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Have recent incidents involving air travel made you reluctant to fly?
Posted at 6:00 AM on October 26, 2009
by Eric Ringham
(11 Comments)
Filed under: Transportation
A passenger on the flight from San Diego last week that overshot the Twin Cities was quoted as saying that "planes are scary enough as it is," and that her latest experience "really freaks me out." Have recent incidents involving air travel made you reluctant to fly?
Comments (11)
The furor will pass. It is probably more safe to travel today due to the attention this story has brought.
Count me as not reluctant.
Yup, but not directly. My husband refuses to fly. And his anxiety makes my flight horrific as well. The recent events of crashes, six hour delays while on a plane, and now an issue of crew attentiveness does not ease his fears and does not help my "airplanes are safer than cars" reasoning. My family says his fear is illogical, but is being in a thin metal tube 37,000 feet in the air while no one pays attention, illogical? I'm leaning towards his thinking.
We both understand the statistics of safety concerning airplanes vs. cars. However I think for the most part we both like to be in control and neither of us know how to fly a plane. We also like our whole can of soda, not just a little splashed over a cup full of ice.
The anxiety and fear of flying hasn't really disrupted traveling. Now we just plan an extra day to drive. We're more about the journey anyway. We've even considered cargo ships for travel abroad. I hear the French ships have great food.
I'm certainly not more scared of crashes, but the level of service in the airline industry has given me pause. When you can hold people hostage on a runway without food or water for hours on end, that is a problem. I do not like the idea of flying with my children anymore, as this would be a nightmare for the kids, for me, and for the other passengers.
There are two things that scare me while flying: the recycled air in the cabin and the person I'm sitting next to.
I'm nervous to fly overseas because of the Airbus navigation problems and crashes--which is nervewracking because I had wanted to go back to France this summer.
I agree with the earlier comments, no, I'm not scared at all. Although maybe we're a misleading sample - we're not scared of the internet either.
Not really. I've been extremely resistant to flying ever since the security measures went in place after 9/11/01. It's not fun anymore, it's an ordeal full of fear and suspicion and given my druthers, I'll just drive, thanks.
No- not more reluctant.. but I do wonder how it makes MSP look as a hub- all this attention on MN problems with flights makes me wonder how people view us a reliable and safe place to fly through.
I agree with bob that we need to "get a grip". While I believe the crew's actions are certainly not excusable, it seems silly to get all worked up over an incident that really harmed no one and is exceptionally unlikely to occur. The quoted passenger reminds me of people who are afraid of shark attacks yet at the same time know that, statistically, the vast majority of child car seats are installed incorrectly and never take the time or effort to have theirs double-checked. It's worth taking time to fret over real threats and not highly improbable or imaginary ones.
No. The only thing that has made me reluctant to fly is the price of the ticket!
No. You're more likely to die by slipping and falling in the bathtub, getting cancer, or choking on a hot dog than you are by being in a plane that overflies an airport or lands on an airport taxiway. Let's get a grip, people!!
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