Boeing Plane Crashes: 2000-2024 Accident Data

This data asset provides a focused analysis of Boeing plane crashes from 2000 to 2024, with particular attention to the 737 Max and the controversy surrounding its safety issues. The crashes involving this model sparked widespread concern over Boeing’s practices and regulatory oversight.

Hill Law Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers analyzed data from Boeing’s Annual Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents to better understand these incidents and the broader implications for aviation safety.

Key Findings

Table of Contents

• Types of Boeing Airplane Models and Generations
• Graph: # of Fatalities vs Boeing Airplane Model
• Fatal Boeing Airplane Crashes By Year (Updated 2024)
• Major Boeing 737 Max Crashes
• Boeing Airplane Fatalities vs. Phase of Flight
• What Happened to Boeing?
• What Airlines Use Boeing Airplanes Still?
• What Happened To Alaska Airlines Flight 261?
• Major Boeing Incidents in 2024
• Understanding Aviation Accidents and Legal Options
• Full Data Table of Boeing Crash Statistics

Boeing Plane Models and 737 Generations

Historically, the Boeing 747 and 757 models have experienced notable fatal accidents, often related to operational issues or external factors. However, the most controversial model in recent years has been the Boeing 737 Max. This model was involved in two high-profile crashes, Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which together claimed over 300 lives. The crashes were linked to flaws in the aircraft’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), leading to a worldwide grounding of the 737 Max. 

• Boeing 737 Classic: Second generation of the Boeing 737 aircraft series and it was launched in 1984. The Boeing 737 Classics include the Boeing 737(-300/-400/-500). Production of the Boeing 737 Classic series ended in the year 2000.  With 494 fatalities, this model accounts for 21% of the total fatalities among 737 variants. Despite being an older generation, it remains involved in numerous accidents.
• Boeing 737 Next Generation: Launched in 1993 and is the third generation derivative of the Boeing 737. Boeing NG is an upgrade of the Classic series and includes four variants, the -600/-700/-800/-900. These stopped getting assembled in 2019. This model has experienced 754 fatalities, representing 32% of the total, making it the deadliest among the Boeing 737 series.
• Boeing 737 Fourth Generation: This is the Boeing 737 MAX that was introduced in 2017. The 737 Max series has four variants: the 737 MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 10. As of February 2024, the MAX 7 and MAX 10 have not been certified. As of June 2024, the 737 MAX has 4,716 unfilled orders and 1,555 deliveries. Two 737 MAXs have had deadly crashes: Lion Air Flight 610 in late 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in early 2019, in which 346 people died. The fourth generation has seen 346 fatalities, making up 14.7% of the total deaths.

If you’ve experienced any injuries due to an aviation accident, securing the assistance of a personal injury lawyer is vital to ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to.

Fatal Boeing Airplane Crashes By Year (Updated 2024)

Over the years, Boeing has seen significant changes in the frequency and nature of fatal accidents involving its aircraft. In the early days of aviation, incidents were more common due to the nascent technology and less stringent safety regulations. As Boeing advanced its engineering and manufacturing processes, the number of fatal accidents per flight hour declined. However, despite these advancements, there are still areas requiring improvement. Recent years have witnessed notable controversial incidents involving Boeing aircraft.

The Two Major Boeing 737 Max 8 Crashes 

The first incident involving the Boeing 737 that led to a significant safety recall was related to the Boeing 737 Classic series, specifically the Boeing 737-400. The incident occurred on March 27, 1991, when United Airlines Flight 553, a Boeing 737-200, crashed during its approach to Midway International Airport in Chicago, resulting in the death of the pilot and 9 other passengers. Following this, in the early 1990s, Boeing faced a series of safety concerns and technical issues with the 737 Classic series. These issues led to several modifications and improvements in the aircraft’s design and systems. 

The 737 MAX series was introduced in 2017, and had more direct and widespread implications for safety recalls and groundings due to the two major crashes in 2018 and 2019, which led to a global grounding of the fleet and a comprehensive review of its systems and safety protocols. Below are the details of these two catastrophic incidents: 

Lion Air Flight 610 Crash

 Date: October 29, 2018
 Location: Off the coast of Java, Indonesia
Details: A nearly NEW Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff, killing all 189 people on board. The crash was attributed to issues with the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) and faulty sensor data.

