In the U.S., air travel is indisputably the safest form of transportation, a fact supported by data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. As an aviation journalist, I often delve into this topic, but what does it mean? How is air travel so secure? And how does it stack up against other transport options?

Many people ponder these questions, making “Is flying safe?” one of the most frequently searched travel queries.

You can be assured that it is safe. If you’re curious about the extent of that safety and the factors that contribute to it, keep reading.

Is flying safe?

Absolutely, especially when it comes to U.S. commercial airlines.

According to the 2024 Transportation Statistics Report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, air travel is recognized as the safest transportation option.

“Transportation incidents across all modes led to 44,546 fatalities in 2022, with all but 2,032 involving roadway vehicles. Preliminary data for 2023 indicate a continuing drop in deaths,” the report states. “There were no fatalities from accidents involving large commercial airlines in 2023; however, there were several hundred deaths in general aviation, commuter flights, and air taxi incidents.”

While the safety record varies internationally, popular destinations for U.S. travelers like western Europe, southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania also have strong safety performance in aviation. The International Air Transport Association indicates that in 2023, there was only one fatal commercial airline accident worldwide, resulting in 72 deaths. In North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, the fatality rate for commercial flights hovered around 0.5 per million flights; in contrast, it was 4.5 per million in Latin America and the Caribbean, and around 11 per million in Africa, according to IATA.

How did flying become so safe?

The aviation sector excels at learning from mistakes and enhancing safety measures.

“As a community, aviation is adept at analyzing past experiences and accidents,” stated Jim Brauchle, an aviation lawyer at Motley Rice. “The FAA has introduced numerous programs encouraging the reporting of safety concerns without fear of penalties.”

The National Transportation Safety Board meticulously investigates all aviation incidents in the U.S. and participates in many international inquiries, treating safety recommendations with utmost seriousness.

Throughout my reporting career, airline executives consistently affirmed that while they compete in areas like services, schedules, and pricing, safety is a shared priority. In this respect, airlines, manufacturers, and other industry players collaborate on their collective mission to ensure air travel remains secure.

Brauchle pointed out that lawmakers and the Federal Aviation Administration also play critical roles in upholding safety standards in the industry.

“The regulatory environment is stringent,” he noted. “Aircraft feature numerous backup systems; if one fails, there’s usually a contingency. Today’s technology is significantly more advanced.”

What part do passengers play in airline safety?

Despite the high safety levels, flying does come with its risks.

With turbulence becoming more common and severe, it is crucial for passengers to observe the seatbelt sign and heed flight crews’ advisories about remaining buckled up, even when the sign is off.

As I have mentioned before, this is the simplest and most effective method to avoid some of the most frequent and unpredictable airborne injuries.

Flight attendants prioritize your safety

It’s essential to understand that the primary role of flight attendants is to ensure passenger safety, rather than merely serving refreshments.

“Out of eight weeks of training, only one day was dedicated to customer service,” noted Rich Henderson, a contributor to the blog Two Guys on a Plane. The remainder was focused on safety protocols and emergency situations.

Ways to enhance safety in air travel

Although major U.S. airlines haven’t experienced a fatal incident in several years, there have been alarming near-misses, including an incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max that lost a fuselage piece mid-flight in early 2024, along with several scenarios where two aircraft came dangerously close to each other.

Brauchle mentioned that many of these issues stem from high turnover in the aviation sector.

“We’re witnessing significant turnover not just among pilots, but also in maintenance, air traffic control, and manufacturing—it’s a widespread concern,” he said. Furthermore, as onboard technology becomes more advanced, newer pilots increasingly rely on their instruments, which is generally safer but can confuse them if something goes wrong.

“Some older pilots believe that new pilots are losing essential flying skills, often relying too heavily on technology,” Brauchle explained.

Despite these challenges, flying continues to be remarkably safe, but experts emphasize the importance of maintaining comprehensive training and collaboration among industry stakeholders to uphold its status as the safest mode of transportation.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column. He is based in New York.