Last Updated on July 27, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Icelandair has flown between Iceland, Europe, and North America for decades, and its modern operation has a strong overall safety record. The best way to judge that record is not by aircraft age or passenger reviews alone, but by looking at regulatory oversight, maintenance approvals, pilot-training rules, independent audits, and the airline’s documented accident and incident history.
Quick Answer
Yes, Icelandair is generally considered a safe airline. It operates under Icelandic and EASA aviation rules, holds approved maintenance and continuing-airworthiness certifications, and is an IATA member subject to IOSA requirements. Its record includes serious incidents, but no recent fatal accident involving the modern Icelandair operation.
Key Takeaways
- Icelandair is regulated in Iceland by the Icelandic Transport Authority (ICETRA) within the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) system.
- ICETRA lists Icelandair as both a Part-145 approved maintenance organization and a Part-CAMO approved continuing-airworthiness organization.
- Icelandair’s fleet now includes Airbus A321LR aircraft and Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft alongside remaining 757s, 767s, and regional DHC-8 aircraft.
- EASA rules require recurrent flight-crew training, operator proficiency checks, line checks, emergency-equipment training, and crew-resource-management training.
- The 2020 Boeing 757 landing-gear collapse at Keflavík occurred on February 7, 2020; no fatalities occurred.
- A separate April 2026 unauthorized low-altitude flight over Vestmannaeyjar led to an investigation and regulatory action against the pilots.
- Icelandair remains a current IATA member, and IATA requires member airlines to maintain IOSA registration.
Note: Safety information changes as fleets, regulations, investigations, and audit registrations change. The regulatory and fleet information below was checked through July 27, 2026.
Icelandair safety record at a glance
| Primary aviation regulator | Icelandic Transport Authority (ICETRA), within the EASA framework |
| Maintenance approvals | Part-145 and Part-CAMO approvals listed by ICETRA |
| IATA / IOSA | Current IATA member; IATA members must maintain IOSA registration |
| Recent aircraft accident | February 7, 2020 Boeing 757 landing-gear collapse at Keflavík; no fatalities |
| Recent operational-safety case | April 11, 2026 unauthorized low-altitude flight over Vestmannaeyjar, followed by regulatory investigation and action |
Icelandair accident and incident history
Icelandair’s history needs a little context because the airline traces its roots through several Icelandic carriers. Flugfélag Íslands and Loftleiðir merged in 1973 to form Flugleiðir, and the combined company adopted Icelandair as its international trade name in 1979.
That distinction matters when discussing the airline’s fatal-accident record. Aviation Safety Network records Loftleiðir Flight 001, a chartered DC-8 flight, crashing near Colombo on November 15, 1978, with 183 fatalities. The crash therefore belongs to Icelandair’s wider corporate lineage but predates the combined company’s 1979 adoption of Icelandair as its international trade name.
2002 serious incident at Oslo
On January 22, 2002, an Icelandair Boeing 757 experienced a serious incident during an approach to Oslo Gardermoen. The crew discontinued an unstabilized approach and the aircraft went through extreme maneuvers before control was recovered. The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority classified the event as a serious incident and published a formal investigation report.
2020 landing-gear collapse at Keflavík
On February 7, 2020, Icelandair Flight FI529, a Boeing 757-200 registered TF-FIA, suffered a right-main-landing-gear collapse after landing on runway 10 at Keflavík. Iceland’s Transportation Safety Investigation Board investigated the accident. There were 166 people aboard and no fatalities.
2026 unauthorized low-altitude flight
On April 11, 2026, an Icelandair Boeing 757 flying from Frankfurt made an unusually low flight over Vestmannaeyjar during a captain’s final commercial flight. Icelandair said the maneuver was neither known to nor authorized by company management and reported it to the police and ICETRA. RÚV reported that ICETRA opened an investigation; subsequent reporting in July 2026 said the pilots received temporary licence suspensions.
Warning: “No recent fatal accident” does not mean an airline has never had serious incidents. A useful safety assessment should include nonfatal accidents, procedural violations, regulator action, audit status, maintenance controls, and how operators respond to findings.
