Plane Crash Statistics: The Odds Are in Your Favor

With a 1 in 3.37 billion chance of being involved in a fatal plane crash, commercial passengers are more likely to experience a fear of flying.

So, you’re trapped in a giant metal canister flying through the air at 600 miles per hour. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, in almost all cases, nothing will. Skilled pilots and automated systems help keep incidents to a bare minimum.

But despite the fact that the odds of being in a plane crash are only one in 11 million, many people still have a fear of flying that makes air travel a lot more stressful.

Here are some more stats and facts about plane accidents that should help put you at ease…

Plane Crash Survival Rate is High

Even if you happen to be unlucky enough to be involved in a plane disaster, you still have a very good chance of coming out of it to tell the tale.

The National Transportation and Safety Board did a study by looking at aviation stats between the years of 1983 and 2000. What if found is that during this time frame, more than 53,000 passengers were in a plane accident – but more than 95 percent came out the other side.

What’s more, is that most people (77 percent to be more specific) survived even the most serious plane disasters.

Flying is The Safest Way To Travel

Plane crashes almost always make the news in spectacular fashion. However, while automobile accidents are far more common, we rarely hear about them on the news unless there have been fatalities.

Consider for a moment that more than 3,000 people die every day around the world from automobile crashes. That’s more than 1 million deaths per year, and up to 50 million injuries or disabilities annually among survivors. In the latter cases, an aviation lawyer can help you rise above challenges.

Contrast that to airline fatalities. According to research, there’s but one fatality for every 16 million commercial flights. In fact, walking is a more dangerous way to get around if you look at the stats.

Fly Above Your Fear of Flying

Even though the chances of an incident in the air are very low, many people still harbor a fear of flying. The National Institute of Mental Health says aviophobia (the fancy name for being afraid to fly) is at 6.5 percent, which is more than 20 million people in the U.S.

This can be a particularly bad problem if you have to travel a lot for work. But there are ways to help you overcome this fear. For example, you can take some time to identify exactly what is it that triggers fear when you step onto a plane.

In some cases, it may not be the flying itself – it could be a fear of being in a closed-in space (claustrophobia) or a fear of socializing with strangers. It could also nervousness about losing important possessions in transit.

Get On Board With Air Travel 

Now that you have the facts about air travel safety and the chances of being in a plane crash, you might find it a little easier to step onto a commercial aircraft next time. Remember, air travel is statistically the safest way to get around.

If not, then there are ways to work through it by identifying what exactly it is about being on a plane that triggers your fear.

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