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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Air India crash brings aviation death toll to 460 this year. So, is it still safe to fly?
This year is proving one of the deadliest in the past decade for air travel. With at least 260 dead after the Air India crash this week, aviation experts say fatalities have reached 460 in the first six months of 2025. Given the latest tragedy, investigates whether air travel really is becoming more dangerous. While the aviation industry maintains exceptionally high safety standards, the recent string of high-profile incidents has raised fears flying is getting riskier. The average number of deaths during flights per year stands at 284, according to Jan-Arwed Richter, founder of Jacdec, a German consulting firm that tracks aviation safety. That means 2025 has already had almost double the average number of air travel deaths. Richter told Bloomberg: 'This year still has more than six months to go, so this could be concerning if this rate of fatal accidents would go on.' While many people will likely now have concerns about the safety of air travel, experts stress flying is not getting more dangerous. Dr Simon Bennett, director of the civil safety and security unit at the University of Leicester, in England, told 'That perception is understandable because safety goes through peaks and troughs. 'So if you take a snapshot at a particular time it can either look like things are getting seriously dangerous or that things are getting seriously safe.' The high level of fatalities in 2025 comes on the back of one of the safest periods in the history of air travel. In 2023, industry groups found there was not a single fatal incident throughout the entire year. However, a series of high-profile events starting from the end of 2024 have grabbed the public attention. While these incidents create an illusion of escalating danger, this is not reflected in the statistical reality. As the Air India tragedy unfolded, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch published its annual safety review for 2024. This review concluded: 'Commercial aviation remains one of the safest forms of public transport, with global accident rates continuing their long-term decline.' Dr Bennett points out that aviation experts only look at averages over longer periods, to avoid being biased by big spikes associated with single incidents. 'If you take a 20-year snapshot, then air safety is unequivocally improving,' he explained. However, the experts also points out that it is extremely difficult to convince people of this fact. 'You will be safer five miles above than you would be at home - that is a fact. 'But if you tell the public that they won't believe you,' he said. 'My deepest sympathies go out to those who've been affected, but I would beg the public to consider such events in the widest possible context.' As for what has caused this 'trough' in air flight safety, there may be a number of reasons with economic causes being the most likely. Dr Bennett says that downturns in the fortunes of airflight industries lead to reduced investment in safety, which can spark an increase in near misses and incidents. Until the official investigation concludes, it is impossible to confirm exactly what led to the crash of Air India Flight 171. However, it appears environmental and mechanical issues may have combined to prevent the flight from gaining altitude properly. Dr Sammy Diasinos, an aerodynamics researcher at Macquarie University, in Sydney, Australia, says: 'The B787 has very powerful engines and can easily operate if one engine fails, so for this accident to occur, we would be looking at a very rare double engine failure. 'I would expect this highlights an environmental cause rather than an engine or maintenance issue. 'It would be very unusual for two engines on the same aircraft to be on the exact same maintenance schedule, making simultaneous mechanical failure unlikely.' Experts point out that the hot conditions and the flight's full fuel would have meant it needed extra time to gain altitude - something which it appeared unable to do. With temperatures on the runway at 37°C (98°F), the flight would have needed significantly more lift to gain altitude. Additionally, Flight 171 appeared to have both its landing gear deployed and flaps retracted at an altitude of only 600ft (182m) causing it to have a lower lift. Murray Terwey, an aviation lecturer at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, said: 'Aircrew have been known in the past to retract the flap instead of the gear by mistake. 'This, in the early stages of flight, can lead to a significant loss of lift which can lead to an accident.' However, the exact combination of factors which led to this incident will only be revealed in a full investigation by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
Metro
30-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
How China is using the UK to protect its nuclear designs
Chinese nuclear power giants are using the British Intellectual Property Office to protect their advanced designs (Picture: Getty Images/Science Photo Libra) Chinese firms are using the UK to protect their nuclear blueprints — despite being sanctioned in the US over fears of military activity. The state-owned companies are using the British patenting office as Beijing forges ahead with new reactors to power its own country while targeting the West with espionage and cyber-attacks. Documents show how the energy giants are drawing up designs for advanced fuel technology and 'in-depth' protection of plants. The applications have emerged as the government seeks to keep the Scunthorpe steel plant running after using emergency legislation to take over the running of British Steel from its Chinese owners. The crisis followed GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler warning that Beijing 'is looking to shape global technology' in its favour and the agency now devotes 'more resources to China than any other single mission.' The latest patent has been filed by state-owned companies China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd and CGN Power Co. Ltd. Published in the official journal, the blueprint shows a 3D simulation system helping to improve safety and performance at plants. Another application by China Nuclear Power Engineering Co. Ltd concerns a method for evaluating safety at a power plant. The US Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce says that CGN and the research institute have been involved in 'efforts to acquire advanced US nuclear technology and material for diversion to military uses in China.' Risk management expert Dr Simon Bennett, author of the book 'Atomic Blackmail?', highlighted China's stake in the UK's nuclear industry. He said: 'Chinese involvement in Britain's critical national infrastructure, for example, nuclear and steel, provides the context to China's access to the UK patent system. For better or worse, the government is in bed with China, which gives Beijing traction over British interests. 'The patents filed by the Chinese companies reflect this background of co-operation between the two countries, which is induced by the policy straitjacket that is the Climate Change Act and its net-zero ambition. 