Since its first incident in 1950, Garuda Indonesia has suffered 14 fatal accidents and one hijacking, with the most recent in 1997. It was when Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 crashed 18 miles off Medan Airport in Sumatra, killing all 234 passengers.

According to Australian aviation experts, Garuda Indonesia had one of the worst safety records among the world's national carriers. It was due to the combinations of airports' and fleets' low safety standards and the poor weather conditions in the area, including severe thunderstorms and other forms of inclement weather.

However, since its Quantum Leaf program, Garuda Indonesia has been noted for its improved safety, having not involved in a major accident for the past decade