Are Flights Actually Less Safe Than Before?

These days, the news cycle seems packed with stories of aviation disasters and faulty aircraft, including those from Boeing, whose 737 planes have been involved in many accidents. In fact, over 150 individuals have died in plane crashes as of May 2025 in the United States (via Fox 4 News). Not to mention the various videos of airplane catastrophes that have gone viral. But are flights really less safe than they used to be? Richard Levy from AviationExpertConsulting.com says no. The former American Airlines pilot spoke to Islands exclusively about the safety of air travel. 

Levy, who has over 40 years of flying experience, says that travelers have little to worry about. He stated, “Of the thousands of daily commercial flights flown around the world, 99.99% of them run safely and successfully, and fly the intended and planned itinerary from point A to point B. Have there been a few flights as of late that have had non-normal occurrences? Yes.” However, with many choosing to stay grounded, Levy has a reminder for travelers. 

“The riskiest portion of any commercial flight remains to be the drive to and from the airport,” he explains. Indeed, data shows that you are more likely to die from a car crash than a plane crash. Likewise, prospective fliers should be aware that a majority of aviation accidents that do transpire are not commercial flights. This includes the January 2025 plane crash in Philadelphia, which was transporting a medical patient. “There have been a few newsworthy events that did indeed gather media attention, but still do not prove commercial aviation as unsafe,” says Levy. 

If you’re still feeling spooked about flying, take into consideration that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working behind the scenes to ensure travelers’ safety. One way the government agency does this is by requiring that each airline have a Safety Management System (SMS). In a few words, an SMS determines problems and the proper solutions for them. Richard Levy elaborated on this concept further to Islands, noting that, above all, airlines and pilots prioritize passengers.

He explained, “Two of the many SMS that are taught at various airlines are ‘Threat Error Management'(TEM) and ‘Risk Resource Management’ (RRM). Both TEM and RRM share the common goal for the airline pilot of today: take no unnecessary risk.” It’s worth mentioning that pilots also perform a preflight inspection to ensure that the aircraft and other factors are in tip-top shape for flying.

That is all to say that if any issues or complications arise, rest assured that your pilot will, if necessary, make the call to delay or cancel the flight. While this can disrupt your travel plans and make the situation a bit chaotic, this is not a decision that’s taken lightly by pilots. As Levy noted, “Yes, flying on schedule between the planned departure and destination cities is obviously very important, but safe operation is the ultimate goal and of utmost importance.”