If you’re sitting at a gate right now, scrolling through your phone and wondering if that giant metal tube is actually safe, you’ve probably searched for it. We’ve all done it. You want to know the "black list." You want to know what airline has most crashes so you can avoid them like a bad layover.
But here’s the thing. If you just look at a raw list of numbers, you’re going to see some of the most famous, prestigious brands in the world. It’s confusing. It’s kinda terrifying. Honestly, though, the "most crashes" metric is one of the most misunderstood stats in travel.
Let's get into the actual data for 2026, the history behind the wrecks, and why a high crash count doesn't always mean you should cancel your ticket.
The Raw Data: Which Airlines Have the Most Recorded Crashes?
When we look at total historical accidents, two names usually fight for the top spot. As of the latest 2026 data, American Airlines and Air France are often cited as having the highest number of recorded crashes, with 11 major incidents each.
Wait, what? American Airlines? The one you probably flew last Thanksgiving?
Yes. But before you panic, look at the context. American Airlines is one of the oldest and largest carriers on the planet. They fly thousands of flights every single day. If you’ve been around since the 1930s and you have a fleet of nearly 1,000 planes, your statistical probability of having an incident over 90 years is much higher than a boutique airline that started five years ago.
Here is how the "top" list looks when you just count the historical wrecks:
👉 See also: US States I Have Been To: Why Your Travel Map Is Probably Lying To You
- American Airlines: 11 crashes.
- Air France: 11 crashes.
- China Airlines: 9 crashes.
- Korean Air: 9 crashes.
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA): 8 crashes.
- United Airlines: 7 crashes.
Notice anything? Aside from PIA and China Airlines, these are some of the biggest "legacy" carriers. It’s basically a math problem. More flights + more years = higher chance of appearing on this list.
The Nuance of 9/11 and Terrorism
We have to talk about the "asterisk" next to American and United. If you look at the crash count for American Airlines, it includes the two planes hijacked on September 11, 2001. United Airlines also has two flights from that day on its record.
Technically, these are "crashes." But they weren't mechanical failures. They weren't pilot errors. They were acts of war. Most aviation experts argue that including these in a "safety" ranking is misleading because they don't reflect the airline's maintenance or training standards. If you take those out, the numbers for the big US carriers drop significantly.
Why China Airlines and Korean Air Are Different
Now, let's look at the other names. China Airlines (based in Taiwan) and Korean Air have historically high numbers for a different reason.
Back in the 90s and early 2000s, both airlines struggled with "cockpit culture" and training issues. China Airlines Flight 611, which disintegrated mid-air in 2002, was a massive wake-up call regarding maintenance.
But here is the twist: Korean Air is now widely considered one of the safest airlines in the sky. They spent billions on training, hired Western safety consultants, and completely overhauled how their pilots communicate. In the 2026 AirlineRatings.com rankings, Korean Air actually made the Top 25 safest list.
✨ Don't miss: UNESCO World Heritage Places: What Most People Get Wrong About These Landmarks
This is why "what airline has most crashes" is a tricky question. An airline can have a dark past but a very bright, safe present.
The Real Danger: Aeroflot and the Soviet Era
If we’re being really honest about "most crashes," we have to talk about Aeroflot. During the Soviet era, Aeroflot wasn't just an airline; it was the entire civil aviation department of the USSR.
Some historical databases attribute over 1,200 fatalities and hundreds of incidents to the Aeroflot name during the 20th century. Does that mean the Aeroflot of 2026 is a death trap? Not necessarily. The modern airline is a completely different beast than the state-run behemoth of 1970. However, the sheer volume of its historical accidents makes it the "all-time leader" in a way that’s almost impossible for any Western airline to match.
What Actually Makes an Airline Dangerous?
If total crashes don't tell the whole story, what should you look at? Safety experts generally look at fatalities per million flights.
There are certain regions where safety standards are... let's just say "relaxed." This is why the European Union has a "Banned Carriers" list. If you see an airline on that list—mostly smaller carriers from parts of Africa, Kyrgyzstan, or Nepal—that’s a much bigger red flag than American Airlines having a crash back in 1979.
Nepal Airlines, for example, has a high incident rate because they fly into some of the most treacherous mountains on Earth with older equipment. It's not just the airline; it's the environment.
🔗 Read more: Tipos de cangrejos de mar: Lo que nadie te cuenta sobre estos bichos
The "Never Crashed" Club
On the flip side, some airlines have an almost spooky-good record.
- Qantas: Famous for the line in Rain Man—they've never had a fatal jet hull loss.
- Hawaiian Airlines: They’ve been flying since 1929 and haven't had a single fatal accident. That is a staggering 97 years of perfect safety.
- Etihad & Emirates: The Middle Eastern giants have remarkably clean slates, partly because they fly very young fleets. New planes are generally safer planes.
Is Flying Getting Safer?
Yes. Massively.
In 1970, there were about 4 fatal accidents for every million flights. By 2024 and into 2025, that number dropped to nearly 0.1 per million. You could fly every single day for 15,000 years and never be in a fatal crash.
The 2026 safety data shows that even the airlines with the "most crashes" are safer now than the best airlines were 40 years ago. Better GPS, automated collision avoidance, and better weather tracking have basically eliminated the "mystery" crashes of the past.
How to Check if Your Flight is Safe
If you’re still nervous, don't just look at the crash count. Do this instead:
- Check the Fleet Age: Google the airline’s "average fleet age." If it’s under 10 years, you’re flying on modern tech with the latest safety redundancies.
- Look at IOSA Certification: The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is the gold standard. If an airline isn't IOSA certified, maybe think twice.
- Check the EU Air Safety List: This is the "blacklist." If an airline is banned from European airspace, it’s for a very good reason (usually poor oversight by their country's government).
Actionable Next Steps
Instead of worrying about historical tallies, focus on the present reality of your upcoming travel.
- Search for the specific flight number on a site like Flightradar24 to see the age and maintenance history of the specific tail number assigned to your route.
- Prioritize direct flights. Statistically, most incidents happen during takeoff or landing. One flight is safer than two.
- Pay attention to the safety briefing. It sounds cliché, but knowing where the exits are in relation to your seat is the single best thing you can do for your own safety, regardless of which airline you're on.
The reality is that "what airline has most crashes" is a history lesson, not a travel advisory. Today, your biggest risk isn't the airline's name on the tail—it's likely the drive to the airport.