Fear of flying increases after Washington collision kills 67

Americans are increasingly anxious about flying following a collision between an American Airlines jet and a helicopter over Washington, D.C., in January that killed 67 people — the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century. The incident has prompted heightened concern among travelers and aviation professionals about the risks of air travel.

Adelynn Campbell, a 30-year-old coffee shop manager in San Diego, has felt the effects directly. She experienced a panic attack on a previous flight. Since the January collision, her anxiety has worsened. “It’s definitely spiked my concern about getting on a plane and it’s making the whole situation a little more stressful than it used to be,” Campbell said.

Fear of flying, or aerophobia, affects roughly 25 million U.S. adults, and psychologists say the condition goes beyond simple nervousness. For many people, the anxiety centers on claustrophobic feelings and perceived loss of control rather than statistical crash risk. Evidence-based treatments — from breathing exercises to exposure therapy — can help manage the condition.

What Aerophobia Is

Fear of flying — sometimes called aerophobia — is more than simple nervousness about air travel. It is an intense form of anxiety centered on certain aspects of flying. Many people with the condition become most anxious during takeoff and landing, or when thinking about being locked in an enclosed cabin.

For others, the anxiety stems not from fear of crashing — statistically one of the safest modes of transportation — but from claustrophobic feelings and a perceived loss of control.

“It can be quite intense,” said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants union, who noted that flight attendants regularly deal with passengers experiencing panic attacks severe enough to require oxygen.

Research suggests aerophobia affects about 25 million U.S. adults. The condition often surfaces in adulthood, typically developing in people during their 20s or 30s when they are experiencing major life transitions — marriage, parenthood, new jobs — and begin to feel that “everything counts,” according to David Carbonell, a Chicago-based psychologist who has written about flying anxiety.

A single bad flight can trigger the anxiety, Carbonell said. In some cases, the condition stems from other sources of anxiety that then attach to flying.

Campbell, who is transgender, said travel can be stressful because of concerns about how she will be treated by airport security or in other interactions.

Recent Increases in Flying Concerns

Evidence of increased flying anxiety comes primarily from anecdotal accounts, but psychologists and flight attendants say they have observed heightened worries among people both with and without prior fears.

“Even people who didn’t have a fear of flying are talking about it, given recent events,” said Jennifer Dragonette, a California-based psychologist who treats people with air travel anxieties.

The recent events include the January collision between an American Airlines jet and a helicopter over Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people — the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century.

Flight attendants based at the Washington, D.C., airport were particularly affected by the collision. Some requested time off to process their emotions, and at least one left the profession, according to Nelson.

Data on travel patterns suggests the concerns have affected behavior. U.S. air travel was down in March and early April compared with the prior year, according to TSA statistics. Airlines attributed the decline to economic uncertainty, a drop in government and corporate travel, and concern about recent aviation incidents.

FAA officials recently acknowledged they were not doing enough to ensure air safety.

Polling conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that fewer Americans report feeling safe about flying compared to the prior year.

The Personal Impact

Campbell knows the condition intimately. She experienced a panic attack on a flight before the January collision. Since the incident, her anxiety has worsened.

For Campbell, the anxiety connects to multiple concerns. Beyond the fear itself, she worries about how she will be treated by airport security and others during travel.

She describes her flying anxiety as “feeling trapped and unable to breathe” — a description that aligns with what psychologists say is central to many cases of aerophobia.

How to Manage Flying Anxiety

For people with milder aerophobia, simple techniques can help. Deep breathing with longer exhales helps the body relax, according to Dragonette, who counseled Campbell at a residential treatment facility in California.

Carbonell said he spends little time walking patients through airplane safety statistics. “I know you already looked at them all, and they’re not helping you,” he said in describing his approach. While the National Safety Council reports that the odds of dying in an airplane crash are too low to calculate based on 2023 statistics — making flying far safer than driving, walking on sidewalks, or crossing streets — experts acknowledge that logic alone cannot resolve an anxiety disorder.

For people with more severe aerophobia, exposure therapy can help. The therapy gradually acclimates patients to the anxiety-producing stimulus through stages: looking at photos of planes, watching videos of planes flying safely, or using virtual reality headsets that simulate being inside a plane.

Carbonell recommends that people practice with flights that do not involve work trips or other obligations. When anxiety symptoms arise, he suggests keeping a written count as a form of acceptance training.

“We’re using counting as a proxy for acceptance,” Carbonell said.

Getting Help Is Appropriate

When coping strategies alone are insufficient, professional help is both available and appropriate.

On a Frontier Airlines flight from Detroit to San Diego, Campbell’s breathing techniques did not prevent a panic attack. A passenger sitting next to her noticed her increasing distress and summoned a flight attendant.

The flight attendant breathed deeply alongside Campbell and stayed with her through the episode. The attendant also took down Campbell’s phone number and checked on her the following day.

“I was really impressed,” Campbell said.

Nelson noted that flight attendants are trained to provide support during such episodes: “I’ve had situations where I’d sort of sit in the aisle and hold someone’s hand.”