Despite Recent Fears, Flying Remains the Safest Mode of Travel
The crash landing of Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 on Feb. 17 was a terrifying sight, with videos spreading across social media and fueling concerns about the safety of flying. It comes right after the recent collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter, which claimed 67 lives, and the crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which killed all 175 passengers and four of six crew members. The incidents have only deepened fears that air travel is becoming more dangerous.
However, the numbers tell a different story. Despite the visceral reaction to high-profile incidents, data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) suggest that air travel remains safer than ever before.
Preliminary NTSB data from January 2025 indicates a record-low number of airplane accidents in the U.S., including both private and commercial flights. The total number of accidents (62) was significantly lower than the 80 recorded in January 2024. The majority of incidents occurred in private aviation, with commercial airline accidents remaining exceedingly rare.
If the preliminary data holds, January 2025 would mark the safest start to a year in recorded history, surpassing the previous record low of 70 accidents in January 2012. Tragically, 10 of last month’s accidents were fatal, including one involving a commercial airliner, but even this number is historically low. January 2025 could tie 2022 for the safest January on record.
This trend is not an anomaly. Over the past 15 years, commercial air travel in the United States has experienced fewer fatalities than in any other comparable period. The overall number of fatal accidents has declined annually, with 2024 recording just 257 fatal incidents ? the lowest number in decades. In stark contrast, the early 1980s saw more than 600 fatal crashes each year. Runway incursions, another potential risk factor, also decreased significantly. In 2023, 23 serious incursions were reported, the highest number in a decade. However, in 2024, that number dropped to just seven ? the lowest in 10 years.
Globally, ICAO data confirms a downward trend in aircraft accidents per million departures since 2005. While major air disasters like the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 and the downing of MH17 stand out, they are increasingly rare occurrences.
Despite recent incidents, commercial air travel remains the safest mode of transportation. In 2022, over 95 percent of transportation-related fatalities in the U.S. occurred on roads, while fewer than 1 percent were linked to air travel. According to the National Safety Council, airline travel recorded just 0.001 passenger deaths per 100 million miles ? compared to 0.54 in passenger vehicles.
While fear is understandable, the data is clear: the skies remain safer than they feel.
Luis Apolo Staff Reporter teen/1741740680/1613367592
1. How have recent air travel incidents affected public perception of aviation safety?
2. What do statistics from the NTSB and ICAO indicate about the safety of air travel?
3. What is the significance of ICAO data on aircraft accidents per million departures?
4. Why do people tend to overestimate the risks of air travel despite statistical evidence?
1. Do you think the media’s focus on airline crashes influences public perception of aviation safety? Why or why not?
2. How can airlines and aviation organizations reassure the public about flight safety?
3. How do you feel about flying? Do safety statistics influence your perspective on air travel?
4. Should governments invest more in improving road safety since it accounts for more fatalities than air travel?
The crash landing of Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 on Feb. 17 was a terrifying sight, with videos spreading across social media and fueling concerns about the safety of flying. It comes right after the recent collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter, which claimed 67 lives, and the crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which killed all 175 passengers and four of six crew members. The incidents have only deepened fears that air travel is becoming more dangerous.
