Airlines crashes are always particularly heartbreaking to me. Unlike climbing in our cars to go to work, most of us hop on a plane for a specific purpose. Maybe we’re visiting family. Or headed on a fun vacation.
Or, in the case of many of the victims of the recent Ethiopian Airlines crash, we’re doing humanitarian work, traveling around the world to bring aid to those less fortunate.
The crash on March 10 claimed the lives of more than 150 people, including 23 United Nations employees and residents of more than 30 countries. Now, airlines around the world are grounding the Boeing 737 Max 8, citing concerns raised by pilots, the recent crash, and a second crash back in October in Indonesia that killed 189 people.
The idea that someone knew there was a problem with these aircraft is infuriating. That’s over 300 lost lives that could have been avoided. Not to mention the families that now have to continue on without their loved ones or their support.
But it also infuriated me for the lives that will continue to be affected, in a much more distant way. The people who will develop fears of flying that will keep them grounded, unable to see the world in a practical way or even visit family that lives overseas or across the country. While I fully understand that fear though, the recent crashes don’t have be canceling my upcoming flights (though I would if they were scheduled on a Boeing 737 Max 8). Here’s why I’ll keep my reservations and continue planning flights in the future.
It’s Safer Than Driving
I love a good road trip. But if I’m being totally honest, driving scares me. I was in a minor accident while sitting at an intersection when I was sixteen. It totaled my car but left me with nothing more than whiplash. I don’t know how people who were in major accidents ever get back behind the wheel, because I still think of that crash every time I pull up to a stoplight.
On average, more than 3,000 people die EVERY DAY in automobile accidents around the world. Three. Thousand. People. That’s ten times the number that died in the two airline crashes, all dead within 24 hours of each other.
In contrast, last year 500 people died in airline accidents.
Now, I know that many people will say that this isn’t a fair comparison. After all, nearly everyone drives or rides on some form of automobile transportation, and far fewer fly. But the statistics hold up; you have a 1 in 114 chance of dying in a car accident and a 1 in 9,821 chance of dying in a plane crash.
Other Reasons to Stick to Flying
Besides the safety factor, sometimes driving just isn’t an option. While you can get overseas by boat, it’s expensive, impractical, and difficult to coordinate. Even crossing the country would cost a fortune in gas and hotel rooms for overnights, not to mention the wear and tear it would put on your vehicle. Plus, the time it would take to get there and back cuts your trip time down drastically.
If you’re still worried about taking to the sky, you can set your mind at ease a bit more by booking a flight on an airline with a great safety rating. Check out the top-rated airlines in the world here.
As for me, I’ll probably still stick to the budget airlines. Check out my tips for saving money and keeping your sanity on a budget flight in this article.
Cate Goes 