Trusting God When Flying with Fear
Since the beginning of the year, plane crashes have dominated headlines. For those who are afraid to fly, anxieties over boarding a flight may have gone into overdrive. Even some of the fearless flyers out there may have begun to experience a bit of fear when heading out to the airport. However, if we aren’t careful to guard our hearts and remember to trust God in times of uncertainty, fear can quickly latch onto our thoughts and cloud our judgment.
The Crashes
A crash took place on Wednesday at the Marana Regional Airport in Tucson, Ariz., leaving two people dead.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials reported that a mid-air collision occurred between a Lancair and a Cessna 172. According to the Marana Police Dept., “both planes were smaller fixed-wing, single-engine planes.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) posted on X that they are currently investigating the crash. Details on the incident are still emerging.
On Monday, Delta Air Lines Flight 4819 crashed at the Toronto Pearson National Airport after departing from Minneapolis. The aircraft was carrying 80 passengers and crew members. All individuals survived, but 8 were injured.
At the Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, a Learjet 35A careened into a parked Gulfstream 200 when its landing gear appeared to fail, killing one person and injuring three others. Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil owns the Learjet but wasn’t on board at the time of the crash.
A total of seven people were killed on Jan. 31 when a small Learjet 55 crashed to the ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the deceased individuals was on the ground in a vehicle, and the other six were aboard the plane. Nineteen others were injured, and multiple homes caught on fire. The aircraft was on a medical assignment at the time of the crash, transporting a patient from Philadelphia to Missouri, with the ultimate destination of Mexico.
On Jan. 29, American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., and there were no survivors. Sixty-four people onboard a Bombardier CRJ700 perished, along with the three individuals who were in the helicopter.
Some Facts on Flying That May Ease Tensions
Though it may feel as though there’s been an uptick in air collisions this year, according to the NTSB, U.S. civil aircraft accidents have actually gone down in 2025. The data from the safety board lists January 2025 as having the lowest number of incidents since 1982. February 2025 is on track to have the lowest number since 1982 for that month as well.
Moreover, a Fox News report stated that “the second Trump administration has seen fewer plane crashes than the first month of the Biden administration,” however, there is simply more attention being paid to flight crashes as a result of the Jan. 29 Washington D.C. collision. This is because that crash “was the deadliest in U.S. history since November 2001.”
President Trump issued new guidance on hiring procedures for FAA employees on Jan. 22 by ending “Biden DEI hiring programs and return[ing] to non-discriminatory, merit-based hiring.”
Additionally, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) report entitled “Study: Flying keeps getting safer,” air travel has become much more secure in recent years. The report states that “the risk of a fatality from commercial air travel was 1 per every 13.7 million passenger boardings globally in the 2018-2022 period.” This figure is astronomically better than the 1968-1977 period, where in the fatality risk was “1 per every 350,000 boardings.” Technological advancement and pilot training have a lot to do with such vast improvements in air safety.
Additionally, flying is safer than driving, and it’s the safest way to travel in the United States.
Tips to Help Reduce Flight Anxiety
There are many tips to reduce fear surrounding flying.
Distracting oneself from the fear is one. When we’re afraid of something, our minds tend to become laser-focused on whatever that thing may be and all of the things that contribute to it. Rather than thinking about the flight, a person could read a book, listen to music, or quietly pray to the One who knows our souls the best.
Other tips that could reduce stress include avoiding physical stress triggers, like alcohol and nicotine, and mental ones, like running around too much on the day of the trip. Psychiatrist Dr. Lokesh Shahani, in a Time Magazine report, explained that “caffeine makes people anxious, so avoiding coffee the morning of flying is an important thing you could do.” And regarding alcohol, Shahani stated that it “could actually worsen your anxiety.”
Most Importantly, Remember to Trust God
When fear and anxiety begin to grab ahold of our hearts, Christians must remember that we serve a God who is in complete control and one who knows the number of hairs on our heads. He cares for us as no one and nothing else ever could.
“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7
As much as a caring, loving earthly father cares for his children, our Heavenly Father far surpasses that, loving us unconditionally and completely. He knitted us together in our mother’s womb and cares deeply for our thoughts and worries. It is, in part, that deep caring for us that makes the character of God so wonderful. He wants a close relationship with us and desires for us to share our innermost thoughts and fears with Him. We should remember that, in the same way, we would share our worries with a dear friend or spouse so much more than we should share them with our Lord.
The absolute sovereignty of God should also bring us great comfort. He controls the wind, the Earth, and the universe itself. We must rely on His plans and good judgment for our lives.
“The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.” – Psalm 103:19
And we must never forget that for those who are in Christ, God works everything together for their good. We know from Romans 8:28 “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” We also know that when we feel anxious, the very best thing we can do is to trust God and pray.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/AndreyPopov
Vicky has written news articles on topics including human trafficking, Supreme Court rulings, politics, Christian persecution, the economy, social issues, and much more. She loves to learn and earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from DePaul University. When she’s not tackling the current news cycle or interviewing someone for a story, you can probably find her writing poetry, taking pictures, or spending time with her husband. Vicky loves music, concerts, and all things Paris. You can find more of Vicky’s articles, scholarly papers, and even some of her poetic reflections at https://vlarias7.journoportfolio.com/
Originally published February 20, 2025.
