Top 10 Tips for Safe Air Travel

Last year was the safest year for air travel in more than 60 years, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

In 2012, there were 23 fatal airliner accidents – including both passenger and cargo flights – resulting in 475 fatalities and 36 ground fatalities worldwide. Those figures are well below the 10-year average of 34 accidents and 773 fatalities.

When only passenger flights are considered, the news is even brighter. There were 11 accidents involving passenger aircraft – the lowest total since 1945 and under the average of 16 accidents per year.

People who are injured in a Pennsylvania airplane crash – or the families of people who are killed – might have a right to sue for financial compensation.

Following is from the ASN news release:

2012 marked the longest period without a fatal airliner accident in modern aviation history. This record period of 68 days ended on January 30 with the crash of an Antonov 28.

The Bhoja Air Boeing 737 accident on April 20 ended the longest period (632 days, since July 28, 2010) without an airliner accident killing over 100 people.

The worst accident happened on June 3, 2012 when a Dana Air MD-83 crashed while on approach to Lagos, Nigeria, killing 153 on board and ten on the ground.

Three out of 23 accident airplanes (13 percent) were operated by airlines on the E.U. “black list” as opposed to 25 percent the year before.

Africa is the least safe continent for flying, accounting for 22 percent of all fatal airliner accidents while hosting only three percent of all world aircraft departures.

Following are 10 Air Travel Safety Tips:

1. Fly on non-stop routes.
2. Choose large aircraft.
3. Pay attention to the preflight briefing.
4. Keep the storage bin free of heavy articles.
5. Keep your seatbelt fastened while seated.
6. Listen to the flight attendants.
7. Don't bring any hazardous materials.
8. Let the flight attendant pour hot drinks.
9. Don't drink too much.
10. Keep your wits about you.

Seventeen passengers were killed in a 2000 charter airplane crash in Bear Creek Township in Luzerne County. The plane ran out of fuel on the flight from Atlantic City to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport. The fuel gauges were defective and the pilots ignored other warnings of low fuel.

The plane's owner and manufacturer paid a total of $32.25 million to settle wrongful death and personal injury claims. The Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright represented the families of a number of victims.