20 February – International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Their Families

In 2021, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) declared February 20 as the International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Their Families.

Today is an important reminder of civil aviation accidents that claim lives and leave deep scars in the hearts of their loved ones. ICAO’s initiative aims not only to honor the memory of the victims, but also to draw attention to the need to support families who face physical, emotional and moral hardships as a result of such events.

Every year, ICAO holds events to remind governments and the aviation industry of their commitments to improve the provision of support, resources and comprehensive information to victims of air crashes and their loved ones in post-accident circumstances.

The tragedy that occurred on December 25 when an Embraer 190 passenger plane of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC crashed is a sad incident related to air transportation. Although 38 people, including crewmembers and passengers lost their lives as a result of the crash, 29 people were saved thanks to the heroism of pilots and flight attendants. This underscores the importance of professionalism and dedication in critical situations.

This tragedy emphasizes the importance of further improving flight safety measures. ICAO and its member states, including Azerbaijan continue to work on promoting legislative initiatives aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.