When it comes to flying, safety is always a big concern. Recently, Cathay Pacific, a major airline based in Hong Kong, found out that 15 of its Airbus A350 planes needed engine repairs. This has led to many flight cancellations and some passengers are worried about how safe their planes are.

Let’s dive into how safe different aircraft models are, especially after recent issues with some planes.

Cathay Pacific’s Engine Trouble

Cathay Pacific recently had to cancel several flights after one of its planes, coming from Zurich, had a problem with its engine. They checked all 48 of their Airbus A350 planes and found that 15 of them had parts that were not working correctly. These planes will stay grounded until the issues are fixed, which might lead to more cancellations. The airline has promised that they are doing everything they can to ensure the safety of their passengers.

Comparing Aircraft Safety

Even with these problems, flying is still very safe overall. Last year was the safest year for air travel ever, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). There was only one fatal accident out of 37 million flights, which is an amazing record. For comparison, road accidents are far more common, with around 148 people dying every hour on the roads, according to United Nations figures.

The A350’s Track Record

The Airbus A350, which has been in service since 2015, is known for its safety. It has had just one serious accident: a collision with a smaller plane at Tokyo Haneda Airport in January 2024. This makes it one of the safest planes ever built.

There are a few aircraft models that have perfect safety records. These include the Boeing 717, Bombardier CRJ700 series, Boeing 747-800, Airbus A380, Airbus A220, Airbus A330neo, and Boeing 787. These planes have not had any serious accidents since they were introduced.

The 737 Max and Its Challenges

The Boeing 737 Max has had a more troubled history. In 2018 and 2019, two crashes involving this model led to a lot of scrutiny and changes. However, the situation is improving as more 737 Max planes are flying safely every week. Despite its past issues, the 737 Max’s safety record is getting better as more flights land without problems.

For other popular planes, the accident rates are very low. For example, the Boeing 777, a long-haul aircraft, has an accident rate of just 0.13 per million flights, while the Boeing 737 “Next Generation” family has an even lower rate of 0.08. These numbers show that many planes are very reliable.

Older and Rare Aircraft

Some older aircraft models have higher accident rates. For example, the Airbus A310, which is no longer made but still used by some smaller airlines, has an accident rate of 1.89 per million flights. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11, another rare plane, has a rate of 1.58, and the Fokker F28, which is almost gone from the skies, has a rate of 2.31.

What About Concorde?

Concorde, the famous supersonic jet, isn’t included in recent statistics because it hasn’t been in commercial use for many years. However, it had one fatal crash out of 90,000 flights, which gives it an accident rate of 11.36 per million flights, which is relatively high compared to modern planes.

Soviet-Era Planes

Soviet-era planes, such as the Tupolev Tu-104 and Ilyushin Il-18, also have higher accident rates. The Tu-104, for example, was involved in many accidents early in its life. These older models are mostly retired now, and newer planes have replaced them.

Checking Your Aircraft Model

If you’re curious about which plane you’ll be flying on, there are easy ways to find out. Websites like SeatGuru.com let you check your flight’s aircraft model by entering your airline, flight number, and date. For example, if you’re flying from Heathrow to JFK, SeatGuru can tell you if you’ll be on a Boeing 777.

Another great tool is FlightRadar24. This website shows detailed information about flights, including the type of plane. You can see, for instance, if your flight from Heathrow to Paris will be on an Airbus A320.