Yes, flying in 2023 was statistically one of the safest years on record for commercial aviation, with record low accident and fatality rates globally, despite a single tragic turboprop crash in Nepal that accounted for most fatalities, and concerns about turbulence and staffing remain ongoing issues for the industry. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported significant drops in accidents and fatalities, with the fatality rate falling to 17 people per billion passengers, and no major jet airline carriers experiencing fatal accidents.
The fatality rate for US air travel is about 0.003 deaths per 100 million miles, compared to 0.57 for passenger vehicles. This means a person is 190 times more likely to die in a car accident than to experience a plane crash. So yeah, air travel remains safe, and that hasn't changed in 2025.
The long periods of immobility that come with air travel can elevate the risk for deep vein thrombosis – clots that begin in large veins, often in a leg. If a clot travels to the lungs, it can be fatal. Such clots are rare, but Speicher and Sperling both recommend using compression socks on longer flights.
Pilot error is the number one cause of aviation accidents. Piloting an aircraft requires lengthy training, a knowledge of the mechanical components of an aircraft, and hand-eye coordination skills to effectively and safely maneuver an aircraft.
She argues that landings are riskier than takeoffs due to fewer escape options. “It's a really critical moment, especially for midair collisions and other incidents,” Schiavo emphasized. “When you're taking off, you have the runway in front of you.
With calm background conditions, the lift over the airplane's wings is smooth and constant. But as the plane travels through areas of rising and sinking motion in the surrounding environment, the lift on the wings is interrupted or enhanced. This can cause the plane to lift or drop suddenly.
These oxygen poor environments make people with heart conditions at risk as well. The heart has to work harder in a commercial aircraft and that can worsen underlying heart issues. Those who have recently had a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism or other serious heart or lung issues may not be able to fly.
Since UV light is the #1 cause of wrinkles, along with a pilot being closer to the sun, this can cause a lot of damage to the skin. Since sunscreens don't filter out 100% of the rays (even when re-applied often), this puts the skin in a vulnerable state.
You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
Based on data from the Aviation Safety Network, ICAO, and AirlineRatings.com, these airlines have the highest accident counts since 1970:
A 2017 National Transportation Safety Board study that investigated 20 plane crashes since 1971 found that those sitting in the back of the plane had a higher chance of staying alive than those in the front. Additionally, those placed nearby the wing also had a better chances of survival.
Yeti Airlines Flight 691 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight flown by Yeti Airlines from Kathmandu to Pokhara in Nepal. On 15 January 2023, the ATR 72 being operated on the route stalled and crashed while landing at Pokhara, killing all 68 passengers and 4 crew members on board.
In fact, lots of people are scared of flying or experience first-time flying anxiety. Fortunately, flying is an incredibly safe way to get to your destination! Thousands of flights occur all over the world every day, and flying is considered one of the safest ways to travel.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Airlines
Could turbulence bring down my flight? “The short answer is yes,” senior aviation consultant Adrian Young tells The Independent – but it's unlikely.
The 3:1 rule in aviation is a rule of thumb for descent planning: for every 1,000 feet of altitude to lose, you need 3 nautical miles (NM) of horizontal distance, assuming a standard 3-degree glide path, making it easy to calculate when to start descending. For example, to descend 6,000 feet, a pilot starts descending 18 NM out (6 x 3 = 18). It helps maintain a consistent descent rate, critical for passenger comfort in older planes and for fuel efficiency in modern jets, and aligns with standard approach systems like ILS/VASI.
Even though exposure can be a hundred times greater at these altitudes than it is on the ground, it is still fairly small. It would take about 100 one-way flights between Toronto and Vancouver to obtain the same exposure as we get in one year from other sources of natural background radiation.
With experience, senior flight attendants may make around $80,287 annually, and some can earn as much as $115,000 or more per year. Pay is typically hourly and starts when the aircraft door closes, meaning preflight work (like boarding and prep) is often unpaid.
Predictably, people are starting to get nervous about flying. They don't need to be. Commercial flying is one of the safest ways to travel, said Chad Kendall, associate professor and Federal Aviation Administration chief instructor in Metropolitan State University of Denver's Aviation and Aerospace Science department.
The "45-minute rule" refers to a productivity technique of working intensely for 45 minutes, followed by a 10-15 minute break, leveraging the brain's natural focus cycles (ultradian rhythms) to prevent burnout and boost efficiency, though it can also refer to airline check-in deadlines or corporate onboarding targets. The work/rest pattern helps maintain concentration, while the airport rule requires check-in 45 mins pre-flight for domestic flights.
The influence of high altitude on the bleeding risk of cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and cavernous hemangiomas is unclear. At cabin pressure, it is also not known if predictable changes in blood pressure occur and to what extent the cerebral blood flow increases or predisposes to bleeding.
The deliberate crashes of the aforementioned American Airlines Flight 11, as well as United Airlines Flight 175 at the World Trade Center, and the subsequent collapse of both towers on 11 September 2001 caused 2,606 ground fatalities in addition to the deaths of the 157 people on board both flights, making it the ...
In aviation, squawk code 7700 is the universal transponder setting for a general emergency, immediately alerting Air Traffic Control (ATC) that an aircraft needs urgent assistance, similar to a "Mayday" call, used for issues like engine failure, medical emergencies, or onboard fires, making it a high-priority target for controllers. Other emergency codes include 7500 (hijacking) and 7600 (radio failure).
This chart from Boeing breaks a 90-minute flight into phases — from the moment the aircraft is on the ground, to when it lands. And here's what it shows — most fatal crashes happen in the first few minutes after takeoff, and the final moments before landing.