Here's where to find the most up-to-date flight safety information
Just this month, the collision of an American Airlines plane and a US Army helicopter killed 67 people in Washington, DC, and a Delta Airlines flight crash-landed in Toronto. In 2024, the year started off with a door panel blowing off an Alaska Airlines flight, and then months later there eventually would be two fatal crashes involving South Korean and Azerbaijani airlines.
Though airplane accidents are still a rarity, according to the numbers.
Arnold Barnett, a professor of statistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, co-authored an August 2024 airline safety study that between 2018 and 2022, the worldwide death risk per boarding was one in 13.7 million.
But for anxious flyers, having all this information may not alleviate a fear of flying. In fact, it might do the opposite and could even influence panic symptoms at the airport, Jonathan Bricker, an affiliate psychology professor at the University of Washington told CNN.
'The anxious mind is never satisfied with the answer, the data,' Bricker said. 'It's always looking for more information to reassure itself, because it will think of another possibility.'
And it can be overwhelming to parse through the different agencies and data points on airline safety. The Federal Aviation Administration under the Department of Transportation regulates civilian aviation, but the National Transportation Safety Board investigates all major civil aviation accidents.
Both the FAA and NTSB have troves of data to browse but much of the language is industry-specific. NTSB posts preliminary data on the number of accidents here (as the chart appears, it suggests there was a record-low number of airplane accidents nationwide in January). The NTSB also maintains an accident database, and the FAA has a landing page for its different set of flight safety data and information.
If you're open to gaining more knowledge, experts point to Airline Ratings, which offers detailed and reliable safety assessments about individual airlines, though it doesn't calculate risk.
The site rates airlines on whether they have had numerous and serious pilot-related incidents, passed all of their major audits (for American Airlines that includes benchmarks such as International Air Transport Association audits and FAA bans) and if they had any fatal crashes in the last 10 years.
Barnett also pointed to Air Safety Network for details on individual crashes. For example, the site posts the flight path, images, coordinates, maps and information from news sources and social media posts for the Delta flight that rolled over in Toronto Pearson.
Kristy Kiernan, an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told CNN that the Flight Safety Foundation's 'Skybrary' has valid and reliable information. It's like a Wikipedia for industry knowledge, describing different accident types and what aircrafts can expect in those situations.
'As an industry we want to make sure that people have the resources that they need in order to understand something in layman's terms,' Kiernan said, contradicting the position of Bricker, the psychology professor. 'If you learn about all of the processes and procedures that are in place in the aviation system to keep you safe, you'll feel a lot more comfortable.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Southwest's New Policy Change Sparks Backlash—'Money Grab'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Southwest Airlines has announced a major policy change that brings to an end the carrier's decades-long open seating system, sparking backlash and a claim that it is a "money grab." The new assigned seating model, which allows passengers to pay in advance to select their seats, will roll out from January 27, 2026. It will apply to flights booked under the airline's updated fare bundles, which are already available for purchase. One financial newspaper editorial labeled the shift "a money grab," while social media has been filled with criticism. Newsweek contacted Southwest Airlines for comment and specific pricing information via email on Friday outside of usual working hours. Why It Matters The airline's open-seating model and "bags fly free" policy have long been cornerstones of its brand loyalty. Many loyal customers view the shift as a betrayal of the airline's founding identity and are publicly threatening to switch carriers. The seating fees follow Southwest's May 2025 decision to end its free-checked-bag policy, introducing new baggage fees of $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 airplane prepares to takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 10, 2025. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 airplane prepares to takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 10, 2025. SAUL LOEB/AFP viaWhat To Know Travelers can now pay to select their Southwest seats in advance on flights departing from January 27, 2026, including options for extra-legroom seating. Passengers who do not select a seat will be assigned one automatically at check-in. Seat selection fees are expected to vary depending on the seat type and route. "Southwest® Customers will be able to choose from various fare bundles, some that offer the opportunity to select a seat during the booking process, as well as access to the different seat types—Extra Legroom, Preferred, and Standard. Customers will also be able to purchase a seat upgrade to elevate their travel experience," Southwest announced in a news release. Some major airlines, such as American Airlines, still allow passengers to choose their seat for free when