KLM Flight 1204, a Boeing 737-800, made an emergency landing at Sandefjord Airport in Torp, Norway, narrowly avoiding a calamity.
After flying from Oslo to Amsterdam, the crew discovered odd sounds and redirected the flight.
When the jet landed, it drifted off the runway and came to a rest on neighboring grassy terrain.
All 182 passengers and personnel survived unscathed. Preliminary studies indicate a hydraulic system problem.
5. Jeju Air Flight 2216
On Sunday, December 29, 2024, Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737, crashed near Muan International Airport in South Korea.
The Bangkok-bound aircraft, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, veered off the runway and slammed into a wall.
At least 176 people were killed, making it one of the deadliest crashes in recent South Korean aviation history.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated as of the time this article was written.
6. Air Canada Flight 2259
On Sunday, December 29, 2024, just hours after the catastrophe at Jeju Air, Air Canada Flight 2259 made a difficult landing at Halifax Airport.
The plane, arriving from St. John’s, skidded down the runway due to a faulty tire and caught fire.
Passengers reported hearing a tremendous crash as the plane tipped to one side and its wing scratched the tarmac.
Fortunately, all passengers were successfully evacuated, with no fatalities reported.
The Effect Of The Crashes
This series of mishaps highlights the inherent risks of air travel, despite its reputation as one of the safest ways of transportation.
While each occurrence, from mechanical failures to external threats, has its own set of circumstances, the cumulative toll has left families in mourning and aviation authorities rethinking safety measures.
As investigations continue, the global aviation community will likely attempt to learn from these deaths and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
For the time being, the globe mourns the deaths of those involved in the Jeju Air tragedy and comforts the survivors and their loved ones.
President William Ruto has paid respect to the victims of the Jeju air tragedy.
“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.
