However -- first fatalities on U.S. airlines and commuters in three years
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released preliminary aviationaccident statistics which show an overall decline in the number of US registered civil aviation accidents. The number of civil aviation accidents fell from 1,539 in 2012 to 1,297 in 2013.
Although there has been a decrease in accidents involving scheduled Part 121 operations (commercial air transport), the first fatal accident in three years occurred. On August 14, 2013, UPS Airlines flight 1354, an Airbus A300-600, crashed on approach to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama, resulting in two fatalities of the flight crew.