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Why Am I Afraid of Flying?

March 6, 2025 – 5 min read

Plane interior to relax and avoid being afraid of flying.

Flying is one of the safest modes of transportation, yet many people experience fear and anxiety when stepping onto a plane. If you’ve ever wondered, Why am I afraid of flying?, you’re not alone. Let’s explore the psychology behind this fear, why it’s completely normal, and most importantly, how to manage it.

1. Fear of the Unknown

One of the biggest triggers for aerophobia (fear of flying) is not understanding how planes work. The idea of a giant metal object staying in the air can feel unnatural if you don’t know the science behind it.

Pro tip: Try watching pilot explanations or reading blogs like this one before your flight!

2. Lack of Control

Many anxious flyers struggle with not being in control. Unlike driving a car, where you can stop or adjust your speed, flying requires trusting the pilots and the aircraft.

  • Solution: Shift your mindset! Remind yourself that pilots are highly trained professionals with thousands of flight hours. Airlines also prioritize safety above all else, it’s their number one job.

Try focusing on things you can control during a flight, like your breathing, entertainment, and comfort.

3. Fear of Heights (Aerophobia)

If you’re afraid of heights, flying might feel overwhelming. Looking out the window and seeing clouds instead of solid ground can trigger discomfort.

  • Solution: Choose an aisle seat to avoid looking outside, or try exposure therapy before your flight by watching plane takeoff videos to desensitize yourself (avoid watching plane mystery investigations though, it could have the opposite effect!).

4. Turbulence Feels Dangerous (But Isn’t!)

Turbulence is one of the most common reasons people feel uneasy on a plane. It can make the aircraft shake, giving the impression that something is wrong.

  • Reality Check: Turbulence is completely normal and not dangerous. Planes are designed to withstand much more than the bumps you feel. Pilots expect turbulence and adjust altitude or speed if needed.
  • What NOT to do: Don’t grip your armrest or tense your body, it makes anxiety worse. Instead, focus on relaxing your muscles and breathing deeply.

5. Media Influence on Your Fear

Hollywood loves to exaggerate aviation-related disasters, and news channels only report on extremely rare accidents. This creates a false impression that flying is unsafe.

  • Solution: Remind yourself that millions of flights take off and land safely every year. Air travel is statistically safer than driving. Try to limit exposure to negative media about flying before a trip. Even though statistics don’t always work for nervous flyers, it doesn’t hurt to keep this in mind!

6. Claustrophobia or Feeling Trapped in the Plane

Some people feel anxious about being inside a confined space with no way to leave mid-flight.

7. Past Negative Flying Experiences

A previous rough flight, emergency landing, or bad turbulence can create lasting anxiety.

  • Solution: Recognize that no two flights are the same. Just because you had one uncomfortable experience doesn’t mean it will happen again. Instead of reliving past fear, remind yourself that every flight is different and that planes are built for safety.

8. Fear of Flying Can Become a Habit

Fear of flying can become a habit, something your brain does automatically, without questioning it. If you’ve been scared for a long time, anything related to aviation (airports, planes in the sky, even the thought of booking a flight) might trigger anxiety before you even think about it. Your brain has learned to associate flying with fear, and like any habit, it repeats that response on autopilot.

  • Solution: Break the cycle by questioning your fear in the moment. Instead of assuming flying is terrifying, ask yourself: How do I actually feel about it right now? Not how you think you should feel based on past experiences, but how it feels in this very moment.

You might notice that parts of flying aren’t as scary as you thought. Maybe you enjoy the idea of traveling somewhere new, or perhaps watching planes take off is actually fascinating. When you pause and reflect, rather than letting habit take over, you might realize that flying isn’t as bad as your automatic fear makes it seem. And that small shift in perspective? That’s where real change begins.

How to Overcome Fear of Flying

If your fear of flying is stopping you from traveling, there are ways to manage it:

  • Learn the facts: The more you know about aviation, the less fear you’ll have.
  • Distract yourself: Movies, books, music, and puzzles help pass the time.
  • Breathe deeply: Anxiety is physical, so calming your body helps your mind.
  • Consider therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been proven to reduce flight anxiety.
  • Take a fear of flying course: Some airlines and organizations offer them!

Final Thoughts

Your fear of flying is understandable, but it doesn’t have to control you. The more you educate yourself and practice coping strategies, the easier flying will become. You are not alone in this fear, and you can absolutely overcome it.

  • What helps you the most when dealing with flight anxiety? Let’s chat in the comments!

🔗 Related Article: How to Stay Calm During a Flight

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The Calm Cabin was created by a once-terrified flyer who finally overcame her fear of flying, and is now on a mission to help others do the same.

If the thought of stepping on a plane fills you with anxiety, you’re not alone. This space is here to support, reassure, and empower you to take off with confidence, so you can finally enjoy traveling and discover the world with ease and peace of mind.

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