Guidance

National aviation emergency plan

An overview of the UK's response to air accidents and guidance on assistance to air accident victims and their families.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 16 October 2026

Documents

National Aviation Emergency Plan (NAEP)

PDF, 711 KB, 33 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email webmasterdft@dft.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Guidance on assistance to air accident victims and their families

PDF, 655 KB, 43 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email webmasterdft@dft.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The UK commercial aviation industry has an excellent safety record. If an accident does occur, effective plans must be in place to address the impacts and ensure that the welfare and support needs of victims and their families are fully met.

The National Aviation Emergency Plan (NAEP) sets out:

• how the response to a major incident would unfold from a Department for Transport (DfT) perspective
• an overview of the actions required from various government departments, arms’ length bodies and industry stakeholders

It also addresses the UK’s legislative commitment to establish a civil aviation accident emergency plan at the national level.

The NAEP includes guidance on assistance to air accident victims and their families, which sets out the types and levels of assistance that all commercial airlines operating to and from the UK should provide.