Maintenance and fleet information
Icelandair’s maintenance oversight is stronger evidence than simply looking at the age of its aircraft. The Icelandic Transport Authority currently lists Icelandair as a Part-145 approved maintenance organization and a Part-CAMO approved continuing-airworthiness management organization. These approvals sit within the European continuing-airworthiness system and cover controlled maintenance, technical records, airworthiness management, and related oversight.
The fleet has also changed substantially. Icelandair’s current official fleet information includes Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, remaining Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft, Airbus A321LR aircraft, and De Havilland Canada DHC-8 aircraft used on domestic and regional services. Icelandair says the A321LR fleet is being introduced as part of the gradual replacement of the Boeing 757, with A321XLR deliveries planned from 2029.
The 737 MAX fleet includes both the 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9. Icelandair currently states that it operates 21 MAX aircraft. The first A321LR arrived in December 2024, and additional aircraft have since joined the fleet.
Note: Aircraft age alone is not a reliable safety score. An older aircraft can remain safe when it is maintained under an approved continuing-airworthiness program, while a newer aircraft still depends on proper maintenance, training, procedures, and regulatory compliance.
Pilot training and experience
Icelandair pilots operate within the EASA flight-crew licensing and commercial-air-transport framework. The Icelandic Transport Authority lists Icelandair ATO as an approved training organization.
The often-quoted figure of 1,500 flight hours needs context. Under EASA Part-FCL, applicants for an Airline Transport Pilot Licence for aeroplanes, or ATPL(A), must have at least 1,500 hours of flight time and satisfy additional requirements for multi-pilot, pilot-in-command, cross-country, instrument, and night experience. That is a licensing standard, not a simple rule saying an Icelandair pilot automatically becomes a captain after reaching 1,500 hours.
Commercial flight crews must also remain current after initial qualification. EASA Air Operations rules require recurrent training and checking that includes operator proficiency checks, line checks, emergency and safety-equipment training, crew resource management, and recurrent ground and simulator or aircraft training.
IATA states that all of its member airlines must remain IOSA registered, and Icelandair is currently listed by IATA as a member airline.
Safety regulations and compliance
| Authority / standard | What it means |
| ICETRA | Iceland’s national aviation authority and competent authority for aviation oversight. |
| EASA framework | Provides common European rules for air operations, aircrew, continuing airworthiness, maintenance, and related safety requirements that apply in Iceland through the EEA system. |
| Part-145 | Approved maintenance-organization framework. Icelandair is currently listed by ICETRA as IS.145.002. |
| Part-CAMO | Continuing-airworthiness management framework. Icelandair is currently listed as IS.CAMO.001. |
| IATA IOSA | International operational-safety audit covering airline management and operational-control systems; continued IOSA registration is required for IATA members. |
One important distinction is that RNSA/SIA is not Icelandair’s operating regulator. Iceland’s Transportation Safety Investigation Board independently investigates accidents and serious incidents so that lessons and safety recommendations can be identified. Routine aviation oversight belongs to ICETRA within the wider EASA regulatory system.
Emergency procedures and preparedness
Commercial airlines must prepare crews for abnormal and emergency situations rather than relying only on day-to-day experience. Under current EASA rules, recurrent flight-crew training covers aircraft systems, normal procedures, abnormal and emergency procedures, and relevant accident and incident lessons.
Operator proficiency checks can include rejected takeoffs, engine failures, instrument approaches, missed approaches, and one-engine-inoperative landings. Emergency and safety-equipment training is also recurrent, while crew resource management focuses on communication, workload, decision-making, and coordination.
Pro Tip: To research any airline yourself, check the airline’s national aviation authority, the IATA IOSA program, and official accident-investigation authorities. Serious nonfatal incidents often tell you more than consumer star ratings because investigation reports explain what happened and what safety changes followed.
Customer satisfaction and reviews
Passenger reviews can help you judge service quality, but they are weak evidence of technical aviation safety. Travelers commonly comment on delays, baggage handling, cabin cleanliness, boarding, communication, and crew professionalism. Those experiences can affect how safe a flight feels, but they do not show whether an aircraft is airworthy or whether an airline meets regulator requirements.
For that reason, complaints about delays or poor service should be considered separately from evidence such as maintenance approvals, accident investigations, crew-training requirements, regulatory findings, and operational audits.
