Is Air Travel Still Safe?

Recent incidents in aviation have many travelers questioning the safety of flying.

High-profile accidents like the deadly midair collision over the Potomac River, Medevac and regional airline crashes in Philadelphia and Nome, Alaska, and emergency landings involving Delta flights have added to growing concerns.

With memories still fresh of the Jeju Air and Azerbaijan Airlines crashes and last year's fiery runway collision in Japan, it’s understandable that some passengers are feeling uneasy.

So, is air travel still safe? Experts say yes — but with important caveats.

Understanding the Current Landscape

Aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse stresses that while recent events are concerning, statistically, air travel remains extremely safe.

"You're safer on your flight than you were driving to the airport," says Brickhouse, noting that air travel is still the safest mode of transportation.

However, he emphasizes the importance of public vigilance. "Passengers should demand that governments and agencies prioritize safety," Brickhouse says, pointing out that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) can only make safety recommendations — it’s up to agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement them. Sometimes, necessary changes take years to be enacted.

The string of near-misses and accidents has revealed troubling trends: increased air traffic, an aging infrastructure, outdated technology, and a shortage of air traffic controllers.

After several runway close calls in 2023, the FAA launched an independent safety review, whose findings highlighted serious structural and staffing issues, calling the current level of safety “unsustainable” without intervention.

Despite Incidents, Flying Is Safer Than Ever

The raw statistics are reassuring. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), 2024 saw one accident for every 880,000 flights — seven fatal accidents out of 40.6 million flights. While the total number of onboard fatalities rose compared to 2023, the overall risk remains extraordinarily low.

The five-year accident average has steadily improved:

• 2011–2015: One accident every 456,000 flights
• 2020–2024: One accident every 810,000 flights

Arnold Barnett, a statistics professor at MIT, calculates that the global death risk per boarding between 2018 and 2022 was one in 13.7 million. For perspective, you are statistically more likely to be attacked by a shark or give birth to quadruplets than to die in a plane crash.

Aviation has become about 38 times safer than it was in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Learning from Mistakes

The aviation industry’s commitment to investigating incidents and swiftly implementing improvements is a major reason flying remains safe.

Experts like Guy Gratton, an aviation professor and pilot, emphasize that the thorough investigations and mandatory changes that follow accidents are what set aviation apart from other forms of transportation.

Gratton warns, however, about a potential "normalization of deviance" — when dangerous practices become routine until a tragedy forces change, as happened with the Titanic disaster over a century ago.

The January 2025 crash near DC highlighted this: air traffic control was overburdened, with one controller managing multiple positions — a situation that has since led to shutdowns and staffing reviews.

Similarly, Geoffrey Thomas of aviation site 42,000 Feet points out that chronic underfunding of the FAA by U.S. Congress has strained resources, contributing to systemic weaknesses.

"It’s a great system — but it could be better," he notes.

Addressing the Fear of Flying

If the recent headlines have made you anxious about flying, you’re not alone. More than 25 million adults in the U.S. suffer from some form of aerophobia. But experts agree: avoiding flying only reinforces the fear.

Psychiatrist Dr. Gail Saltz advises techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and distraction to help manage anxiety on board. Professional therapy, including exposure therapy, can offer lasting relief. Some airlines, like British Airways, even offer fear-of-flying courses featuring pilots and psychologists to demystify the flight experience.

The key message: your fear is real, but the risk is exceedingly low — and very treatable.

Final Thoughts

While recent incidents have rightly raised questions, the overwhelming data shows that air travel remains incredibly safe. Flying involves rigorous checks, constant monitoring, and a system-wide culture of learning and improvement.

Still, as aviation faces challenges like growing congestion, evolving technology needs, and political funding battles, experts insist on continued vigilance.

As Brickhouse puts it, "Hopefully, by shining a spotlight on weaknesses, we can continue making improvements and keep flying the safest way to travel."