> Lastly, when something goes wrong on a plane, it goes /really wrong/. Hijacked = dead. Pilot error = dead. Fire = dead. Most hijackings in aviation history h

> Lastly, when something goes wrong on a plane, it goes /really wrong/. Hijacked = dead. Pilot error = dead. Fire = dead. Most hijackings in aviation history haven't had catastrophic outcomes; the 9/11 attacks were an exception. Also they're incredibly unlikely on commercial flights in the post 9/11 aviation security atmosphere, at least in the US/Europe. Pilot error, while a large statistical source of catastrophic accidents, is also mitigated by the fact that all commercial planes have at least 2 pilots and often more on longer flights. And there are plenty of mechanisms and procedures in place to ensure that a single pilot error is rarely catastrophic. Fire in the sky, particularly above 10,000ft (3000m), yea you're probably dead. On the ground, it's hardly unsurvivable. If you avoid panic on the way down, get your shoes on, get in the brace position, and head towards an exit asap, you've got a good shot. FWIW, I also used to be extremely flight-phobic. I still have a bit of anxiety flying, but I've been able to significantly assuage it through exposure therapy, by watching literally every episode of Air Crash Investigation (also know as Mayday) (they're all on youtube). When you understand the lengths the aviation industry goes to to unpack and understand the exact causes of every accident (catastrophic or otherwise, and even near-misses), you'll be somewhat reassured. For example, regarding pilot error, every time a new class of pilot error is exhibited in an accident, the NTSB and FAA ensure that the lessons from it are propagated throughout the industry. Procedures are changed, pilots are educated, devices are modified, regulations introduced, etc - whatever needs to be done is.