MONTREAL — Only about half of aviation accidents investigated under international rules result in published final reports, International Air Transport Association (IATA) safety director Mark Searle told Reuters at the International Aviation Safety Summit on November 12.
Searle said publication rates had shown little improvement. The figure is attributed to Searle; Reuters does not provide a new underlying dataset with his remarks.
Flight Safety Foundation President and Chief Executive Hassan Shahidi told Reuters that investigating agencies commonly cite shortages of staff with sufficient expertise. Missing reports restrict the industry's ability to turn investigations into recommendations, Searle said.
What the Reporting Framework Requires
IATA's explanation of the Annex 13 investigation framework says states should publish a preliminary report within 30 days, issue annual interim statements while an investigation remains open, and release a final report as soon as possible, ideally within 12 months.
That distinction matters when assessing a backlog. Twelve months is the target for completing a final report; an investigation continuing beyond it should still provide public interim information. A preliminary report or annual statement is not a substitute for the final analysis and recommendations.
The purpose of the process is prevention. IATA describes accident investigation as a means of establishing what happened and how to prevent recurrence, rather than assigning blame or determining liability.
An earlier joint industry position paper dated February 10, 2025 provides a defined comparison: as of June 30, 2024, IATA data showed completed investigations for 140 of 268 accidents recorded for 2018–2023, or 52%. That dated sample gives context to Searle’s concern, without establishing a current publication rate for every jurisdiction.
Featured image: Chris Goulet/Airways
