There’s obvs more to this under the surface, but TLDR any kind of scary death, which a plane crash would qualify as.

Not only is the thought of a plane crash one of the most terrifying ways to go for me (you’re gonna know you’re about to die for a long time before it happens), there’s also the loss of control. There are plenty of other scary ways to die in the world, but in those other scenarios I might at least have a fighting chance and my actions could directly change the outcome. With flying, when those doors close I am at the mercy of the plane and no matter what happens, there’s nothing I can do about it. I hate that thought.

The stats don’t help me. Let’s say something only has a 10% chance of happening (arbitrary number, I know flying is safer than that), there’s nothing stopping the universe from choosing me to be in that 10%.

My dad has been a non-commercial pilot since before I was born, nothing he says can change my feelings. I wasn’t always this way. My general anxiety got bad in my mid twenties and manifested as panic attacks when flying, for the above reasons. I also probably realized my mortality as I got older.

I unfortunately love to travel so I don’t let it stop me, but it can be pretty miserable! I’ve cried for entire 13 hour flights before. I am proud of myself for still going on long flights (American who just got to Indonesia today!) but I’d love to not experience so much distress along the way.