Industry recognition and third-party safety audits
Airline awards and consumer safety ratings can provide useful context, but they should not be treated as proof that an airline cannot have an accident. A more meaningful external benchmark is IATA’s Operational Safety Audit, or IOSA, which evaluates an airline’s operational management and control systems against a standardized set of requirements.
IATA currently lists Icelandair as a member airline, and IATA states that all member airlines must remain IOSA registered. IOSA is useful evidence of audited systems, but it is not a guarantee against future incidents.
Future safety initiatives and improvements
Icelandair’s most visible operational change is its fleet transition. The airline is adding A321LR aircraft while gradually reducing its reliance on the Boeing 757, with A321XLR deliveries planned from 2029. Every new aircraft type brings additional training, maintenance, technical-record, and continuing-airworthiness requirements that must be integrated into an operator’s approved systems.
Safety improvement also depends on reporting and learning from events. The 2020 landing-gear accident produced a formal safety recommendation involving inspection of certain landing-gear components, and Icelandair subsequently inspected affected equipment. Likewise, the 2026 low-flyover case shows that safety oversight extends beyond mechanical failures to operational discipline and compliance with procedures.
For passengers, the most useful evidence is therefore the combination of regulatory oversight, current approvals, audited systems, recurrent training, transparent investigation of incidents, and corrective action when problems are found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Icelandair a safe airline?
Yes. Icelandair operates under ICETRA and EASA oversight, has approved maintenance and continuing-airworthiness organizations, and is a current IATA member subject to IOSA requirements. Its history includes serious incidents, but its overall modern safety record is strong.
Has Icelandair ever had a fatal crash?
The wider corporate lineage includes the 1978 crash of Loftleiðir Flight 001 near Colombo, which killed 183 people. Loftleiðir had merged with Flugfélag Íslands in 1973, but the combined operation did not adopt Icelandair as its international trade name until 1979. The modern Icelandair operation has not had a recent fatal accident.
What happened to Icelandair Flight FI529 in 2020?
On February 7, 2020, a Boeing 757-200 operating Flight FI529 suffered a right-main-landing-gear collapse after landing at Keflavík International Airport. There were 166 people aboard and no fatalities. Iceland’s Transportation Safety Investigation Board investigated the accident and issued a safety recommendation.
What happened during the Icelandair low flight in 2026?
On April 11, 2026, an Icelandair Boeing 757 made an unauthorized low-altitude flight over Vestmannaeyjar during a captain’s final commercial flight. Icelandair said management had not authorized the maneuver and reported it to ICETRA and police. The incident resulted in an investigation and later regulatory action against the pilots.
Who regulates Icelandair?
Icelandair is overseen in Iceland by the Icelandic Transport Authority, or ICETRA. Iceland is an EASA member state, so European aviation rules covering operations, licensing, maintenance, and continuing airworthiness also form part of the regulatory framework.
How are Icelandair pilots trained and checked?
Pilots must hold the appropriate EASA licences and aircraft qualifications. EASA commercial-air-transport rules also require recurrent operator proficiency checks, line checks, emergency and safety-equipment training, crew resource management, and recurrent ground and flight or simulator training.
Does Icelandair still fly Boeing 757 aircraft?
Yes, but Icelandair is gradually retiring its Boeing 757 fleet. Airbus A321LR aircraft began joining the fleet in December 2024, and the airline plans to add A321XLR aircraft from 2029 as part of the 757 replacement program.
Sources
- Icelandair – Official Fleet — current aircraft types, Airbus A321LR introduction, and Boeing 757 replacement plans
- Icelandic Transport Authority – EASA Approved Organizations — Icelandair’s Part-145 maintenance and Part-CAMO continuing-airworthiness approvals
- IATA – Icelandair Member Listing and IATA – IOSA Program — current IATA membership and IOSA requirements
- EASA – Air Operations Rules — recurrent flight-crew training, proficiency checks, line checks, CRM, and emergency training
- Transportation Safety Investigation Board of Iceland – TF-FIA Accident — February 7, 2020 landing-gear-collapse investigation
- Aviation Safety Network – Loftleiðir Flight 001 — documented 1978 fatal accident in Icelandair’s wider corporate lineage