Canada’s Transportation Safety Board reported that preliminary figures show the number of aviation accidents increased last year compared to 2020. The agency said in part this was due to a gradual resumption of commercial air transportation activity and a higher-than-average amount of activity in other segments, such as aerial firefighting. Nevertheless, the overall number of accidents and incidents in 2021 was lower than the previous five-year average.
The number of aviation accidents (190) reported to the TSB in 2021 was 12 percent more than in 2020 (170), but about 11 percent lower than the five-year average of 214. There were 22 fatal accidents and 31 fatalities in 2021, compared with 12 fatal accidents and 16 fatalities in 2020.
Also, accidents involving commercial operators (including business aircraft charters) increased from 54 in 2020 to 62 in 2021 (an increase of about 15 percent) while those involving private operations (including recreational and business flying) increased from 114 to 127 (or approximately 11 percent).
There were 495 aviation incidents reported to the TSB in 2021. This number represents an increase from the previous year of 421 but is still below the five-year average of 794.