Preparedness matters
Nearly two decades of the highest safety records in commercial aviation raise a critical question: are our preparedness and investigation capabilities equally robust?
1.13 accidents per million sectors flown in 2024
Commercial aviation is safer than ever. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the accident rate for commercial air transport in 2024 was 1.13 accidents per million sectors flown—a dramatic improvement from 3.72 in 2005. Yet history shows that even the safest operators may one day face a serious incident or accident. In an instant, lives may be lost or changed forever, reputations placed under intense scrutiny, and lessons demanded of the industry.
While emergency responders focus on saving lives and property, organizations—operators, aerodromes, and regulatory authorities—must be ready to navigate a parallel reality: accident investigation. This article explores how preparedness, coordination, and collaboration are essential to effective investigations, ensuring both immediate response and long-term safety improvements.
For many National Investigation Authorities (NIAs), a major accident is, thankfully, a rare event. This rarity, however, means that when such an occurrence does take place, the authority may find itself under international scrutiny with limited experience of managing the complexities involved.
Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention provides the framework for accident investigation, but its application depends heavily on the circumstances and location. For operators, the challenge is twofold: how best to support an Annex 13 investigation while also potentially being the focus of it.
Annex 13 sets out roles for accredited representatives and advisors, including the possibility of operators seconding staff to assist the Investigator in Charge (IIC). While these seconded advisors provide invaluable operational insight, they are bound to the IIC and may share information with their employer only with explicit permission. This places them in a uniquely difficult position—valued by investigators, yet sometimes isolated or even pressured by colleagues eager for updates. Managing this dynamic requires foresight, respect for boundaries, and strong organizational discipline.
The initial phases of an accident investigation focus on preserving and collecting evidence. In parallel, operators face urgent decisions about safety and continuity. Questions such as whether aircraft should be inspected or grounded weigh heavily on management, regulators, and passengers.
Independence of the investigation must always be protected, but operators cannot simply “wait it out.” They are responsible for ensuring the rest of their fleet is safe to fly, maintaining trust with regulators, and safeguarding public confidence. A constructive relationship with the investigation team is essential, but it must be built carefully to avoid any potential allegations of interference.
Preparedness exercises should anticipate these tensions. Organizations that have rehearsed the balance between operational continuity and investigative independence are better placed to respond under the pressure of severe disruption.
Family assistance is one of the most visible and sensitive aspects of accident response. Both operators and NIAs carry responsibilities, but coordination is vital to ensure consistent and compassionate communication. Operators may provide practical support—travel, accommodation, and briefing facilities—while the NIA ensures information is released appropriately. Poorly coordinated efforts risk confusion, distress, or the release of information beyond those directly affected.
Equally important is caring for staff. An accident can bring out extraordinary dedication, but it can also leave employees fatigued, disturbed, or overwhelmed. Crisis response may last days, but investigations often extend for months or years. Safety teams can become absorbed by investigative demands, inadvertently overlooking the rest of the operation.
Organizations must plan not just for the acute crisis phase, but also for long-term staff wellbeing: psychological support, fatigue management, and ongoing resilience. An effective plan cannot depend on everyone operating at maximum effort indefinitely.
In addition to cooperating with the Annex 13 investigation, operators will almost certainly conduct their own inquiries as part of their Safety Management System. These internal reviews are necessary for immediate risk management—such as determining when crew may return to duty or addressing safety issues before a final report is published.
Such decisions require careful coordination with the NIA. Safety-critical information must be exchanged in a timely way, but always with respect for the authority of the IIC. Annex 13 makes clear that sharing of investigation findings is at the IIC’s discretion. Breaches of this trust—such as unauthorized disclosure—can result in the removal of advisors from the investigation.
The balance is delicate: operators must act quickly to protect ongoing operations, but they must do so without undermining the independence of the official investigation.
The principle of “making friends before you need them” applies strongly in aviation investigations. Effective collaboration cannot be improvised under crisis conditions; it is built over time.
Operators benefit from proactive engagement with their own NIA, ensuring mutual understanding of roles, processes, and expectations. Beyond the home state, it is wise to build relationships with the NIA of the aircraft manufacturer, engine suppliers, and states with significant traffic links.
Despite Annex 13’s harmonization, practices can vary widely. In some jurisdictions, criminal investigations may take place, in others, pilot unions may have a formal role, or public hearings may be held. Knowing these differences in advance helps operators prepare for diverse scenarios and avoid surprises at the worst possible moment.
Accidents rarely affect only operators. Aerodromes have vital roles in investigation support. Annex 14 to the Chicago Convention highlights responsibilities such as ensuring safe access for investigation teams, preserving the accident site, coordinating emergency services, and facilitating secure communications, while maintaining safe operational continuity for unaffected traffic.
Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) must therefore be designed with investigative needs in mind. Rapid response actions—such as firefighting or debris removal—should preserve, not compromise, evidence.
All aerodrome ecosystem staff also face emotional and physical strain during an accident. Caring for their wellbeing is as important as caring for airline staff. Ensuring integration of accident investigation awareness into aerodrome crisis management training ensures that safety, resilience, and investigation integrity are aligned.
Aircraft accidents are major news stories, and which naturally gain lots of fast-paced media attention. This can place significant pressure on operators, especially in the initial phase and before the release of the final report and uncontrolled disclosures can be distressing for families and cause a loss of trust between the NIA and the operator. Updated media training and simulator-based tools can support staff familiarisation with information control and crisis communication testing. Although when communications plans are ready to be updated the art of striking the challenging balance of protecting both, NIA and operator’s investigative priorities should remain at core.
Navigating aviation accident investigations demands more than compliance with Annex 13. It requires careful planning, clear communication, and resilient relationships between operators, aerodromes, NIAs, and all stakeholders.
Preparedness means being ready to balance investigation with operational continuity, to protect both investigative integrity and ongoing safety. It also means putting people first—supporting affected families with compassion and ensuring staff have the resources and resilience to sustain their roles throughout what may be a long and demanding process.
By prioritizing readiness and collaboration, the industry can respond with confidence when accidents occur—enhancing safety, preserving trust, and ensuring that every investigation contributes meaningfully to the continued improvement of aviation safety standards.
The original version of this article appeared in UAE’s GCAA The Investigator Magazine which can be accessed here.
