For anyone who shrugs off statements like “But it’s safer than a car!” and maintains a death grip on the airplane seat armrests for the duration of any flight, we have some news that could come as a comfort — although we’ll understand if turbulence still makes you think of Lost. According to a group that monitors the world’s airlines, air travel in 2012 was the safest it’s been since 1945. So at least if you have to pay an arm and a leg in fees, you likely won’t suffer any real bodily harm.

The Aviation Safety Network, a private research group in the Netherlands that monitors the industry, says 2012 was the safest year around the world since 1945, with only 23 accidents and 475 fatalities. That’s compared to a 10-year average of 34 accidents and 773 fatalities a year, notes the Los Angeles Times.

The ASN has been working with other international groups to require audits of airlines to make sure that they’re complying with safety standards, and the president of that network says he thinks that work was well worth it. He points to the declining numbers as evidence to that, adding, “I think all of these efforts combined are paying off.”

According to the network’s database there were only two fatal accidents involving commercial airlines last year, which resulted in two deaths.

Africa has a whopping 22% of all fatal airline accidents for 2012, which is somewhat shocking when combined with the fact that only 3% of the world’s airline departures are from that continent.

While it’s encouraging to see such numbers, that likely won’t do anything to quell the irrational fear that wells up inside someone when say, the engine makes a weird noise that can’t possibly be normal, can it?!?!?!? But it’s something to think about.

Air travel in 2012 was the safest since 1945, group says [Los Angeles Times]

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