Short answer: Qatar Airways passes the main safety checks used for international carriers. It is an IATA member subject to IOSA requirements, it is not on the EU Air Safety List, and Qatar’s regulator holds a Category 1 rating from the FAA.
Public records show no fatal Qatar Airways accident since the airline began flying in January 1994. Two of its aircraft have been written off, both in ground fires during maintenance with nobody on board.
IOSA
Qatar Airways is a current IATA member. IATA requires eligible member airlines to hold and renew IOSA registration.
FAA rating
Qatar is listed as Category 1 on the FAA’s published IASA results, the rating given when a regulator meets ICAO standards.
Most serious recent event
Severe turbulence on flight QR017 to Dublin, 26 May 2024; 12 people injured, no fatalities. Ireland’s investigators are still working on it.
What the current checks show
| Check | Current position | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| IATA / IOSA | Current IATA member | The airline must maintain IOSA registration while it is eligible for the audit. |
| FAA IASA | Category 1 | Qatar’s regulator is judged to meet ICAO standards, which is what allows Qatar Airways to serve the United States with its own aircraft. |
| EU Air Safety List | Not listed | The airline is under no EU operating ban or restriction on the list updated 9 June 2026. |
| ICAO USOAP | 91.16% effective implementation, from Qatar’s 2018 audit | ICAO audits the state’s oversight system, not the airline. No newer audit has been published, so treat this as a 2018 snapshot. |
| Home oversight | Qatar Civil Aviation Authority | The national regulator certifies and oversees the airline’s operations and airworthiness. |
| Alliance | oneworld member since October 2013 | Useful operational context, but alliance membership is not a safety certificate. |
These checks screen the systems and oversight in place today. They do not erase past events or guarantee a future outcome.
Fleet age comes up often here. Qatar Airways operates around 230 aircraft in service, over 270 counting stored airframes, at an average age of about 10 years, which is young by global standards but reflects renewal rather than safety.
What is actually on the safety record
The most serious recent event involving passengers was a turbulence encounter on a Dublin service. On 26 May 2024, flight QR017, a Boeing 787-9 flying from Doha to Dublin, hit severe turbulence over Türkiye about two hours into the flight, while cabin service was under way.
Twelve people were hurt, six passengers and six crew, and eight were taken to hospital after the aircraft landed on schedule at Dublin. Ireland’s Air Accident Investigation Unit is leading the inquiry, has classified the occurrence as an accident, and published an interim statement in May 2025; no final report or probable cause has been released.
Two Qatar Airways aircraft have been written off, both on the ground during maintenance with no passengers aboard. An Airbus A300-600 was destroyed by fire in a Gamco hangar at Abu Dhabi on 19 April 2007 during interior painting work, and a ground engineer was seriously injured jumping from the aircraft.
An Airbus A321 was damaged beyond repair by a cabin-roof fire at Hamad International Airport on 8 December 2017, while its entertainment and satcom antenna was being checked. Nobody was hurt in that one.
What travellers should check
- Confirm the operating carrier on your ticket, because some regional legs are flown by codeshare partners.
- Check live operations before leaving for the airport using our Qatar Airways flight status guide.
- Keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you are seated, which is the single most effective protection against turbulence injuries.
- Read the change and refund terms before you pay, and allow realistic connecting time in Doha while regional routings remain fluid.
Compare current Qatar Airways itineraries, flights to Doha and hotels in Doha on Wego.
FAQ
Is Qatar Airways safe to fly in 2026?
It meets the main current audit and oversight checks used for international airlines, and it has no fatal accident on public record. No airline is risk-free.
Has Qatar Airways ever had a fatal crash?
No fatal Qatar Airways accident appears in public records since the airline began flying in 1994. Two aircraft were written off in ground fires during maintenance, in 2007 and 2017.
What happened on the Doha to Dublin flight in 2024?
Flight QR017 hit severe turbulence over Türkiye on 26 May 2024 and landed safely on schedule, with 12 people injured and eight taken to hospital. Ireland’s Air Accident Investigation Unit is still investigating and has not published a final report.
Do the Gulf airspace closures make Qatar Airways unsafe?
Airspace closures are a routing and scheduling risk tied to regional conflict, and they apply to every airline using that airspace. They are separate from the airline’s own safety record and audit standing.
Sources
- IATA: Qatar Airways member record
- IATA: IOSA programme
- FAA: International Aviation Safety Assessment programme
- European Commission: EU Air Safety List (updated 9 June 2026)
- ICAO: USOAP safety audit results viewer
- Qatar Civil Aviation Authority
- The Peninsula: ICAO puts Qatar’s effective implementation at 91.16 percent
- AAIU Ireland: interim statement on the QR017 turbulence accident, Report 2025-006
- BBC News: turbulence on Doha to Dublin flight leaves 12 injured
- RTÉ: eight taken to hospital after turbulence
- Aviation Safety Network: Airbus A300B4-622R A7-ABV, 19 April 2007
- Aviation Safety Network: Airbus A321-231 A7-AIB, 8 December 2017
- Qatar Airways Newsroom: temporary suspension of flights
- Al Jazeera: Qatar partially reopens airspace
- The Peninsula: aviation sector rebounds after the disruption
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
