With the summer holidays just around the corner, many Brits will be looking forward to catching some on white sand beaches abroad. But with a 40-hour drive not the most appealing way to start a holiday, flying is the go-to for many of us. But after this morning’s tragic news that an Air India flight crashed with more than 200 passengers involved, it is normal to feel anxious about your next flight.
It’s estimated that already one in six people suffers from aerophobia, a significant fear of flying, while around 40% of us have some level of anxiety while getting on board a flight which is only normal to be heightened with the current news. Hurtling through the air at 500mph is quite a strange experience, but for those with a trip booked away soon, here’s the information that could help to know.
For anyone immediately affected by this morning’s events Gatwick Airport has been set up to support relatives of the victims of this morning’s flight. In a statement on social media, they said: “London Gatwick is liaising closely with Air India and a reception centre for relatives of those on board is being set up where information and support will be provided.
“British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 020 7008 5000. Air India has set up a dedicated passenger hotline number 1800 5691 444 to provide more information. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those on board.”
Safety Advice
Although many passengers are quick to put their headphones in or get straight back to their books, it is important to listen and watch the in-flight safety briefing as the information could help you if disaster strikes.
Make sure to follow the crew’s instructions, familiarise yourself with your nearest exit and find where your lifejacket may be. All this information will be included in the safety briefing and will likely be included on a card on the back of the seat in front of you. In case of an emergency, the crew are trained in how to handle a whole variety of situations, so follow the advice quickly and clearly.
During the flight, it’s best to follow the more simple safety advice such as keeping your seatbelt fastened, keeping the aisle clear, and keeping any luggage overhead secure.
Aeroplane safety
For those worried about the safety of aeroplanes, they can take some solace in the statistics. According to a study by MIT commercial airline crashes are extremely rare, with the risk of death from a flight being around 1 in 100 million – three times more likely than being struck by lightning.
In recent years, plane safety has also sharply increased, with the aviation incident rate seeing a very slow rise despite the vastly increased number of flights.
The aviation industry has seen significant safety improvements in recent years, and despite the vast increase in the number of planes in the air, the incident rate hasn’t seen a sharp rise.
How to cope with a fear of flying?
If you decide to overcome a fear of flying and board a flight, then there are a few techniques that can help you feel more relaxed and reduce your anxiety. Simple things like deep breathing, mindfulness, and visualisation can help you feel more relaxed.
Distraction can also be a great technique for overcoming fear. Bringing a book, downloading a movie, or playing a portable video game, can all help you to forget where you are and distract you from any worries.
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