they book or, in the case of American Airlines, buy a Preferred Seat in a more favorable location or a Main Cabin Extra seat with more benefits. United Airlines offers assigned seating, with Basic Economy advance seat assignments starting at $15 per flight per person, similar to Delta. While airlines argue the changes provide more options and clarity for customers, critics say it signals a shift toward profit-driven complexity and added passenger costs. "If I am paying extra for all these things, I might as well fly a premium airline like Delta," said one traveler, cited by The U.S. Sun. Some see the decision as abandoning what made the airline unique. A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) editorial labeled the shift "a money grab," while social media has been filled with criticism from travelers who feel the airline is no longer a budget-friendly option. Industry analyst Henry Harteveldt, as per Visa Verge, stated: "This is how you destroy a brand. This is how you destroy customer loyalty. And this, I think, is going to send Southwest into a financial tailspin." A recent Senate report revealed that the five largest U.S. airlines collected $12.4 billion in seat selection fees between 2018 and 2023. In some cases, revenue from seat fees has surpassed what airlines earn from checked baggage. The report found that airlines are increasingly using algorithms and customer data to personalize pricing and maximize revenue. This is especially true for seat selection fees, which can vary widely depending on the route, demand, and from customer to customer. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan defended the decision, as reported by The New York Times, calling it "exciting" and saying it aligns with customer demand for more certainty and family-friendly seating. The airline estimates the changes will generate $1.5 billion in annual seat revenue and contribute to a $4.3 billion increase in overall operating profit by 2026. What People Are Saying Dawn Gilbertson, Travel Columnist, WSJ: "This is a money grab, and it will no doubt succeed. Southwest was criticized for years by Wall Street for leaving fee money on the table. Now it will get its share. The airline's executives said last week that they already have seen evidence of travelers trading up for tickets with more perks." Southwest Airlines in an emailed statement to Newsweek on Friday: "Our new fare bundles are out for sale for travel beginning Jan. 27, 2026, and beyond. On that date, we'll move to assigned seating and sunset our open seating model. As for pricing, that's a regulated topic that we cannot discuss publicly outside our required reporting to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Searching around on would return only anecdotal results as route, stage length, demand, date of travel, date of booking, etc, can all affect fares." Former Southwest Board Chairman Rakesh Gangwal, in a statement announcing new Board Chair Doug Brookes: "In a short period of one year, Southwest implemented a massive overhaul of its business model that will serve it well for years to come. Not many companies have the courage and conviction to fundamentally change ingrained aspects of their business model for the benefit of all their stakeholders. The transformation of Southwest Airlines is well underway." Tony Roach, Executive Vice President Customer & Brand, at Southwest Airlines, in a statement: "Our Customers want more choice and greater control over their travel experience … Assigned seating unlocks new opportunities for our Customers—including the ability to select Extra Legroom seats—and removes the uncertainty of not knowing where they will sit in the cabin. This is an important step in our evolution, and we're excited to pair these enhancements with our legendary Customer Service." Southwest CEO Bob Jordan in an interview with The New York Times: "You have to keep talking because sometimes people don't understand what you're doing. What I find is that once folks know where we're headed, they're very excited. I think you just have to play through this period of change because change is hard. Our employees are excited about the changes." What Happens Next The seat assignment option is now available for bookings, but the new boarding and seating systems won't take effect until flights departing January 27, 2026. Passengers who hold Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards or A-list status may continue to access certain seats for free, depending on the timing of their booking, according to the new guidelines.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
What in-flight turbulence is and when it becomes dangerous for passengers and crews
Turbulence Explainer A Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam that was hit by serious turbulence Wednesday, sending 25 people on board to hospitals and forcing the flight to divert to Minnesota, highlighted the dangers of flying through unstable air. Several turbulence-impacted flights have been reported this year. