Flying is still extremely safe despite the recent tragedies

But risks in conflict zones may be rising

- Simon Calder

Families are grieving after two aviation tragedies within four days killed more than 200 passengers and crew. The Christmas Day crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190 was followed by the loss four days later of a Jeju Air Boeing 737.

The calamities come at the end of a year that began with a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 bursting into flames as it landed at Tokyo’s main airport, Haneda, on 2 January. All 379 passengers and crew escaped from the aircraft as it blazed after colliding with a Japan Coast Guard Bombardier Dash-8, which had not been cleared for take-off. Five out of the six flight crew on the smaller plane were killed.