Fatalities from business jet accidents worldwide decreased from 32 in 2023 to 21 last year, according to preliminary data gathered by AIN. Five fatal accidents of U.S.-registered business jets resulted in 15 fatalities last year versus six accidents that claimed 23 in 2023. Non-U.S.-registered business jets experienced three fatal accidents that resulted in six fatalities last year versus three accidents and nine fatalities in 2023.

Two of the fatal business jet accidents last year occurred while on charter flights, while the six other fatal accidents involved private flights. The five N-numbered business jet fatal accidents were on February 7, a Hawker 900XP on a positioning flight (two fatalities); February 9, a chartered Bombardier Challenger 604 on approach (two fatalities); March 10, an Israel Aircraft Industries Westwind on approach (five fatalities); August 20, a Cessna Citation II on takeoff (two killed); and November 5, a HondaJet on takeoff (four fatalities plus one on the ground).

The three fatal accidents involving non-U.S.-registered business jets were on January 20, a Russia-registered Dassault Falcon 10 on a charter flight (two killed); July 23, a Brazil-registered Bombardier Learjet 35 during a go-around (two fatalities); and December 18, an Argentina-registered Challenger 300 experienced a runway excursion while landing.

Included among the 12 non-fatal U.S.-registered business jet accidents in 2024 (versus 11 in 2023) was a rare Part 91K mishap—the 16th occurrence on the NTSB database of U.S.-registered fractional jet operations in the last 18 years. On November 17, a fractional-operated Challenger 650 had a brake and wheel fire after the captain decided to burn off excess fuel by riding the brakes and increasing thrust while taxiing for departure. There was also a Part 91K accident in 2023.

Turboprop business aircraft worldwide recorded three fewer fatal accidents last year compared to 2023, but the number of fatalities bumped up to 72 in 2024 from 71 in 2023, with non-U.S.-registered turboprops accounting for the increase last year. Seven accidents of U.S.-registered turboprops took the lives of 17 souls last year versus 10 accidents and 25 fatalities in 2023.

In the same comparable periods, there were 12 fatal accidents each year of non-N-numbered turboprops. However, last year those crashes killed 55 versus 46 in 2023. The single worst accident in terms of fatalities was on December 22 when a Brazil-registered Piper Cheyenne 400LS on a private flight crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 10 aboard.