To never want to get on a plane again?

[TwatMcTwonk]

Just watching coverage of the French air crash
I've always been a nervous flyer, took medication etc and would still be anxious all the way through the flight.

Used to go on holiday as a family, maybe two or three times a year, but I'm seriously thinking I don't think I could physically get on a plane again after all these news reports.

I know, statistically, it's rare to be involved in a plane crash, but I can't shake this awful feeling that it is just happening too often for my liking.

Anyone else feel like this?

Yanbu. You are being phobic. Not your fault. Plane travel isn't exactly essential is it unless yu live on a tiny island? I am told that it is the worst form of travel environmentally speaking! So no. Go for it... or do I mean don't go for it? Whatever, don't fly again. What's the problem? Unless you're a pilot / cabin crew...

I agree Dancer that the most horrific part when imagining being in a plane crash must be the collective horror of knowing you're going to die, but not just yet. Makes me feel weak knowing how scared they must be.

Limited yes, I know. I said it's irrational

Actually, I wouldn't go on a cruise either. Not something I'm interested in and I would hate being below decks (claustrophobia).

But given the choice between flying to Paris, or the ferry/drive, I'd go for the fly/drive every time. If the ferry goes down, I can swim but I can't fly. I know it's silly.

....but in a plane it's the possibility of it plummeting to the ground that I find absolutely terrifying.

Yes!!!!!

57% of fatalities caused by pilot error.

I think it is fine to be afraid of flying, I certainly am. But then I just think that either you suck up the fear in order to take your dc somewhere exciting or you sit at home feeling guilty about it. So might as well take the plunge.

• But given the choice between flying to Paris, or the ferry/drive, I'd go for the fly/drive every time. If the ferry goes down, I can swim but I can't fly. I know it's silly.

Sorry, I meant I'd go for the ferry/drive every time

I've heard the phrase that 'swimming just makes drowning take longer' too

limited I've drowned a bit and I can confirm that it's horrible. I think the sailors not swimming thing was more from the past, when the hope of rescue was faint.

With modern forms of communication, life rafts and locator beacons, your chances of being pulled out of the drink in a timely fashion are pretty good. Most of the big shipping accidents recently (in cases where adequate safety procedures were in operation) had relatively few casualties.

That said, I too get very nervous about being three decks below sea level on a big ferry or cruise ship, and always suss out my bearings and an exit plan ASAP.

The only people I know who have been killed in any transport-related accidents have drowned in small boat accidents- mostly involving either alcohol or dinghies, some both (my brush with death was dinghy related).

being in a plane crash must be the collective horror of knowing you're going to die, but not just yet.

TWA800 must've been an awful way to day.

Or die even.

I think it's quite a low number too rich when considering the UK population. But it's still higher than the global total of 1212 who died in plane crashes last year.

Luckily we've booked a cruise this year which sails from the UK so I won't have to worry about flying for a while.

I would like to do a fear of flying course though. I think understanding the science of HOW it works MIGHT make me feel a bit better. I know BA run them, any other airlines?

Yanbu, don't do it.

I hate flying though I adore planes. I think getting in a plane is a very strange and commonplace form of insanity.

The only way to really do it is to be a pilot and enjoy the challenge of not killing yourself with each flight

I am a seasoned motorcyclist and see it in much the same light. Wonderful thing to do but it is a dice with death, gravity and nature every time. I no longer ride after 14 years of it.

This does not mean I am not very sorry for those killed today.

Take offs absolutely terrify me. It's the build up that's worse, I look around expecting to see others equally terrified but it amazes me how calm everyone looks, chatting away or reading a magazine. How do they do that?

Taking off is the most dangerous bit apart from landing.

Taking off is my favourite part of flying. I get a real rush feeling it whoosh off the runway.

Nobody except pilots really likes flying but google how many people are killed on the roads in the UK/Europe and then you'd think that was unsafe. I don't like flying even tho' I know how they stay up there and how much regulation there is in ensuring safety and competence of aircrew. Ferry sinking? yes you can swim but can you get off the ferry into the water which may be freezing and stormy. Those N.Sea rig workers wear insulation suits in case of ditching and those will only keep you alive for a short time before hypothermia sets in. Everything is dangerous. But how many aircraft are flying right now around the world and they aren't falling out of the skies.

Yes. It's just that when you do fly, the stakes are always extremely high.

There's no 'drive slowly' or 'avoid motorways' or 'stick to shallow water' about flying. You're either up or you're down.

Sudden Death is so bloody random though and so shocking.

Dds teacher was so happy to take them on his last trip before retirement. He made a speech about it being his last trip so it would be a good one.

He was killed instantly on the way home in a crash. Haunts me daily.

I am an unbelievably bad flier - can't even watch planes taking off on TV without feeling dizzy - but my need to see other places just about beats it.

Agree about rolling news and social media adding to the sense of loads of disastrous crashes, increasing in frequency. We have to remember that there's just more flights now.

I read that the background risk for dying in an air crash is so small that you'd need to fly once a day for 19,000 years to get (un)lucky and this is what I tell myself. Also, it's not a done deal that it's game over even if you are in a crash

Awful for all involved today, though.

Oh no, Pyjamas - that's shocking.

pyjamas

You're much more likely to be sexually assaulted, get cancer, diabetes or die of a heart attack, die in a road traffic accident etc.

I think its normal to have some fear. You are flying through the sky (something we are just not designed to do) and you are ceding all control to an airline and pilot and aeroplane manufacturer. After all although if its highly unlikely to go wrong, if it does you are probably buggered.

I think most people have a few nerves.

Indeed. heart goes out to the families lost today.

At least it's one activity I have some control over though. If I never get in a plane I will never die falling out of the sky in one.

It is harder to avoid the other threats.