Which aircraft models have the worst safety record? According to Boeing's own data, covering the period from 1959 to 2024, the aircraft model with the worst safety record that's still in service is the Fokker F28 Fellowship, with a hull-loss accident rate of 4.62 per million departures.
The aircraft types with the worst safety records tend to be older regional turboprops and early-generation jets with small worldwide fleets, flown mainly in regions with weaker infrastructure, regulation, or maintenance oversight.
Boeing and Airbus planes are equally safe
It should be noted that the Jalopnik report adjusts the data for the number of flights to more fairly compare the two manufacturers' records. Boeing's bad rap is also amplified by other factors, including quality control issues widely reported in the media.
The 737, Thomas adds, still has a better safety record than the 747. “And nobody would ever hesitate to get on board a 747,” he says. “One of the things about aviation, as time goes by, is that manufacturers and airlines learn from their mistakes, and put systems in place to ensure they don't make them again.
As of May 2024, the 777 has been involved in 31 aviation accidents and incidents, including five hull loss accidents out of eight total hull losses with 542 fatalities including 3 ground casualties.
Boeing is fully confident in the safety and longevity of the 777. With three decades of innovation in design and production and more than 3.9 billion passengers safely flown, the 777 family is the most successful widebody family in aviation history.
On 3 August 2016, the aircraft, carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew, crashed while landing at Dubai International Airport.
Boeing 737 Max jets were grounded worldwide between March 2019 and late 2020 after the two catastrophic crashes involving the Max 8 model.
As of December 2021, the global A380 fleet had completed more than 800,000 flights over 7.3 million block hours with no fatalities and no hull losses.
KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, March 27, 1977
This crash remains the deadliest ever, claiming the lives of 583 people when two 747s collided on a foggy runway on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
There's no definitive answer—it depends on the pilot's personality, training, and priorities. Some pilots may find Airbus's side-stick and automation more comfortable, while others may prefer the tactile control and familiarity of Boeing's yoke. Both designs represent decades of innovation and safety-first thinking.
Aircraft with no fatal crashes, the Boeing 717, Airbus A340, and Boeing 787, are considered the safest.
Boeing secured 1,000 new jet orders through November, surpassing Airbus by approximately 200 orders for the year. Boeing has not reported a full-year profit since 2018 and has not delivered more jets than Airbus since 2018. Boeing is projected to deliver almost 700 jets in 2026, an increase from about 600 in 2024.
The Christmas Bullet, later known as the Cantilever Aero Bullet (sometimes referred to as the Christmas Strutless Biplane), was an American single-seat cantilever wing biplane. It is considered by many to be among the worst aircraft ever constructed for its time.
Pilot error is the number one cause of aviation accidents. Piloting an aircraft requires lengthy training, a knowledge of the mechanical components of an aircraft, and hand-eye coordination skills to effectively and safely maneuver an aircraft. Pilots also have to think ahead.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Airlines
At 242 feet, the 777-300ER is just four feet longer than the A380-800. But beyond that? The A380 crushes it. It has a 261-foot wingspan (almost 50 feet more), it's taller, heavier, and can carry over 800 passengers in an all-economy setup.
The world's oldest Airbus A380 still flying belongs to Emirates. Registered A6-EDF, it was built in 2006, entered service in 2009, and turns 20 years old this February. Despite the A380 program ending in 2019, 150+ A380s are still active worldwide today.
Popular culture. In September 2021, PBS released Boeing's Fatal Flaw, a Frontline documentary about how Boeing ignored critical safety issues with the 737 MAX resulting in the crash of two airliners.
According to 2024 data, Airbus has a slightly better safety record than Boeing. Boeing's crash rate is 1.7 times higher than Airbus, and recent issues with the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner have affected public trust. The Airbus A320 family also has a lower fatality rate compared to the Boeing 737.
As of January 2026, a total of 65 Boeing 747 aircraft, or just above 4% of the total number of 747 built, have been involved in accidents and incidents resulting in a hull loss, meaning that the aircraft was either destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair since the type was first flown commercially in 1970.
Hawaiian Airlines is the oldest airline in the world that has never experienced an accident. Of course, the company has had its fair share of safety-related incidents. In 2000, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 overran a runway in Tahiti.
Seats are laid out with economy at the rear, business class in the middle, and first class toward the front of the plane. While crashes are incredibly rare, in general, sitting toward the aisle at the back of the plane near an emergency exit is the safest choice.