Recent safety incidents in the United States have left potential travelers nervous about air travel. Despite this, experts emphasize that flying remains generally safe. According to Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Arnold Barnett, "The death risk per passenger boarding is about 1 in 100 million. If you see a little kid at a US airport, he or she is five times as likely to grow up to be president of the US as to perish on the forthcoming flight. "
Pilots and cabin crew undergo extensive training to ensure passenger safety. Cabin crew members train for handling unruly passengers, opening exits, conducting water evacuations, and more. They also receive recertifications to maintain safety benchmarks. Pilots spend time in flight simulators every six months to prepare for various scenarios such as engine failures and bird strikes.
Aviation safety investigations are conducted thoroughly by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following any incident. These investigations aim to understand what happened and implement corrective actions to prevent future occurrences.