It’s not just you; it’s quite common for people to feel anxious before an impending flight. And if you’re like us, you may also end up binge-watching several episodes of “Air Crash Investigation” the night before your flight, only to realize that your next flight will use the same aircraft type that was involved in one of those crashes.
While it is understandable that such information might be unsettling for some, the fact remains that flying — statistically speaking — remains one of the safest modes of transportation currently in existence. Looking at IATA (International Air Transport Association) data from 2022, we know that there were just five fatal accidents among a total of 32.2 million flights.
This translates to a fatality risk of just 0.11, which is much lower compared to other common modes of transportation. In fact, you should be more concerned about the time you spend inside road-based transportation methods like cars, two-wheelers, and buses, which are statistically more likely to end up in a fatal accident than an airplane.
That being said, Captain Levy doesn’t discount the fact that flying involves some risk. According to him, though, it doesn’t matter whether the plane you’re inside is a Boeing 737, Airbus A320, a Boeing 747, or an Airbus A380.
“There is a risk to walking across the street. There is a risk to driving your car. There is a risk to climbing a ladder. And there is a risk to creating worry and anxiety in your mind and body. Go ahead, fly and relax,” says Captain Levy.
