Flying to developing countries is far more dangerous than flying to more developed countries. Air passengers in developing countries are thirteen times as likely to crash with a fatal outcome. In general, however, safety is improving.

These findings are in a study conducted by the American professor Arnold Barnett of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management (MIT). His research is based on data from the period 2000-2007.

Risks
Professor Barnett found that if you fly to the United States, Australia, Japan or any other rich country, you have a one in 14 million chance of crashing. Flying to emerging countries such as Brazil, India or Taiwan brings with it a crash risk of one in two million. Flying to or within developing countries is even more risky. Travellers in Africa or South American countries have a one in 800,000 chance of crashing.

Safety
Professor Barnett told the Flemish newspaper De Morgen that there are clear differences in flight safety. "This is not a vague impression. There is a large systematic difference. Even domestic flights in those countries were subject to the same risks. "

"Even Singapore and Hong Kong, where residents have the incomes and quality of life of a developed country, are statistically closer to the developing world," says Professor Barnett. "They have not yet made up their deficits."

Perspective
The researcher became interested in flight safety because he has fear of flying. He thinks that, despite these figures, safety is increasing worldwide. "One in 800,000 is actually pretty low. We are talking about safe and very safe, not safe and dangerous. "

According to Professor Barnett, cultural differences between countries play a major role. "Such as respect for authority. For some, the pilot is always right, even if he has made a mistake. Also individualism and the ability to solve their own problems are involved. "

Accidents
Despite the relatively large differences between countries, generally speaking safety is increasing. "The good news is that the overall picture shows that fewer and fewer crashes are occuring."

So far in 2010, there have been eight accidents involving passenger aircraft that have resulted in fatalities, all of them in developing countries. This includes the plane crash in Tripoli, which killed two Belgians and 71 Dutch citizens.