'FEAR OF FLYING'

NOT....the 1973 book by Erica Jong about modern female sexuality, which is credited with the 'second wave' of feminist action.

Here, we're looking a the recent rise in actual fear of traveling, by plane. There might be some justification for that fear because there have been 87 crashes in 2025, including four major ones. Of these 87, there have been 13 fatal plane crashes between January 1 and February 19, 2025, across the country - in Alaska, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Wyoming, Arkansas, California Nevada, and Arizona. This does not count 'near misses' between planes, and other non-fatal accidents. (USA Today, 2/17/25)

Many people are asking "Why is this happening?" Of course, every accident has its own set of causes, and there is general agreement that flying is safer than driving a car. BUT what about accidents that we saw on the network news?

TWO FACTS:

Air Traffic Controllers are the professionals who coordinate incoming and outgoing flights at airports.

Federal Officials Have Been Raising Concerns "about an overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system for years, especially after a series of close calls between planes at U.S. airports. Among the reasons they have cited for staffing shortages are uncompetitive pay, long shifts, intensive training and mandatory retirements." (PBS News 2/17/25)

Last Friday, 2/14/25, "Several hundred" FAA employees received emails stating that they were being fired immediately.  The emails were from an "‘exec order’ Microsoft email address” — not a government email address.

WAS THIS A GOOD DECISION? BY WHOM?

DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR DECISIONS ABOUT FLYING?