I have read all the above and would like to make some editorial comments as far as I am concerned. As previously mentioned I have3.6 million miles on AA and about 500K miles on other airlines. The lowest FF status that I have held is currently Platinum on AA due to reduced travel. My miles qualify me as Platinum for life.

I know that flying is the safest way to travel. That does not remove from my mind the number of times I have been on flights that have been hit by lightening and watched it flash in one side and out the other in the cabin. It does not remove the sight of a North Central jet (this was early 70's at OHare) that was hit by another jet and burst into flames. All died. I was close enough in another plane to feel the heat from the fire. It does not remove the memory of hitting air pockets and watching 300 pound service carts go up in the air (when the air lines used to serve food) and severely injure flight attendants and passengers. It does not remove the memory of two foamed runway belly landings. It does not remove the memory of seeing the Delta flight at DFW that plowed up a mile of earth due to wind sheer.

Yes, I have my fears of flying!!!!!

 

Planes get struck by lightening on average twice a year.

 

mns2k, if you really saw and experienced all that, you have a gray cloud over your head. If I were you I'd crawl under the covers and never come out!
(two belly landings? You were in the plane both times?) On second thought, you should buy a lottery ticket. You defy the odds.

 

Remember that I have been flying for over 35 years. Also with my miles and if you assume 750 miles per leg that equates to about 4800 flights. It all about the averages.

As far as lighting goes the average is each plane gets hit 1 X / yr. One other thing and that is I have no reason to lie or to try to obtain self aggrandizement. I will leave that to others. What I related is true.

 

I used to be nervous on flights, but my last 50 or so flights have been on small twin props (4 to 6 seats), mainly on a Duchess or Baron. I've grown to really love it. I'll bet if you go for your private pilots licence and learn the dynamics you'd overcome your fear quickly. Of course you can't calm your nerves with alcohol or xanax if you do this.

BTW, planes are designed to be hit by lightning. There is no danger there.

 

I wouldn't say that its not a danger

Passenger jet carrying children crashes in Nigeria killing 103
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria - Many schoolchildren were among the 103 passengers killed as a passenger jet broke into pieces when it tried to land in foul weather conditions in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt.

There were seven survivors from the tragedy and these people were taken to a nearby hospital. The Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 flight was flying into Port Harcourt from the capital city of Abuja when the tragedy occurred. Among the 110 passengers, 75 were schoolchildren who were returning home fro the Christmas holidays.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo called an emergency meeting as rescue workers worked overtime in sifting through the wreckage to find the plane's black box or the flight recorder. Many eyewitnesses describe the accident as horrific and say that as the plane was attempting to land in an electrical storm, lightning flashes could be seen. It is speculated that perhaps lightning may have hit the plane as it seemed to disintegrate completely upon impact.


Relatives of the children flocked to the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to identify the dead bodies and claim them. The bodies are being held at the morgues in these two hospitals. This crash comes in less than two months after a Bellview Airlines flight crashed killing 117 people.

The Nigerians in the area are bitter since many school children lost their lives. Many reporters are also saying that the country's airline system is in chaos and that most aircraft are old and second hand and are in urgent need of repairs. This was the 39th crash in the country's history since 1981.

Meanwhile, an investigation into the crash has begun after a team of investigators from the United States arrived at the site. Tomi Oyelade, permanent secretary in the Aviation Ministry confirmed this and said, "During our investigations, we saw the black box and flight recorder. We have handed over the crash site to investigators."


Passenger jet in flames at Toronto airport
297 PASSENGERS + CREW
NO KNOWN FATALITIES
A REAL MIRACLE

Air France - airbus 340 , flight 358

CTV.ca News Staff

8-2-05

A passenger jet burst into flames after skidding off the runway at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

There is no word on any casualties and the number of passengers was not immediately available.

But Sgt. Glyn Griffiths confirmed reports that some of those on board had escaped the wreckage, saying an unspecified number of people have been taken to hospital and that some have been picked up after being found walking along the nearby highway.

Griffiths indicated the aircraft was an Air France jet that was trying to land when it ran into trouble.

"An Air France plane landing on runway 2-4 left went off the end of the runway the area of Convert Drive and the 401 area in Mississauga," said Griffiths.

Griffiths couldn't say whether there were any injuries or if any passengers had been removed from the plane, but said there's been a full response by all emergency vehicles.

Air France has not released a statement, but a ticket agent with the airline told Reuters that the burning plane is an A340 airbus that was travelling from Paris to Toronto.

Live television pictures showed flames and smoke billowing from the aircraft in a wooded area just metres from Highway 401 -- Canada's busiest highway -- near the airport. A section of the plane's wing could be seen jutting from the trees.

CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin reports that 200 people are thought to have been on board.

Severe storms were hitting the area at the time of the accident. Eyewitnesses reported seeing lightning hit the plane before it burst into flames.

The Greater Toronto Airport Authority is expected to hold a press conference sometime after 5 p.m. ET

 

http://www.planecrashinfo.com/pictures.htm

 

when is the last time the US has had a fatal commercial airline crash, aside from Sept 11?

 

I was on a small plane from NYC to Ithaca (Cornell) yesterday for a recruitment fair. We were grounded for an hour as the mechanics were looking over one of the engines. We were finally allowed to take off, but midway down the tarmac, one of the engines failed and the pilot had to abort the take off. We finally came to a stop about 20' from the end of the runway.

That was the scariest moment in my history of airflight, and I travel constantly for business.

Guess that story doesnt help anyone who's afraid to fly.. sorry

 

The tail of an airbus fell off shortly after 9/11, in New York no less. I would just stay away from airbus, because they seem to suck the most.