Floating thousands of feet in the air, peeking through the window to catch an aerial view of the city — there’s an undeniable magic to being on a plane. Yet, the moment turbulence strikes, my mind inevitably leaps to the worst-case scenario. I instantly picture the plane crashing down, and before I know it, I’m in a real-life version of the TV series Lost.

However, statistical data paints a far more reassuring picture. According to the National Safety Council,  they estimated that Americans have a 1 in 93 chance of biting the dust in a motor vehicle crash. The odds of dying in a plane crash are too rare to calculate.

While these statistics offer a degree of comfort, the recent spate of plane crashes in early 2025 has heightened anxiety about flying and has gotten many people questioning if air travel is safe. Despite the paranoia, I’m not ready to sacrifice my travels, but I don’t want to submit to untimely doom.

Let’s review what’s been going on in the world of aviation and how we can prioritize our safety while flying.

Recent plane crash statistics

One of the most widely reported plane crashes this year involved a collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in 67 fatalities.

Other notable plane accidents that have occurred this year include:

• A mid-air collision between two single-engine planes outside Marana Regional Airport in Arizona claiming the lives of two people.
• The crash of a medical jet into a Philadelphia neighborhood resulted in the deaths of seven individuals.
• A fatal crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Alaska, with no survivors.
• A collision between two private jets at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona caused one death and injured four others.

While these incidents are unsettling, it’s important to acknowledge that plane crashes, while tragic, are not a new phenomenon. For instance, in 2023, there were 1,415 aviation accidents, including 257 fatal ones, according to a report in Newsweek.

What has likely amplified public anxiety about flying is not necessarily an increase in the number of crashes but rather the heightened visibility of these events. News of commercial airline crashes spreads rapidly through media outlets and, perhaps even more significantly, across social media platforms.

Growing tension around air travel

News travels fast in the digital age, and social media has turbocharged the speed at which information, and sometimes misinformation, spreads. However, social media isn’t the only factor contributing to public apprehension about air safety.

According to a report by PBS, one significant concern is that airlines are increasingly focused on cutting costs, a practice that could potentially compromise passenger safety. Some of the ways airlines have been attempting to reduce expenses include:

• Scheduling flights with shorter turnaround times.
• Eliminating certain non-essential safety inspections to save time.
• Reducing the number of pilot training hours.

Furthermore, the airspace is becoming increasingly congested with more private jets, commercial rockets, and drones sharing the skies. This increased density raises concerns about potential collisions and the overall complexity of air traffic management.

However, one of the most significant issues surrounding flight safety is the reduction in the number of personnel in critical aviation oversight roles. This year, 400 jobs were cut from the Federal Aviation Administration under the Trump Administration. These cuts have led to public concerns about whether a smaller workforce can adequately handle the immense responsibilities of ensuring air safety. 

Questions have been raised about the potential for overworked pilots, overlooked mechanical issues, and less stringent inspections.

With all these changes happening, there is one big question that is on everyone’s mind.

Is it still safe to fly?

An article in Vox states that statistically, it is still safe to travel by air. The article elaborates that you could fly twice a day for around 2,500 years and still have a slim chance of dying in an aviation accident.   

Several factors contribute to the overall safety of air travel, such as:

• Incidents are thoroughly investigated. The National Transportation Safety Board gathers vast amounts of evidence for their incident reports so they know what happened and how to prevent the same problem from happening in the future 
• New technology is being invested into to improve safety. The aviation industry consistently invests in research and development to improve safety. New technologies are constantly being implemented to enhance aircraft design, air traffic control systems, and pilot training.
• Pilots and flight attendants are trained to support passengers in an emergency.

You also don’t have to put all your faith in airline workers to keep you safe. Here are some things you can do to enhance your safety and peace of mind. 

Keeping yourself safe while flying

Here is the advice on staying safe while flying from the FAA website:

• Pay attention: Watch the flight attendant’s safety briefing and read the safety card at the beginning of your flight. You might think you know everything, but every plane is different, which means there might be new information. 
• Buckle up: Wear your seatbelt low and tight across your lap at all times while seated. This keeps you and your family safe, especially during takeoff, landing, and turbulence.
• Carry-on limits: Follow your airline’s carry-on restrictions to prevent injuries during the flight.
• Electronic devices: Check your airline’s policy on portable electronic devices (PEDs).

You can also research the safety procedures of the airlines you choose to fly with. 

Lastly, be critical of the news you absorb establish around plane accidents. We all like to get our news from TikTok, but getting your information from reliable news sites can keep your anxiety at bay. 

I’ll admit, when the slew of plane crashes hit the news, I questioned if I should be hopping on a plane anytime soon. Despite my apprehensions, I’ve decided to continue trusting aviation safety. While there have been a lot of changes in the world of aviation, none of these changes seemed to be directly related to the recent plane crashes. So I guess I’ll buckle my seat belt, say a little prayer, and trust that I’m in good hands.