AP poll finds dip in air travel confidence, Portland therapist offers tips to manage flight anxiety

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – With the spotlight on airplane incidents, 2025 has felt turbulent for many commercial flyers.

A survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that while the majority of Americans view air travel as a safe form of transportation, confidence in flights has dipped slightly following the Jan. 29 crash between an American Airlines commercial jet and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport, which killed 67 people.

The survey, conducted shortly after the deadly crash, found that 64% of U.S. adults consider plane travel “very safe” or “somewhat safe.” That’s slightly down from last year, when 71% of adults felt that way.

“Once I get on the plane, I’m always nervous,” said Molly Collins, a passenger arriving at PDX from Minneapolis. “Especially with the most recent incidents, it was kind of hard to get on the plane.”

On Monday, a Delta flight from Minneapolis to Toronto flipped onto its roof upon landing. Other incidents, such as a deadly medical jet crash in Philadelphia and Wednesday’s fatal mid-air collision between two planes in Arizona, have brought renewed attention to air travel safety.

Kevin Ashworth, clinical director and owner of the NW Anxiety Institute, said most anxieties, including flight anxiety, stem from an intolerance of uncertainty.

“There are over 100,000 flights a day—45,000 in the U.S. alone—so the likelihood of something terrible happening to one person is very, very, very low. I would remind people that just because you don’t have control or all the information doesn’t mean you should avoid flying. We have to tolerate uncertainty and continue to fly, go on vacation, and go to work,” he said.

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Ashworth noted that there are many ways to manage flight anxiety. If you already have relaxation techniques or exercises as part of your routine, he recommends sticking with them.

However, implementing techniques specifically to reduce flight anxiety may actually heighten awareness of physiological symptoms and make flying even more stressful.

“What we train people to do is to lean into their anxiety. It’s to actually not behave as though you’re anxious. So if you’re afraid to look out the window, spend some time looking out the window. Allow your nervous system to learn that you’re totally safe,” he said.

Some people turn to Xanax to ease flight anxiety, but Ashworth advises consulting a psychiatrist before taking that route.

“It works temporarily to get people through a short period of distress, but if you’re flying farther than Seattle, you’re likely to feel anxious again. And the thing about anti-anxiety medication is that it’s like reining in a horse,” he said.

Having a routine, preparing for the airport, and arriving on time can also help reduce anxiety.

For those seeking additional ways to relax, Portland-area canine therapy teams associated with DoveLewis Animal Hospital are at the airport around five days a week to provide comfort to travelers and staff. They are usually stationed at ticketing concourses or common areas outside security.

According to preliminary NTSB data, January saw record-low airplane accident rates nationwide among both private and commercial flights.

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