Coping with flight anxiety after an airline tragedy

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - A devastating midair collision between an American Airlines commercial jet and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter by the Ronald Reagan airport near Washington D.C. has left 67 people dead, according to officials. As news of the tragedy dominates headlines, the idea of setting foot on an airplane may seem daunting.

The crash has been named the deadliest airplane disasters in the U.S. in more than two decades. In the aftermath of a deadly collision, it’s not uncommon to experience heightened flight anxiety, but for Shenandoah Valley residents, the tragedy hits close to home. Many of them travel through Washington D.C. and the Reagan Airport.

Lindsay Harvell-Bowman is a native of Wichita, where the American Airlines flight had departed from; she frequently flies back and forth from her hometown and Washington D.C.. A professor at James Madison University, Harvell-Bowman is the author of “The Psychology and Communication Behind Flight Anxiety: Afraid to Fly.”

Harvell-Bowman said plane crashes can cause anxiety because they remind us we aren’t in control as airline passengers. While those fears are valid, she emphasized that midair collisions are extremely rare.

“We don’t have mid-air collisions every day; [they happen] very rarely. Even if people worry about flying into Reagan, that airspace is so controlled, it is impossible to have a mid-air collision like this,” Harvell-Bowman said.

If you struggle with flight anxiety, Harvell-Bowman said there is no shame in talking about it with loved ones or seeking therapy. She believes it is especially important to speak to a clinical psychologist if your anxiety prevents you from traveling.

”Talk to your freinds, talk to your family about your anxieties,” Harvell-Bowman said. “If it gets to the point where it’s stopping you from getting on a plane to go on vacation a work trip or to go see your loved ones, definitely consult a professional.”

For those nervous to fly, Harvell-Bowman recommends flying with a loved one and bringing items that comfort you. You can distract yourself by listening to music, reading a favorite book or watching a favorite movie or TV show.