Deaths on commercial aircraft worldwide rose 15% in 2009 while the overall accident rate involving Western-built jets fell to an all-time low

Accident rates were lowest in the former Soviet republics and North America, followed by North Asia and Europe. Rates were higher than the world average in the Asia-Pacific region, Middle East-North Africa and Latin America-Caribbean. The highest rate was in Africa. African airlines accounted for 2% of worldwide passenger traffic but 23% of serious accidents.