[The midair collision on Wednesday night over the Potomac River near Washington D.C. has left many air travelers on edge, following a string of deadly incidents globally. There are believed to be no survivors of the American Airlines crash, which is the latest in a series of accidents that include Jeju Air and Azerbaijan Airlines incidents in December and a year after a Boeing door panel blowout and a separate fiery runway collision in Japan.
Despite concerns, aviation experts say that statistically, flying remains the safest mode of transportation. Anthony Brickhouse, a US-based aviation safety expert, stated that “air travel remains the safest mode of transportation” and that “you’re safer in your flight than you were driving in your car to the airport.”
However, Brickhouse did note that it’s essential for investigators to find out what went wrong and for the government and regulatory agencies to take action to improve safety. He also warned that a “troubling trend” he’s seen in recent years suggests that near-collisions are becoming more common, and if not addressed, could lead to a mid-air collision.
Recent incidents at US airports, including a series of near-collisions in 2023, have prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to create an independent safety review team. However, despite these challenges, aviation safety statistics show that 2023 was an exceptionally safe year, with 30 accidents reported globally.
Professor Guy Gratton of Cranfield University and a commercial pilot agrees that flying is still the safest form of transport, citing improved safety performance by 61% over the last 10 years. He believes that the tragedy will bring attention to weaknesses in the current system and lead to improvements.
On the other hand, Geoffrey Thomas, editor of aviation website 42,000 Feet, thinks that the fatal commercial accidents in the past month are symbolic of a changing aviation landscape, with more congested skies and expanding war zones. He also blames US politicians for consistently starving the FAA of necessary funding, resulting in a subpar oversight and air traffic control system.
While concerns about safety are understandable, experts agree that flying is still the safest way to travel, with a low risk of death. As professor Arnold Barnett noted, the death risk per boarding has decreased by 61% over the past decade, making it safer to fly than other modes of transport.
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