Airbus vs Boeing: A Comparison of Civil Aircraft Crash Incidents and Fatalities

World Defense

In the world of commercial aviation, two giants—Boeing and Airbus—dominate the skies. Both companies have produced some of the safest and most advanced airliners in history. Yet, over the decades, both have also been associated with tragic accidents. A closer look at crash data reveals important insights into their safety records and the impact on passengers.

Crash Records: Boeing vs Airbus

🛫 Boeing

Boeing’s civil aviation history dates back to the 1950s, making it the older of the two. Boeing has produced iconic aircraft such as the 707, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner. Due to its long history and the sheer number of aircraft produced, Boeing has experienced more crashes.

• First major crash: 1959 (Boeing 707)

• Estimated fatal crashes (civil aircraft): ~270

• Total fatalities (estimated): ~17,600+

• Notable disasters:

  • Tenerife Airport Disaster (1977): 583 dead (747 involved)

  • 737 MAX crashes (2018 & 2019): 346 dead (Lion Air + Ethiopian Airlines)

🛫 Airbus

Airbus entered the market in the 1970s, with the A300 as its first aircraft. Airbus is known for innovations in automation and cockpit design.

• First major crash: 1974 (A300 prototype)

• Estimated fatal crashes (civil aircraft): ~90

• Total fatalities (estimated): ~4,300+

• Notable disasters:

  • Air France Flight 447 (2009): 228 dead (A330)

  • Germanwings Flight 9525 (2015): 150 dead (A320)

Why More Boeing Crashes?

• More aircraft produced: Boeing has delivered over 20,000 civil aircraft; Airbus has delivered around 13,000.

• Older service history: Boeing aircraft have been flying for decades longer.

• Operational environments: Many older Boeing jets served in regions with less developed infrastructure or stricter operational challenges.

However, it's important to stress that these figures are not simply a reflection of safety design—both Boeing and Airbus build aircraft that meet the world's toughest regulatory standards. Many crashes result from external factors: weather, pilot error, maintenance issues, or even terrorism.

Fatalities & Survivors Overview

Here’s a simplified historical chart comparing major incidents for both:

Manufacturer	Estimated Fatal Crashes	Total Fatalities	Notable Survivors (examples)
Boeing	~270	~17,600+	737 Hawaii midair loss: all survived; UA 232 DC-10 crash: 185 survived
Airbus	~90	~4,300+	A320 Hudson River landing: all survived; A380 Qantas engine failure: all survived

✈ Hudson Miracle (2009): Airbus A320 (US Airways Flight 1549)—all 155 on board survived after ditching in the river.

✈ United Airlines Flight 232 (1989): Although a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (pre-merger with Boeing), this is often referenced in Boeing safety studies—185 of 296 survived after crash landing.

Final Verdict: Which Had More Crashes?

👉 Boeing has experienced more crash incidents and fatalities in total, largely because of:

• Its longer operational history.

• A larger fleet in global service.

• Early entry into the jet age where safety standards were still evolving.

👉 Airbus has had fewer crashes in comparison, partly due to:

• A younger fleet.

• More modern design philosophies from the start.

That said, both manufacturers have excellent modern safety records. The industry-wide accident rate for both is extremely low, especially since the 2000s.

Here’s a comprehensive summary of major civil aircraft crash incidents involving Boeing and Airbus, including aircraft model, airline, country, date, fatalities, and survivors:

✈️ Boeing and Airbus Some Major Crash Incidents List

Year	Manufacturer	Aircraft/Flight	Airline	Country	Fatalities	Survivors
1970s	Boeing 747–200	KLM Flight 4805 & Pan Am Flight 1736 (Tenerife)	KLM/Pan Am	Spain	583	61
1988	Airbus A320–111	Air France Flight 296Q	Air France	France	3	133
1990	Airbus A320–231	Indian Airlines Flight 605	Indian Airlines	India	92	0
1992	Airbus A320–111	Air Inter Flight 148	Air Inter	France	87	9
1992	Airbus A310–304	Thai Airways Flight 311	Thai Airways	Nepal	113	0
1994	Airbus A300B4	China Airlines Flight 140	China Airlines	Japan	264	7
1998	Airbus A300B4	China Airlines Flight 676	China Airlines	Taiwan	196 (plus 6 ground)	0
2000	Airbus A310–304	Kenya Airways Flight 431	Kenya Airways	Ivory Coast	169	10
2009	Airbus A330–203	Air France Flight 447	Air France	Atlantic Ocean	228	0
2010	Boeing 737–800	Air India Express Flight 812	Air India Express	India	158	8
2018	Boeing 737 MAX 8	Lion Air Flight 610	Lion Air	Indonesia	189	0
2019	Boeing 737 MAX 8	Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302	Ethiopian Airlines	Ethiopia	157	0
2020	Boeing 737–800	Ukraine Int’l Airlines 752 (military shootdown)	UIA	Iran	176	0
2020	Airbus A320–200	Pakistan Int’l Airlines 8303	PIA	Pakistan	98	2
2024	Boeing 737–800	Jeju Air crash	Jeju Air	South Korea	179	0
2025	Boeing 787–8	Air India Flight 171	Air India	India	240+	1

Summary

Metric	Boeing	Airbus
First civil jet delivery	1958 (707)	1974 (A300)
Fatal civil crashes (est.)	~270	~90
Total fatalities (est.)	~17,600+	~4,300+
Survivor examples	UA 232, 737 Hawaii, 777 BA crash Heathrow	Hudson A320, Qantas A380, A320 Toronto
Crashes per million flights (modern era)	Extremely low (both)	Extremely low (both)