Fright or Flight

In Washington D.C. 67 people died on impact when an American Airline plane, flying from Wichita, collided with a military helicopter on Jan. 29. Since then, 93 other plane crashes followed, as of Feb. 28, which left dozens injured and more than 80 killed.
Companies like Delta Airlines and American Airlines have both contributed to a high number of the crashes this year. With so many planes crashing, and the constant media focus on them, many are now hesitant to fly.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, in 2024, in the first two months, there were 173 aviation crashes; 31 had fatalities. So far in 2025, there have been 99 aviation crashes; 14 were fatal, which is significantly less than last year.
“There hasn’t been an increase in airplane crashes,” religion teacher Beth Ferraro said. “Obviously, the crash in D.C. on Jan. 29, 2025 was horribly tragic and especially deadly because there were no survivors. My sister and her family lost two very dear friends that were aboard that flight, Bob and Lori Schrock. The media is covering these airplane crashes and reporting that there is an increase in plane crashes.”
Although there has been a slight increase of crashes the past couple years, ultimately flying has become safer. From 2002 through 2018, more than 1,000 plane crashes occurred each year, leaving hundreds dead, according to Panish Shea Ravipudi, a personal injury law firm. According to an article written by Amprius, a battery manufacturing company, by spotting potential issues before they become major problems, AI reduces the risk of in-flight malfunctions, making air travel safer.
According to the North Central Institute, pilot error is the No. 1 cause of plane crashes due to them being fatigued, overworked or even careless. However, other causes of plane crashes are manufacturing errors, the weather and runway incidents. “More crashes have occurred because of complacency of the pilots, tower operators and mechanics,” said senior Dawson Grabendike, who has his pilot and glider licenses. “Crashes could be prevented by following the regulations set out by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to the mark and by being mindful of all the possibilities and how to react when they occur.”
The sudden media focus on the plane crashes may make some nervous about flying, but statistically air travel is still much safer than driving, due to the advanced technology, limited distractions and interferences.
“I was sort of nervous flying, but I trusted my pilot,” said sophomore Sara Claire Michaelis who flew to Florida on Jan. 11. “They triple checked everything and made sure that we got there safely.”
According to USA Facts, from 2002 through 2022 there were 796 deaths due to air travel. In the same time frame, 552,009 people died in car accidents on highways. While statistics show that flying is much safer than driving, there is a definite risk in all modes of transportation. Statistics prove that there has been a drastic decrease in crashes over the past few years; however, during the past two months, the numerous aviation crashes that have occurred leave people wary of flying.