Air travel remains one of the most popular and convenient ways to cover long distances. It’s fast and can get you to your destination in a fraction of the time it would take by car or train. However, flying isn’t for everyone. For some, the idea of being thousands of feet in the air can be scary—especially in light of recent plane incidents early in the year.
With multiple air travel scares making headlines just four months into 2025, a question arises: Do people still feel safe flying?
One of the most alarming incidents occurred on Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C., when an American Airlines flight collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk training helicopter. The tragic crash resulted in the deaths of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft.
Just weeks later, on Mar. 9, 2025, another incident took place in Pennsylvania. A Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft crashed near a retirement village. Fortunately, despite having five people on board, no injuries or fatalities were reported. Still, the event added to the growing unease surrounding air travel this year.
While flying remains statistically one of the safest modes of transportation, these recent events have undoubtedly shaken public confidence. These recent crashes can leave other people, especially students, with a new worry of flying and risking an accident happening in the air. Many students have had different points of view on if air travel is as safe as people think.
Senior Talia Troutman said, “ I would say traveling by plane is safer than traveling by car because car crashes are more frequent in death rates than plane crashes are.”
Furthermore, some students feel safe enough to fly because of security procedures and the precautions that are taken when going to the airport and boarding the plane. Aliya Northington added, “ I feel there is a lot of security, and the precautions they take with liquids can be very helpful.” Although some people can handle flying, some others can’t and can be afraid.
Senior Mya Espinal stated, “ I don’t really feel safe because I can’t fully rely on pilots just because a lot of people could be inexperienced, and you never really know.” Espinal further added, “ I rather prefer driving, but when you have no other option, I think traveling by plane is good enough.”
Many airlines always follow a bunch of procedures before a plane takes off. There are security checks, baggage checks, and engine checks to make sure the aircraft is suitable for takeoff. Despite this, some students commented that airlines can do more to prevent any further accidents in the future.
Troutman added planes should have, “More training with pilots and the people that work on the tower as well as the people who guide the airplane to land.”
Troutman isn’t the only one who feels this way. Northtington added, “Definitely like checking the airplane before take off more because a lot of them have been going down recently.”
With so many differing opinions, air travel isn’t for everyone. While the world has made significant strides in technology and safety measures to prevent accidents, that still isn’t enough to ease the fears of some travelers. For many, it ultimately comes down to personal comfort and trust in the airline industry. Whether someone chooses to fly often depends on how much confidence they have in the systems designed to keep them safe.
