Guidance

Report an air accident or serious incident

Information on how to report an air accident or serious incident

From:
Air Accidents Investigation Branch
Published
4 December 2004

How to report an aircraft accident or serious incident

Aircraft accidents or serious incidents should be reported to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and aircraft accidents to the police.

AAIB 24-hour reporting line

Telephone: 01252 512299
Telephone: +44 1252 512299 from outside UK

The following video provides information on how to report an accident or serious incident and summarises the type of information the AAIB may need in order to conduct a safety investigation:

Watch here

Who must report an aircraft accident or serious incident

Any person involved who has knowledge of an aircraft accident or serious incident which has occurred in the UK, a UK Overseas Territory or a Crown Dependency involved must notify the AAIB without delay.

Those persons involved includes:

  • the crew of the aircraft
  • the owner of the aircraft
  • the operator of the aircraft
  • those involved in the maintenance, design or manufacture of the aircraft
  • those involved in the training of the aircraft’s crew
  • those involved in providing air traffic control and flight information services
  • those involved in providing aerodrome services to the aircraft
  • staff of the aerodrome authority
  • staff of the Civil Aviation Authority
  • staff of the European Aviation Safety Agency

In the case of an accident, the person involved must also inform the police.

What information to give the AAIB

The AAIB will need to know as much of the following information as possible:

  • the type, model, nationality and registration marks of the aircraft
  • the names of the owner, operator and hirer (if any) of the aircraft
  • the name of the commander of the aircraft
  • the date and time (UTC) of the accident or serious incident
  • the last point of departure and the next point of intended landing of the aircraft
  • the position of the aircraft in relation to some easily defined geographical location
  • the number of
    • crew on board and the number killed or seriously injured
    • passengers on board and the number killed or seriously injured
    • other persons killed or seriously injured as a result of the accident
  • the nature of the accident or serious incident and the extent of damage as far as is known

Report an accident or a serious incident in a foreign country

Contact information for foreign accident investigation authorities is available from the International Civil Aviation Organization

Updates to this page

Published 4 December 2004

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