(Obtained via Reuters)

GENEVA, Feb 19 (Reuters) – More than 500 people died in air crashes on Western-built jets in 2008 and safety lapses at airlines contributed to nearly a third of accidents, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said.

The toll of 502 was down from 2007, when 692 died, but the number of crashes rose slightly.

The 2008 industry-wide accident rate, measured in hull losses per million flights, was 0.81, or one accident every 1.2 million flights. This compared with 0.75 in 2007.

“Runway excursions”, when an aircraft left the runway on take-off or landing, accounted for one-quarter of accidents last year and ground damage was reported in another 17 percent, according to IATA on Thursday.