After this traumatic event, The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive requiring Boeing to revise the operating procedures in its flight manual for 737 MAX aircraft, focusing on the new Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). This software was designed to prevent stalling by automatically lowering the nose of the plane when a high angle of attack was detected. Although Boeing promised to fix the software within weeks, the revisions were still incomplete by March 2019.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302

Date: March 10, 2019
Location: Near Bishoftu, Ethiopia
Details:  The Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 157 people on board. Similar to the Lion Air crash, the MCAS system and incorrect sensor data played a major role in the accident.

Following mounting pressure from Indonesia and Ethiopia, airlines, pilots, the public, and the families of the 346 victims, the President of the United States ordered the grounding of all 737 MAX aircraft on March 13, 2019. Other nations quickly followed, leading to a worldwide grounding of Boeing’s best-selling plane for 21 months.

Boeing Airplane Fatalities vs. Phase of Flight

Boeing airplane fatalities vary significantly across different phases of flight. The climb phase, which includes the ascent right after takeoff, is the most dangerous, accounting for 999 fatalities, or about 23.1% of the total. The cruise phase, when the aircraft is flying at its highest altitude, follows closely with 976 fatalities, representing 22.6%.

Takeoff and final approach are also high-risk phases, with 872 (20.2%) and 629 (14.6%) fatalities, respectively. Landing accounts for 523 fatalities (12.1%), while the initial climb phase is responsible for 233 fatalities (5.4%). Other phases such as initial approach and descent contribute smaller percentages, at 383 (8.9%) and 94 (2.2%) fatalities, respectively.

Less risky activities include go-arounds (62 fatalities, 1.4%), parked aircraft (5 fatalities, 0.1%), and taxiing or loading/unloading, each with only 1 fatality (0.02%).

What Happened to Boeing Since The 737 Max Crashes?

Boeing faced significant legal and financial repercussions as the 737 MAX was grounded, halting all deliveries of the aircraft. Wrongful death claims were filed by the families of the victims of the two crashes, leading to Boeing being charged with fraud and ultimately settling the charges by paying over $2.5 billion in penalties and compensation. If you or a loved one has been affected by a wrongful death, it is essential to seek the assistance of a wrongful death lawyer.

During this time, airlines canceled more orders than Boeing could fulfill. Additionally, debris was discovered in the fuel tanks of 35 out of 50 grounded 737 MAX planes that were inspected, leading to further inspections of the remaining 400 undelivered planes. The grounding resulted in hundreds of canceled MAX 8 orders, billions in losses for Boeing, the replacement of the CEO, and multiple civil and criminal investigations. Evidence later revealed that Boeing’s own engineers and test pilots were aware of the MCAS issues long before the crashes, but this information was not shared with the FAA, airlines, or pilots. In 2020, the FAA lifted the grounding order, requiring all aircraft to be repaired in line with various airworthiness directives.

By the end of October 2020, Boeing had removed 595 MAX orders from its backlog and canceled an additional 448, resulting in a total loss of 1,043 orders and leaving a backlog of 3,320. In contrast, Boeing’s competitor, Airbus, had a backlog of 5,956 jets for its A320neo family, directly competing with the 737 MAX. Boeing was charged with fraud related to both 737 MAX crashes and ultimately settled the charges by paying over $2.5 billion in penalties and compensation. This included a $243.6 million criminal fine, $1.77 billion in damages to airline customers, and $500 million to a fund for crash victims’ families.

What Airlines Use Boeing Planes?

Currently, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines are the only major airlines in the United States with Boeing aircraft in service. Below is a table outlining the current # of Boeing planes in service for each airline and the model.

Although the number of orders for Boeing planes has significantly dropped, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines still operate on the majority of Boeing airplanes. Below is a table detailing the most common commercial airlines and the amount of Boeing model planes they have ordered in the past 2 years (2022-2024) 

Below is the current status of Boeing commercial airplane orders in 2024:

• Production: Regulators have authorized Boeing to produce up to 38 737s permonth, but the company has opted to slow production until they are prepared to resume full capacity. As of May 2024, Boeing was 75 deliveries behind its 2023 totals.
• Orders: By May 2024, Boeing had secured 142 gross new orders for the year, including four 787-10 Dreamliners for Eva Air. After accounting for cancellations and conversions, the net total was 103 orders. Adjusted for various accounting factors, the net orders stood at 130.
• Backlog: As of May 31, 2024, Boeing’s backlog had slightly decreased from 5,646 to 5,625.

