Recent plane crashes spark increase in air travel anxiety

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

In wake of recent plane crashes across the U.S., travelers are thinking twice when it comes to taking to the skies.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports in 2025 there have been 117 plane crashes with 16 being deadly.

The most recent was on Feb. 18 when a Delta Airlines plane crashed and flipped upside down at the Toronto airport. All 80 people on board the flight from Minneapolis survived the crash.

On Jan 29., 67 people were killed when a military helicopter and an American Airlines plane collided midair, marking the first deadly U.S. commercial plane crash in nearly 15 years. Two days later, seven people were killed and 19 were injured when a Medvac jet crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, 25 million people suffer from aerophobia, a fear of flying.

Despite the recent plane crashes, owner of ExcelAir8 Braden Tyrer said flying is still safe.

"I can assure the viewing public that you can fly with confidence in this day and age," Tyrer said.

"You are probably wasting your time worrying being worried about air travel when you should be worried about the freeways," pilot John Hunt said.

According to the Department of Transportation there were 6million car crashes in 2022, while there were 1,541 plane crashes that same year.

A 2024 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology based on accidents showed that the death risk per boarding for worldwide air travelers was 1-in-13.7-million over 2018-22.

Those who suffer from Aerophobia may be scared about different aspects of flying, such as take-off, landing or getting locked in the plane, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The causes of aerophobia include:

• News stories about terrorism, crashes or violence on airplanes.
• Take-off and landing.
• Thoughts about fire or illness spreading through the plane.
• Turbulence (bumps during the flight)

Symptoms include:

• Chills
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Excessive sweating
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Trembling or shaking.
• Upset stomach or indigestion