Although there were more airline crashes last year, the number of fatalities dropped to a new low, according to a review by Flightglobal, an aviation news site. The 2011 report tracked fatal airline accidents the world over.

2011 saw 32 fatal airline crashes, six more than the year before, and slightly higher than the average for the preceding decade (2000 to 2010), which was 31. The 32 airline accidents in 2011 resulted in 514 deaths, which was down from the preceding decade average of 751.

The data on fatalities include both passengers and crew. The 2011 safety review covers passenger and charter flights, as well as freight.

Flightglobal reports that the reason for the "contrastingly low number of casualties is the number of small regional aircraft" that were involved in fatal accidents. Of the overall 32 airline accidents, there were nine jet accidents with a fatal outcome, but only five of those were categorized as passenger jets. Neither of the two worst crashes was operated by a U.S. airline. The two worst crashes each had 77 fatalities, the first, a Boeing 727 was operated by Iran Air, the second, also a 727, was owned by Hewa Bora Airways.

Airline safety review [Flightglobal]
2011 Airline Safety Review: Crashes And Fatalities [Airport International News]