AIBU to not want my parents to drive immediately after a 24-hour flight?

YANBU, tiredness impairs your reaction speeds as much as being over the alcohol limit. It's just as dangerous and irresponsible as driving home drunk from the pub, only difference is it's not illegal.

Lots of people think they're fine driving drunk as well, think they can take the risk and it doesn't affect them so badly. And lots of people will successfully complete a journey over the limit without being unlucky. Doesn't mean it isn't grossly irresponsible.

'other irresponsible actions'
As defined by who? We made many long haul flights, east and west and had the usual jet lags but when we flew to NZ with a 2 hour stop in Singapore we had no jet lag at all which really surprised us. We'd picked up a car at the airport, driven to our hotel then walked into and round the city, fully expecting to be wasted the next day but it didn't happen. People's bodies can react differently, they'll need to make their own decisions.

Agree. My niece (the other week) drove 3 and a half hours back from the airport after an 11 hour flight, (she started out from the airport at 6pm,) and she said she nearly crashed the car twice. She was so drowsy. She did stop at a service station for an hour (half way back) and had a nap in the car, and was OK afterwards. But she said in hindsight, she should have booked a Travelodge and stayed overnight near the airport, then driven back the next day.

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I voted YABU - I’m in my 60s and think you are writing them off a bit early. Save your concern for when they need it.

Yet another thread treating 60 year olds as if they're in their dotage! They're fine. They will be fine. If they're still doing it in their 90s then perhaps you will be justified in offering help and guidance.
I'm also a bit surprised that you're making so much fuss about this when you can only be bothered to speak to them 3 times a year. You're not exactly close.

Ah, I'm sorry. It's really disappointing to have a parent whose 'don't want to be a bother' really means 'could care less'! I have a parent like this and I have learned to manage my expectations. (Which translates as: no expectations!) Deep breaths. They aren't going to change so just let them get on with it.

The only thing I am grateful for is that it has taught me to be absolutely not that way with my kids. I'm visiting my DS this weekend (in another country). I speak the language, am perfectly capable of getting an Uber or hiring a car to his house - but he wants and expects to pick me up from the airport. I can't wait to see him! He has told me all the plans he has for us and I'm so excited to hang out with him and share some of his life there. And I say it. And it gives me pleasure to know that I am telling him what I would love to have heard from my own mum. So that is my comfort. That I am not repeating the pattern.

It's perfectly normal to offer to pick someone up from the airport and it's perfectly normal for them to say no thanks we're hiring a car. What's not normal is to question their decision making because you feel excessively anxious. It's not normal to try to overrule their decision to travel by themselves because you think you know better and should be able to stop them doing what they want to do (as some posters have suggested).

They need a car for their trip, they’re flying into an airport - one of the main places you can rent a car from. It’s completely illogical for OP to collect them and then them be beholden to OP driving them back to the airport in order for them to rent a car.
Do you even understand what controlling means?? They’re making a decision about their own journey, that’s not controlling. OP trying to dictate what 2 other adults do is controlling.

Leave them to it. You have told them your opinion and offered to collect them. You can’t do more than that.
If they’re in good enough health to go on holiday exploring another country they can hardly be decrepit.
Treat them like competent adults, you can’t force them to do what you want.
Maybe leave it as “well if you arrive and you don’t feel like driving give me a call and I will collect you”

What on earth is narcissistic about that?

Lots of people don’t like emotional airport meetings - they just want to get their stuff and get out of there.

How old are they?
Do they have a history of car accidents or a flawless record?
Finally - what’s their travel health insurance like? It’s worth looking to see if they have any clauses against driving after a long haul flight & other irresponsible actions!

I love how independent they are. Can we swap..?!

Sounds like OP is NC or LC with them. Maybe because they sound like crazy narcissists who would fly 24hrs to see their family but refuse to let them pick them up?

If they can sleep on the plane, which most people will, there shouldn't really be an issue. An hour's drive isn't much. My dd recently did a 3 hour drive after a similar length flight & was fine

I have never heard of parents refusing to let their adult children pick them up from the airport! This is utterly bonkers. Assuming of course they live within a reasonable distance away and are eager to see them.

Have your parents always been so bizarre and controlling???

You only speak to them three times a year? Why?

I'm 63, my husband 67. I wouldn't drive straight away. They might sleep on the plane but it's a long way. I went business from Scotland to Zambia so not even a big time difference and I was exhausted when I arrived I could not have driven in a strange country even if on the same side of the road. But sounds like your parents will do what they want. Just hope they don't hurt anyone else in the process.

OP you are absolutely correct about this drive being a bad idea but they are not ancient, have capacity to decide and are going ahead. Nagging them won't help.
Your mum's lack of interest must be hard for you.

Did you fly with children or just as 2 adults ? Imo flying even long haul as just 2 adults can be fairly relaxing.

Honestly I think you're catastrophysing a bit.

That surprise excuse is not credible, is it? They've already had tense exchanges about not driving from the airport and you think arriving at the airport and trying to force the issue is going to go down well? Is that how you treat your loved ones - overrule them and take over?

I don't really think this is an issue. People do it all the time. And the extreme jet lag you talk about is unusual in my opinion.

Is all this upheaval bringing back everything you thought you dealt with in therapy? Being jealous they are seeing things before you? Maybe you need to breathe a bit - they are not staying with you - which is probably good given how anxious you are being.
My family all live overseas and over the years I have found with family visiting me and me visiting them that often less is more - it's better to have 2-3 really good days and when they leave you are sad than to have them for a week or more and then you are contemplating murder by the time they walk out the door.
Try to relax a bit and enjoy the short time you have with them - and allow them to plan their own holiday in peace.

I wouldn't do it. The 24 hour flight often involves a disturbed or short sleep before you even get on the plane. I generally feel quite spacey when I arrive. Add in an unfamiliar car, possibly auto rather than manual, and unfamiliar road rules. The motorways in the city I live in are very confusing. It'll probably be fine. But it's not a risk I'd take.

Its a 45 minute drive, i think youre over reacting

Sounds like you need to be there to meet them. And drive the hire car if necessary.