What Happened To Alaska Airlines Flight 261?

As of mid-2024, there have been no major crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX. However, the Alask Airlines depressurization incident has put Boeing’s safety issues back in the spotlight for many frequent fliers. The incident occured on January 5, 2024 in Ontario, California. Boeing 737 MAX-9 operated by Alaska Airlines was flying to Ontario, California when it had to make an emergency landing at the Portland International Airport after a portion of its fuselage ripped off. A door-sized hole was left in the side of the aircraft about 16,000 feet into the sky and several items, including phones, were sucked out of the plane when it depressurized.: 

Following the Alaska Airlines incident, scrutiny and criticism of Boeing have intensified, suggesting that the company has not fulfilled its promises to enhance safety after the earlier crashes. 

How Many Boeing Incidents In 2024?

This year, Boeing faces increased oversight from the Federal Aviation Administration and Congress, along with potential criminal liability in an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into these serious safety incidents. In July 2024, Boeing agreed to a plea deal to avoid a criminal trial related to the 737 Max crashes that occurred in 2018 and 2019. The deal resolves allegations that the company misled regulators and failed to disclose critical safety issues with the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) on the 737 Max. 

As part of the agreement, Boeing will pay substantial financial penalties and implement additional safety measures to enhance transparency and accountability. This resolution aims to address the legal and regulatory fallout from the crashes while allowing the company to focus on restoring confidence in its aircraft and safety practices. A few other incidents have occurred since the Alaska Airlines nightmare, which has only worsened Boeing’s reputation. 

Below are the other Boeing plane incidents that have occurred in 2024:

Atlas Air Fire

Date: January 19, 2024
Location: Miami, Florida
Details: Videos on social media captured flames coming out of a Boeing 747-8 in Miami. They return safely after the crew reported an engine failure.

Tire Falls Off United Airlines Plane

Date: March 7, 2024
Location: San Francisco
Details: A tire falls off a United Airlines flight shortly after takeoff from San Fransisco to Japan. No one was injured, but public paranoia increased.

LATAM Airlines Incident

Date: March 11, 2024
Location: Sydney to New Zealand
Details: A LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to New Zealand experienced a technical error that caused the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to drop suddenly in mid-air. 50 passengers were injured, and the flight landed safely.

Boeing Plane Crash Senegal

A Boeing 737-300 skidded off the runway at Dakar’s Blaise Diagne Airport in Senegal early Thursday, injuring at least 10 people, with four in serious condition. The aircraft, operating as Air Senegal flight HC 301 to Bamako, experienced the incident during takeoff. While the pilot sustained minor injuries, most of the 78 passengers were unharmed.

Boeing Fedex Plane Crash

A FedEx cargo plane, a Boeing 767, made an emergency landing at Istanbul Airport after its front landing gear failed. The aircraft, flying from Paris to Istanbul, alerted air traffic control about the malfunction. Emergency teams prepared the runway, and the plane landed safely on its rear gear, with its nose down. There were no injuries, and the crew evacuated without incident. The runway was briefly closed for the plane’s removal. Turkish authorities are investigating the cause of the gear failure. The nearly 10-year-old Boeing 767, a common cargo plane model, has been under increased scrutiny following recent incidents involving Boeing aircraft.

Understanding Aviation Accidents and Legal Options

While aviation accidents are rare, they can have devastating consequences when they occur. Whether it’s a commercial flight or a private plane crash, the aftermath often involves complex investigations and legal challenges. Victims or their families may seek compensation for injuries or wrongful death resulting from these tragic events.

For those impacted by an aviation accident, it’s crucial to have a legal expert on your side. If you’re in need of guidance, consider reaching out to a San Antonio aviation accident lawyer who can navigate the intricate laws and regulations surrounding aviation accidents.

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Full Data Table of Boeing Crash Statistics

Note: Data collected from the official Boeing Statistical Summary of Commerical Jet Airplane Accidents.