Accidents in Africa

South African President Thabo Mbeki told African transport ministers on May 18 that he is "concerned" about the high number of aircraft accidents on the continent.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a summit of African Union ministers responsible for aviation, being held in South Africa, Mbeki said a recent analysis of global airliner accident statistics for 2004 found that although it had been a safe year in general, there was reason for concern in Africa.

Mbeki noted, "It is alarming that, although the continent accounts for about 3 percent of world aircraft departures, Africa witnesses 27 percent of all fatal accidents on its soil."

He noted the goal of reducing the accident rate by 50 percent by 2015.

Mbeki also expressed concern at the practice of African countries to import second-hand "older generation aircraft" to boost capacity. "Yet we find the same aircraft banned from European or American airspace for environmental reasons," he noted. "What sometimes looks like a solution may, in fact, turn into somewhat of a trap."