An interesting snippet from "
The Spectator" magazine.
The loss of a second Malaysian Airways airliner means that the number of worldwide casualties in civilian air disasters — 827 so far this year — has already exceeded that of last year, when 459 died. But it does little to disturb the steady downwards trend. These are the deadliest years for air passengers since 1945:
1972 3,344 deaths
1985 2,962
1973 2,815
1999 2,798
1974 2,621
And these are the least fatal:
2013 459 deaths
2004 767
2012 800
2011 828
2008 952
This, of course, will be of no comfort to those who have lost loved ones but may help us remember flying is still extraordinarily safe.