Is Plane Travel Still The Safest Form Of Transport?
Intro
In the past ten odd days, we have seen a couple of accidents claiming the lives of passengers onboard commercial aircraft. Some of the videos that have been posted have showcased horrendous sights of quite literally seeing people burn to their deaths. However, the question that remains is: is traveling my plane still safer than alternatives?
For starters, my thoughts and prayers go out to the deceased and their loved ones. I cannot begin to imagine the hurt and pain the loved ones must be going through; my sympathy and empathy lie with you ❤️.
The Facts
Being on a plane is scary; I get it. For starters, as a passenger, you have zero control over what happens while driving a car; you have "total" control. However, it is estimated that globally, 1.35 million people die every year from a car accident. Breaking it down, the numbers say that 25,900 people per week die in a car accident (these are approximate numbers).
In comparison, in the past 8-9 days, we have seen a total of 38 passengers deceased on the Azerbaijan Airlines flight and another 179 passengers deceased on the Jeju Air catastrophe.
While I am not downplaying either mode of transport, that is 25,900 people per week in a car versus 217 passengers on a plane. If we look at boating accidents, an average of 422 people per week pass away. Heck, we can even look at walking, which averages 6,700 deaths per week.
Take A Deep Breath
I get it; if you are into traveling and following the news, most of what you happen to see this past week has revolved around plane crashes. It can be a little scary getting on a plane after what you have just seen on Instagram or the news. However, try if you can, to take a couple of deep breaths and look at the facts.
Most reputable airlines train pilots* for countless years across most of the major carriers in the world. Unlike driving a car where someone another driver can be drunk (with little precautions in place), there are serious safety measures in place. Try and take a deep breath and look at the numbers. I am not a numbers person, but I flew 10 minutes after the Jeju Air crash and had to reassure myself.
Final Thoughts
After seeing all of the recent catches in the news regarding aviation, I understand that getting on a plane might seem a tad bit scarier (either consciously or subconsciously). Even on one of the worst weeks in aviation in recent history, aviation still remains the safest mode of transport. Just remember to look at the numbers.
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