Here Are The 16 Most Dangerous Countries For Air Travel

Looking at the recent incidents reported, it seems Boeing will have to witness another tough year in 2024. Worries about flight safety have surged following a recent incident where a panel detached mid-flight from a Boeing 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines departing from Portland, Oregon. This adds to the ongoing safety concerns surrounding the aerospace company, some of which have been fatal for passengers in recent times.

In the US, air travel is generally considered safer than road travel. While global data indicates low risks for flight accidents, annual fatalities related to air travel accidents emphasize that flying still involves some level of risk, according to the US News. The European Union maintains an updated list of airlines banned or restricted from operating within the region due to safety concerns.

Updated in November 2023, the list has prohibited 129 airlines from entering EU airspace. Over 100 airlines are facing bans due to "inadequate safety oversight" by local aviation authorities, and 22 are banned "based on serious safety deficiencies identified," reported US based Media outlet.

The most recent update relies on the "unanimous opinion" of aviation safety experts who convened in Brussels through the EU Air Safety Committee. As passengers fasten their seatbelts, the aviation industry grapples with challenges to ensure a smoother ride ahead.

The EU Air Safety List bans all airlines in these 16 countries, indicating that they are among the most dangerous for air travel:

• Afghanistan: All airlines certified in Afghanistan faced a ban in November 2010 due to safety deficiencies identified in the country's civil aviation system. Notable carriers like Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air were included in this ban.
• Angola: The European Commission imposed a ban on all airlines in Angola in 2008, citing significant safety concerns.
• Armenia: In June 2020, the European Union banned all Armenian airlines from traveling within its borders, expressing concerns about the safety oversight of these carriers. Further, Armenia's Civil Aviation Committee is working to remove several airlines from the list, and in November 2022, an agreement was signed between the country and the EU to align aviation rules and standards.
• Republic of the Congo: Every airline operating in the Republic of the Congo, totaling five, is banned from EU airspace.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: Thirteen carriers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are prohibited from operating in the EU due to safety concerns and the country's reliance on air travel. According the Aviation Safety Network, there were more than 40 air accident fatalities between 2000 and 2022.
• Djibouti: Daallo Airlines, Djibouti's sole airline on the list, has been banned from EU airspace since 2009.
• Equatorial Guinea: Despite only experiencing two deadly air accidents in 2005 and 2008, all carriers in Equatorial Guinea are banned from operating in the EU.
• Eritrea: The EU imposed a ban on all airlines operated out of Eritrea in 2012, citing safety concerns and the absence of adequate mitigating measures, reported The Independent.
• Kyrgyzstan: Following a fatal accident in January 2017, sixteen airlines from Kyrgyzstan are banned from operating in the EU.
• Liberia: Although no airlines currently operate in Liberia, carriers certified in the country are still banned by the EU.
• Libya: In 2014, all airlines operating out of Libya were banned due to the Civil Aviation Authority's inability to meet international safety obligations.
• Nepal: EU banned airlines operating out of Nepal in 2013 over safety concerns. A fatal crash in January 2023 involved Yeti Airlines, one of the carriers on the banned list.
• Russia: About 20 airlines from Russia are banned from operating out of the EU and entering its airspace, following frequent fatal air travel accidents. In August 2023, a non-commercial plane crash famously killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of a Russian mercenary group that was rebelling against military leadership in Moscow, and all others on board, stated US News.
• Sao Tome and Principe: In November 2009, all airlines operating out of Sao Tome and Principe were added to the EU's Air Safety List, banning them from operating in EU airspace. The vice-president of the European Commission said, "We cannot accept that airlines fly while not complying with international safety standards. This endangers all of us who unknowingly could be on an unsafe plane."
• Sierra Leone: While no airlines currently operate out of Sierra Leone, the EU list still bans carriers certified in the country.
• Sudan: All airlines operating out of Sudan were added to the EU's list of banned carriers in 2010 due to poor safety performance of the civil aviation authority. A crash in 2020 killed 18 people shortly after leaving El Geneina Airport.