'It is hard to overstate how much this legislation shapes, or distorts, depending on your point of view, British policy-making.' The dome for Hinkley Point C's first reactor building is shown being lifted into place in December 2023 (Picture: EDF/SWNS) Dr Bennett, of the University of Leicester, believes the Climate Change Act, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, has led to the UK making unfavourable deals with Chinese firms. He said: 'The Act has led to the UK courting the Chinese state, including through the Hinkley Point C venture. 'Countries such as China and India must be laughing at us as they file plans and forge ahead with their own power industries, including through coal-fired plants, while our government desperately tries to meet its over-ambitious commitments.' While the designs make no reference to military uses, they have been filed at a time of heightened concern in the West about China's covert activities, including espionage and cyber-hacking. Outwardly, Beijing has made no secret of its nuclear ambitions, either for defence or energy purposes. On its website, the China Nuclear Power Engineering Co. carries an article outlining the country's aim to become a 'nuclear industrial power' by 2035 and describes all-round uses for the industry, including defence and the provision of 'strong nuclear weapons'. Detailed plans reveal nuclear ambitions The latest plan filed by Chinese nuclear power firms, published on February 25, is for a 'three-dimensional test system, and three-dimensional test device' for simulating the workings of the critical reactor pressure vessel in a nuclear power plant. The plan was filed by the China General Nuclear Power Corporation, China Nuclear Power Technlogy Research Institute Co. Ltd and the CGN Power Co L. Another design by the China Nuclear Power Engineering Co. Ltd, which does not appear on the US sanctions list but is a 'brother' company of the other firms, has filed a safety plan for 'in-depth' defence at a power plant. Both blueprints have been granted. The scope of the ambitions can also be seen in China's plans to build a nuclear power plant on the moon in order to fuel a research station it intends to open with Russia there. Beijing plans to have the permanent lunar base in operation within 10 years. On home soil, China approved 10 new reactors this week, the fourth year running that it has commissioned the building of at least that number. Xi Jinping's nuclear ramp-up is in contrast to the Chinese involvement in Britain's power sector, which has been thrown into the spotlight by the Scunthorpe crisis, where the government has secured raw materials to keep the plant going for the next few months. Opinions differ on the risks posed by Chinese involvement in the UK's critical infrastructure, but there is no doubt that successive governments have cooled on the source of investment. CGN had a stake in Sizewell C before being bought out by the UK government in 2022 (Picture: Chris Radburn/AFP via Getty) R 'Ray' Wang, principal analyst and founder at Constellation Research, a technology research and advisory company based in Silicon Valley, said: 'China likes to play both sides. They are bad actors in world trade and they are bad actors in the patenting world. 'They like to go in and file patents to protect their IP while stealing everyone else's IP and claiming it as their own. 'This is essentially what the challenge is. 'With the overall energy industry, whether it be a small modular reactor, the EV side or nuclear energy, they are trying to socialise and then make their corporate espionage their own IP. 'Essentially, they are stealing the IP and then applying for a patent so that no one will steal from them. They are doing the same thing across the world with critical infrastructure technology but it's a little more blatant in the UK and a little less so here in the US. 'Part of it is because of the UK's relationships with China starting with power, whether it be solar panels or EVs including the electric black cabs, which are made in China. 'Another part is the push back from President Trump, who is the one spotlighting this overarching issue, which is going to continue amid the trade war. The question for the UK is who it trusts more; whether it be a US firm like Cisco or a Chinese firm like Huawei?' China's ability to reach and intimidate its targets in the UK has alarmed activists (Picture: File image by Getty Images/Science Photo Libra) China has been involved in the UK's civil nuclear industry over the last decade but the working relationship has taken a downwards turn in recent years. CGN's one-third stake in Hinkley Point C, which may not open until 2031, is one of the deals in question. As Western-Chinese relations have deteriorated, the firm has reportedly ruled out any further investment in what was intended to be the first new nuclear power plant to be built in the UK in nearly 30 years. CGN also had a 20% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear reactor power venture in Suffolk before being bought out by the government in 2022. Earlier this month, it was reported that the company will no longer build a nuclear power station named Bradwell B in Essex in conjunction with French-owned EDF. The corporation is not expected to submit planning applications for the site, according to government and industry sources who spoke to the Times. An Intellectual Property Office spokesperson said: 'Overseas companies, including from China, can register patents in the UK through the IPO – just as we expect UK companies to be able to register patents overseas. 'The process of obtaining a patent requires that the details of the innovation are published on a publicly accessible register of patents, ensuring transparency. 'Separate powers enable the government to restrict overseas involvement in sensitive sectors where necessary for national security reasons.' The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero also maintained that safeguards are in place to protect British interests. A spokesperson told Metro: 'Through the National Security and Investment Act, we have a robust set of powers to restrict overseas involvement within the civil nuclear sector and sensitive nuclear information is protected by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.' In relation to Scunthorpe, the Chinese embassy in the UK has said that British Steel was 'loss-making' before private firm Jingye kept it afloat and attacked the 'anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians.' A spokesperson said: 'Generally speaking, Chinese companies in the UK have operated in compliance with law and achieved steady progress. 'They have made positive contributions to the local economy. 'According to statistics available, Chinese companies in the UK have contributed over 115 billion pounds to the UK economy and created nearly 60,000 jobs.' Metro has attempted to reach the Chinese companies and the country's UK Embassy for comment. Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact Arrow MORE: Ominous warning over when China could invade Taiwan issued by ex-intelligence boss Arrow MORE: The devious method used by Chinese spies to track a US general's every move Arrow MORE: Activists warn of China's 'terrifying' reach into the UK after parliament alert