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, the tally of injuries has grown over the years. Some meteorologists and aviation analysts note that reports of turbulence encounters also have been increasing and point to what climate change may be doing to flying conditions. Planes hitting bumpy air is mostly minor, however, and airlines have tried to improve safety. Experts advise travelers to stay vigilant, stressing wearing a seat belt whenever possible. What causes turbulence Turbulence is essentially unstable air that moves in a non-predictable fashion. Most people associate it with heavy storms. But the most dangerous is clear-air turbulence, which often occurs with no visible warning. Clear-air turbulence happens most often in or near the high-altitude rivers of air called jet streams. The culprit is wind shear, which is when two huge air masses close to each other move at different speeds. If the difference in speed is big enough, the atmosphere can't handle the strain, and it breaks into turbulent patterns like eddies in water. Recent flights shaken by turbulence In June, five people were taken to a North Carolina hospital for evaluation after an American Airlines flight from Miami hit turbulence on its way to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The plane landed safely. Earlier that month, severe storms in southern Germany forced a Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing after violent turbulence injured nine people, German police said. The flight was traveling from Berlin to Milan with 179 passengers and six crew members. Eight passengers and one crew member were hurt. In March, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Singapore experienced severe turbulence over the Philippines. The plane was carrying 174 passengers and 14 crew members. Five people were injured and the plane landed safely in Singapore. Several flights were diverted to Waco, Texas, on March 3, because of turbulence. Five people were injured aboard a United Express plane flying from Springfield, Missouri, to Houston. Last year, Italian authorities launched an investigation after two easyJet flight attendants were injured when their flight from Corfu to London's Gatwick Airport was buffeted by turbulence. The pilot made an unscheduled landing in Rome. In May 2024, a 73-year-old British man died and dozens of people were injured aboard a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence. His death was under investigation. Authorities said he may have had a heart attack. It's unclear how common injuries are Tracking the number of turbulence-related injuries worldwide is difficult. But some countries publish national data. Most reports of in-flight turbulence from 2009 through 2018 resulted in one or more serious injuries and no damage to the plane, the National Transportation Safety Board reported. Between 2009 and 2024, 207 people were injured seriously enough during turbulence to require hospital treatment for at least two days, according to the NTSB. Most of them were flight attendants, who are more likely to be out of their seats during a flight. How pilots try to avoid it Pilots try to avoid turbulence partly by using a weather radar display. Sometimes they can simply see and fly around thunderstorms. But clear-air turbulence 'is altogether another animal,' said Doug Moss, a former airline pilot and safety consultant. It can be devastating, he said, 'because the time before the incident can be very calm, and people are caught off-guard.' Air traffic controllers will warn pilots after another plane runs into clear-air turbulence, Moss said. Many pilots also look for signs of wind shear, then plan to avoid those areas, he said. Modern planes are strong enough to handle just about any turbulence. Cabin areas such as overhead bins may receive cosmetic damage, 'but these don't impact the structural integrity of the planes,' Moss said. Scientists look at climate change's influence Some scientists note that reports of turbulence encounters are on the rise. Several researchers have pointed to potential climate impacts as one of the possible explanations. Professor Thomas Guinn, of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, explains that some predict climate change could alter the jet stream and up the wind shear, which would drive up turbulence. Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in England, said there was 'strong evidence that turbulence is increasing because of climate change.' Williams said in a statement last year that his research team discovered that severe clear-air turbulence in the North Atlantic has increased by 55% since 1979, for example. The team's projections signal that severe turbulence in the jet streams could double or triple in the coming decades if global conditions continue as expected, he said. There could be a rise in overall air traffic that may increase turbulence encounters as the number of flight tracks go up, said Larry Cornman, a project scientist at the National Science Foundation's National Center for Atmospheric Research. What travelers can do to stay safe In short, buckle up. Turbulence can be tricky to predict, but experts stress that the first line of defense is keeping the seat belt fastened, whenever possible. And airlines have taken steps for safety. Last November, Southwest Airlines said it was ending cabin service earlier so that passengers return to their seats and fasten seat belts sooner. The change was intended to 'reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries,' the company said. Also last year, Korean Air decided to stop offering a beloved instant noodle, Shin Ramyun. 'This decision is part of proactive safety measures in response to increased turbulence, aimed at preventing burn accidents,' the Seoul-based airline said in a statement. Solve the daily Crossword
a day ago
What in-flight turbulence is and when it becomes dangerous for passengers and crews
A Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam that was hit by serious turbulence Wednesday, sending 25 people on board to hospitals and forcing the flight to divert to Minnesota, highlighted the dangers of flying through unstable air. Several turbulence-impacted flights have been reported this year. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, the tally of injuries has grown over the years. Some meteorologists and aviation analysts note that reports of turbulence encounters also have been increasing and point to what climate change may be doing to flying conditions. Planes hitting bumpy air is mostly minor, however, and airlines have tried to improve safety. Experts advise travelers to stay vigilant, stressing wearing a seat belt whenever possible. Turbulence is essentially unstable air that moves in a non-predictable fashion. Most people associate it with heavy storms. But the most dangerous is clear-air turbulence, which often occurs with no visible warning. Clear-air turbulence happens most often in or near the high-altitude rivers of air called jet streams. The culprit is wind shear, which is when two huge air masses close to each other move at different speeds. If the difference in speed is big enough, the atmosphere can't handle the strain, and it breaks into turbulent patterns like eddies in water. In June, five people were taken to a North Carolina hospital for evaluation after an American Airlines flight from Miami hit turbulence on its way to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The plane landed safely. Earlier that month, severe storms in southern Germany forced a Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing after violent turbulence injured nine people, German police said. The flight was traveling from Berlin to Milan with 179 passengers and six crew members. Eight passengers and one crew member were hurt. In March, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Singapore experienced severe turbulence over the Philippines. The plane was carrying 174 passengers and 14 crew members. Five people were injured and the plane landed safely in Singapore. Several flights were diverted to Waco, Texas, on March 3, because of turbulence. Five people were injured aboard a United Express plane flying from Springfield, Missouri, to Houston. Last year, Italian authorities launched an investigation after two easyJet flight attendants were injured when their flight from Corfu to London's Gatwick Airport was buffeted by turbulence. The pilot made an unscheduled landing in Rome. In May 2024, a 73-year-old British man died and dozens of people were injured aboard a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence. His death was under investigation. Authorities said he may have had a heart attack. Tracking the number of turbulence-related injuries worldwide is difficult. But some countries publish national data. Most reports of in-flight turbulence from 2009 through 2018 resulted in one or more serious injuries and no damage to the plane, the National Transportation Safety Board reported. Between 2009 and 2024, 207 people were injured seriously enough during turbulence to require hospital treatment for at least two days, according to the NTSB. Most of them were flight attendants, who are more likely to be out of their seats during a flight. Pilots try to avoid turbulence partly by using a weather radar display. Sometimes they can simply see and fly around thunderstorms. But clear-air turbulence 'is altogether another animal,' said Doug Moss, a former airline pilot and safety consultant. It can be devastating, he said, 'because the time before the incident can be very calm, and people are caught off-guard.' Air traffic controllers will warn pilots after another plane runs into clear-air turbulence, Moss said. Many pilots also look for signs of wind shear, then plan to avoid those areas, he said. Modern planes are strong enough to handle just about any turbulence. Cabin areas such as overhead bins may receive cosmetic damage, 'but these don't impact the structural integrity of the planes,' Moss said. Some scientists note that reports of turbulence encounters are on the rise. Several researchers have pointed to potential climate impacts as one of the possible explanations. Professor Thomas Guinn, of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, explains that some predict climate change could alter the jet stream and up the wind shear, which would drive up turbulence. Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in England, said there was 'strong evidence that turbulence is increasing because of climate change.' Williams said in a statement last year that his research team discovered that severe clear-air turbulence in the North Atlantic has increased by 55% since 1979, for example. The team's projections signal that severe turbulence in the jet streams could double or triple in the coming decades if global conditions continue as expected, he said. There could be a rise in overall air traffic that may increase turbulence encounters as the number of flight tracks go up, said Larry Cornman, a project scientist at the National Science Foundation's National Center for Atmospheric Research. In short, buckle up. Turbulence can be tricky to predict, but experts stress that the first line of defense is keeping the seat belt fastened, whenever possible. And airlines have taken steps for safety. Last November, Southwest Airlines said it was ending cabin service earlier so that passengers return to their seats and fasten seat belts sooner. The change was intended to 'reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries,' the company said. Also last year, Korean Air decided to stop offering a beloved instant noodle, Shin Ramyun. 'This decision is part of proactive safety measures in response to increased turbulence, aimed at preventing burn accidents,' the Seoul-based airline said in a statement.
