The study integrates bibliometric mapping and systematic literature review (SLR) methods to examine seven decades of scholarship on human factors in aviation safety. The analysis of 1,397 publications (1956 - 2023) reveals the field’s evolution across four thematic domains:  Human error and accident models, Crew resource management (CRM) and non-technical skills, Risk, safety, and fatigue management, and Emerging technologies and associated challenges. Results demonstrate a paradigmatic shift from reactive error analysis to predictive, resilience-based, and socio-technical approaches, highlighting increased interdisciplinary and a growing emphasis on automation. Persistent geographical skewness in publication trends is identified, emphasising the need for broader global representation. This review synthesises the conceptual trajectory and emerging directions of aviation safety research, offering a framework for advancing adaptive, data-driven, and globally inclusive safety science.