As the country is shaken with yet another plane crash, fears of flying have been amplified among many. In recent months, numerous deadly airplane accidents have been reported within the United States. These events have left families and communities devastated while trying to grapple with the horrible aftermath these accidents have produced. The sheer frequency of the accidents has raised questions about the safety and potential risks that come with flying.
On Jan. 29, an American Airlines flight departed from Wichita, Kansas enroute to Washington, D.C. Moments before landing, the flight collided in midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. This is considered one of the worst aviation disaster in the United States in recent years,
The Washington crash resulted in the loss of 67 lives and sent shockwaves through the United States. Citizens were left wondering how such a catastrophic failure could have occurred. While speaking to reporters, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said that not turning on a safety system in the Black Hawk is a possible cause of this tragedy.
In the weeks following the crash, two more plane crashes in the United States made national headlines. On Jan. 31, a medical flight Learjet 55 crashed almost immediately upon takeoff in Philadelphia, exploding on impact. This resulted in the death of all six people on board, along with one person on the ground.
The third accident added to the spike of crashes occurred when a small aircraft disappeared off the coast of Alaska. Rescue and recovery crews worked around the clock to find the missing aircraft. On Feb. 7 the crash site was found. All 10 on board were killed.
The United States is not the only country left struggling with tragedy amid the aviation industry. South Korea was the scene of a catastrophic airplane accident. In December, only two crew members survived after a plane was filmed sliding on the runway, eventually bursting into flames. This resulted in the death of 179 passengers and crew members. Officials theorize faulty landing gear was to blame. A stark pattern in aviation crashes has left people concerned with what the future of flying holds.
In a statement made to an AP news source, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claimed flying is, “way safer than traveling in a car and train. This is the safest mode of transportation.”
In fact, the reason plane crashes are so evident in the news is because they almost never happen. When crashes do occur, they are largely recognized. This does not discredit the fact that there has been a recent rise in aviation disasters. As the causes of these crashes are yet to be decided, it is uncertain when answers could be provided regarding this tragedy in aviation.
