By Audrey Kim, Staff Reporter
Flying has never been safer, yet it’s never seemed more dangerous. This year, January and February saw significantly fewer aviation accidents compared to historical averages. January recorded 10 fatal incidents, and February had six, both well below the typical averages of 15-17 per month across all aviation types in the past 15 years, according to data from the National Transportation Safety Board. The odds of dying in a plane crash sit at roughly one in 11 million, according to the International Air Transport Association, making commercial aviation one of the safest forms of transportation. Despite these facts, today’s media seems determined to convince the public otherwise.
On Jan. 29, an American Airlines flight and a United States Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., claiming the lives of 67 people. Two days later, a flight crashed into the Castor Gardens neighborhood in Philadelphia, striking multiple buildings and homes. These devastating accidents rightfully captured immediate global attention. However, the aftermath revealed a concerning trend in the media. What began as a focus on grief and investigation soon shifted into a narrative of crisis, overwhelming public perception with sensationalized coverage. By doing so, the media overlooked the broader reality of aviation safety.
On social media, algorithms heightened the panic. Dramatic in-flight footage, oversensationalized headlines and self-proclaimed aviation experts speculating about systemic failures flooded platforms like TikTok, X and Instagram. These apps prioritize engagement and clicks through fear, resulting in a distorted sense of how common or dangerous these incidents actually are, with outlets like the Daily Mail and Metro labeling small accidents as “terrifying near misses” or “narrowly avoided collisions,” respectively.
Some argue that every incident, no matter how minor, deserves attention. The public has a right to know when things go wrong, even if the outcome isn’t catastrophic. But there’s a line between transparency and alarmism — the tendency to exaggerate dangers and incite fear — and too often, coverage crosses into the latter. Reporting on a diversion or turbulence encounter with accuracy is one thing. Packaging it as a near-tragedy to drive engagement is another entirely.
The facts are undeniable: Air travel is safer than ever, with each year bringing new advancements in technology, pilot training and regulatory oversight. If the media and social media platforms shifted their focus from sensationalizing isolated incidents to highlighting these developments, the public would have a clearer understanding of aviation’s safety. While there are real risks in air travel, the fear often pushed by the media is far out of proportion. It’s time for the public to see past the media’s narrative and recognize the progress in aviation safety.
Audrey Kim can be reached at [email protected].
