top of page

Fear of Flying

Aerophobia or Aviophobia

Fear of flying—also known as aviophobia or aerophobia—is a specific phobia that involves an intense fear or anxiety about being on an airplane or flying in general. This fear can range from mild unease to full-blown panic attacks and can interfere with a person's ability to travel, work, or visit loved ones.

 

Common Triggers:

  • Turbulence

  • Takeoff and landing

  • Loss of control

  • Claustrophobia (small, enclosed space)

  • Fear of heights

  • News or past experiences of airplane crashes

  • Fear of having a panic attack on board

Physical and Emotional Symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Sweating

  • Nausea

  • Racing heart

  • Shaking or trembling

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

  • Intrusive catastrophic thoughts (e.g., “What if the plane crashes?”)

 

Psychological Roots:

                                      Fear of flying is often not just about the plane itself—it may also stem from:

  • Fear of death

  • Fear of being out of control

  • Past trauma (e.g., turbulence, bad flight, or even unrelated trauma)

  • Underlying anxiety disorders or PTSD

 

Treatment Options:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – to challenge catastrophic thoughts and reframe beliefs

  • Exposure Therapy – gradual exposure to flying situations to reduce fear

  • Virtual Reality (VR) therapy – simulates flight experience in a controlled setting

  • Medications – short-term use of anti-anxiety meds (like benzodiazepines)

  • Mindfulness & Breathing Techniques – to manage symptoms during the flight

  • Hypnotherapy or EMDR – for deeper trauma work

  • Prolonged Exposure (PE)

What People Fear (and Why)

 

                          Most people aren’t just afraid of flying — they’re afraid of what they associate with flying:

               

                 Fear                                                                        Theme Explanation

Loss of Control                                           The passenger cannot influence the aircraft or its outcome

 

Claustrophobia                                          Limited movement and being confined in a small space

Hights                                                            (Acrophobia)Fear of being thousands of feet above the ground

 

Turbulence/Mechanical Failure          Sensory fear (bumps, sounds) and a lack of understanding of aviation safety

Panic or Embarrassment                       Fear of having a panic attack or embarrassing oneself in front of others

 

Catastrophic Thinking                            “What if we crash?” “What if there’s a terrorist?” “What if the pilot fails?”

 

Death/Dying                                               Deep existential fear, often tied to unresolved trauma or fear of losing control

Origins of the FearFear of flying can stem from:

  • Direct trauma (bad flight experience, turbulence, emergency landing)

  • Indirect trauma (hearing news of a crash, watching plane crash movies or 9/11 coverage)

  • Unrelated trauma (sexual abuse, car accidents, or childhood neglect that manifest in control or trust issues)

  • Family anxiety modeling (a parent or caregiver had this fear and passed it on)

  • Generalized Anxiety or PTSD (where fear gets attached to flying as a symbol)

 

The Body’s Response

 

The fear activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight), even if the person is just imagining flying:

  • Increased heart rate

  • Muscle tension

  • Sweaty palms

  • Nausea or GI upset

  • Rapid breathing or hyperventilation

  • Chest pain or tightness

  • Feelings of unreality (derealization) or detachment from self (depersonalization)

 

Impact on Life

 

Fear of flying can have life-limiting consequences, such as:

  • Missing out on career opportunities

  • Avoiding vacations or family visits

  • Strained relationships (e.g., if a partner loves to travel)

  • Shame and embarrassment over being “irrational”

  • Reinforcement of helplessness, low self-esteem, or social isolationInternal Dialogue of a Person With This Fear

A person with aviophobia may internally say:

  • “If I get on that plane, I might die.”

  • “I’ll lose control and make a scene.”

  • “I’ll be trapped up there with no way out.”

  • “If something goes wrong, I’ll know it was my fault for going.”

These thoughts may be fueled by cognitive distortions, such as:

  • Catastrophizing

  • Black-and-white thinking

  • Selective attention to danger signs

  • Overestimation of risk

 

 Why the Fear Persists

  • Avoidance = Relief = Reinforcement: Avoiding flying gives instant relief, but reinforces the fear long-term.

  • Lack of exposure: The brain never gets the chance to learn the experience is survivable.

  • Unprocessed trauma: The fear is often symbolic and represents deeper unresolved issues.

landing
airplane takeoff
fear of flying
bottom of page