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TSB releases preliminary 2023 transportation occurrence statistics

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada on February 20 released its summary of preliminary transportation occurrence statistics from 2023, which show accidents are below the five-year average across all modes, including: Air, marine, pipeline and rail.

Looking at the air transportation sector, in 2023, a total of 1,014 air transportation occurrences (accidents and incidents) were reported to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), an increase of 14 per cent over the previous year (893).

Of these occurrences, a total of 181 were aviation accidents, an increase from the 166 accidents reported in 2022, but five per cent lower than the five-year average of 191. Nineteen of these were fatal, according to the TSB, resulting in 33 fatalities compared to 24 fatal accidents and 34 fatalities in 2022.

Air accidents involving commercial operators increased from 56 in 2022 to 78 in 2023, while those involving private operations (by recreational operators, holders of a private operator registration document, or others) decreased from 108 to 100.

Of the total occurrences, 833 were aviation incidents, which is an increase from the previous year (727) and above the five-year average (685).

The TSB will release its complete and final statistical reports for 2023 in late spring; these will include accident rates and a more thorough analysis of the updated data (which may vary slightly from this preliminary data).