In the wake of the recent spate of plane crashes, four of them in the United States since Donald Trump took office, it is reasonable to ask whether commercial flights are still the safest way to travel.a
Thanks to decades of engineering advances and strict regulations that reduced accident rates to historic lows, flying has long been considered one of the safest modes of transportation.
You are more likely to have an accident on the way to the airport than during the flight, which demonstrates the impressive achievements in air safety.
However, recent air incidents, including the collision between a commercial airliner and a military helicopter at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, have rekindled public concern about air safety.
It is natural for those of us who use airplanes for work or tourism to wonder if airlines and regulators are doing enough to keep the skies safe.
In the United States, the federal government maintains that flying remains safe, despite recent layoffs of hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workers and having questioned whether existing ones are qualified or simply employed as result of diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
Another legitimate question is whether airlines’ cost-cutting measures are compromising safety.
Under pressure to maintain profits, airlines have increasingly commissioned maintenance, extended aircraft lifespans and pushed pilots and crew to the limit with demanding schedules.
Others wonder whether airlines are prioritizing efficiency over thorough inspections, which can lead to preventable mechanical failures.
Although aviation authorities such as the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigate all accidents professionally and thoroughly, the public questions whether regulatory oversight is keeping pace with the industry’s growth.
Another factor to consider is the age of commercial aircraft. Older aircraft can certainly operate safely with proper maintenance, but some airlines continue to extend the life of aircraft.
At the same time, pilot shortages have led to increased workloads for existing crews. Fatigue and stress can affect decision-making in high-risk situations.
Beyond legitimate questions, it is clear that air travel remains one of the safest ways to travel, but recent events serve as a reminder that maintaining that safety requires constant vigilance and not skimping on resources.
Airlines and regulators share the responsibility to ensure that cost-cutting, oversight gaps and aging aircraft do not erode the trust we place in aviation.
