Aviation fatalities hit 55 since 2022, says SACAA division

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has raised serious concerns about an increase in the number of fatal crashes across the country.

The Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division reports that 43 incidents were recorded in the 2025/26 financial year alone. Disturbingly, 12 of these crashes were fatal, resulting in a total death toll of 17.

This marks a significant increase of 10 fatal accidents compared to the same period ending in November 2024.

In the four years from 2022, more than 400 aviation incidents have been reported.

During this period, the highest number of incidents was reported in the 2024/25 financial year with a tally of 131.

The total number of fatalities since 2022 stands at 55.

This grim tally includes the recent death of a flight instructor and a private licence holder who were on board a Sling 2 aircraft when it crashed shortly after taking off from an airfield in Cape Town.

The Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division is currently conducting independent investigations to determine the causal and contributing factors behind these accidents.

A spokesperson for the division noted: “While these investigations are still underway, the SACAA is accelerating proactive safety interventions under the newly approved General Aviation Safety Strategy 2025–2030, aimed at strengthening safety performance and reducing preventable risks in the GA sector.”