Scientists at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University compared the risk of death when flying by plane with other modes of transport.
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The results revealed that, for the same distance traveled, the likelihood of dying in a car or truck is 626 times higher than when flying on a commercial airline.
“Public perception of transport safety is often shaped by the visibility and emotional impact of rare, catastrophic events rather than objective risk indicators.
Commercial aviation accidents, although extremely rare, receive disproportionately high media attention and can create a lasting impression that air travel is inherently dangerous.
Meanwhile, much more frequent causes of injuries and deaths—including daily commuting, leisure activities, and routine occupational tasks—receive comparatively little attention, even though they pose a much greater risk,” the researchers explain in their study.
During the study, the scientists aimed to determine how safe air travel really is. The research team analyzed the risk of fatal accidents in U.S. commercial aviation from 2016 to 2025 and compared it with other modes of transport, leisure activities, household hazards, and occupational risks.
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The results showed that travel on commercial airlines is “extremely safe.”
It was found that the risk of death when traveling by car or truck is 626 times higher than when flying, and the risk when traveling by motorcycle is more than 22,000 times higher.
It was also found that even intercity bus travel carries about nine times the risk compared to commercial airline travel.
Beyond transport, several common leisure activities were identified as more dangerous than flying.
These include, among others, skiing and snowboarding (73 times higher risk of death), scuba diving (180 times), marathon running (202 times), and parachuting (422 times).
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