The terrorist attacks of 2001 are not counted as accidents . However , even if they were counted as accidents they would have added about 2 deaths per 2,000,000,000 person-miles . Two months later , American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in New York City , killing 256 people including 5 on the ground , causing 2001 to show a very high fatality rate . Even so , the rate that year including the attacks ( estimated here to be about 4 deaths per 1,000,000,000 person-miles ) , is safe compared to some other forms of transport when measured by distance traveled
American Airlines Flight 587
American Airlines Flight 587
Aviation safety