just checked, and there were over 2 million air transport movements in the UK alone last year. BBC need new researchers.
These are European commision statistics for 2001.
Table 2: Fatality rates for different passenger transport modes
Unit: Fatality rate (persons killed per billion passenger-km)
Mode Fatality rate
Motorcycle/moped 16
Foot 7.5
Cycle 6.3
Car 0.8
Bus and coach 0.08
All road use 1.1
Ferry 0.33
Air (public transport) 0.08
Rail 0.04
This is obviously one of the safest parts of the world, Africa and Asia rates are higher, but they are most ikely similarly dangerous to drive/walk etc in.