'Too hard on brain': Flight phobia grips travellers after Ahmedabad Air India crash; bookings drop & cancellations spike
This is a representational AI image
'I'm bloody terrified currently,'
this is how people are reacting when it comes to taking flights after
Air India plane crash
in Ahmedabad on June 12. The flying anxiety has skyrocketed among flyers after the deadly incident that claimed 242 lives, with many taking experts' help to overcome the
'flying fear.'
A wave of panic has gripped flyers and led to a sharp surge in fear-of-flying therapy requests, ticket cancellations, and unusually specific questions about aircraft types.
Dinesh K, a retired Indian Air Force wing commander and founder of Cockpit Vista, told Reuters that demand for his $500 therapy course has exploded since the
Air India
flight crash incident.
"Fear of flying is typically to do with things happening on an aeroplane - the sounds, motion, vibrations ...
exposure therapy is the only solution," Dinesh told Reuters.
His centre used to receive about 10 enquiries a month. Since the crash, it's logged over 100.
Crash footage sparks anxiety
Chilling videos of the Dreamliner bursting into flames shortly after take-off have gone viral across social media. It's not just fuelling fear, it's inducing insomnia, panic attacks, obsessive checking of flight trackers, and even refusal to let loved ones fly, say mental health professionals, according to Reuters.
Some people are unable to focus on daily life while a loved one is flying, said psychologist Pankti Gohel, describing cases of "debilitating anxiety".
According to Google Trends, searches for "flying fear" in India peaked the day after the crash and remain high.
Airlines under scrutiny, bookings nosedive
The impact is being felt across the travel industry. Tour operators report a dramatic drop in bookings and a spike in cancellations, especially on Air India routes.
"Flight bookings are down by 15–20%. Cancellations are up by 30–40%," Ravi Gosain, president of the Indian association of tour operators, told Reuters.
Even more telling:
Travellers are now filtering bookings by aircraft type, actively avoiding Dreamliners and Boeing planes.
"People don't want to hear about Dreamliners," he added.
For many flyers in India, the crash and its terrifying visuals were a psychological tipping point. While flying remains statistically one of the safest modes of transport, with only 1.87 accidents per million departures in 2023, emotions, not stats, are now driving decisions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Video: Indian Woman Gets Stuck In Kuwait For 36 Hours Amid Iran-Israel Conflict, Shares Ordeal
An Indian travel creator recently took to Instagram to recount the "scariest experience" she had on a flight, triggered by rising tensions in the Middle East. In her post, Anindita Chatterjee shared that she was returning to Mumbai from New York with her baby daughter after spending three months in the United States. After a 13-hour flight to Kuwait, she boarded a connecting flight to Mumbai, but that's when things took a terrifying turn due to the ongoing conflict in the region. "We flew 13 hours to Kuwait, had a short layover, and then boarded our connecting flight to Mumbai. But mid-air, things took a terrifying turn. Iran bombed Qatar, and we were flying through that very airspace. It was unreal and terrifying," she wrote in the caption of the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anindita Chatterjee | Globetrotting Mum❤️ (@ Ms Chatterjee further shared that after an hour in the air, the flight turned around and returned to Kuwait. "The entire airspace was shut down, and no flights were taking off," she wrote. She also said that due to this, she and her daughter were stranded at the Kuwait airport for nearly 36 hours. "While my family was relieved we were safe on the ground, the thought that we were in the sky when those missiles were being fired... I'm still shaken," she said. "I have travelled to 99 countries and this was definitely the worst flight experience," she added. In the comments section of the post, users prayed for the safety of the mother-daughter duo. "What a harrowing experience. Glad that you reached safely," wrote one user. "I can't imagine how that felt. So sorry to all the passengers. Glad you guys are safe," commented another. "I'm truly glad that you and Kiara are safe. I can't even imagine how terrifying that must have been. Whenever I hear about incidents like this, my heart aches for the children and families in places like Syria who face this kind of fear every single day," expressed a third user. "Hope all is well now. Seriously what is happening around the world. We have a Europe trip planned in July but seriously not sure if we should continue with the plan or just cancel it. Too scared, too worried!!" said one user.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Crew tells passengers to 'meditate and stay calm' as flight AC fails. Chicago TikToker's viral video
A viral TikTok video shows passengers on a US flight desperately fanning themselves with in-flight manuals and magazines after the plane's air conditioning system failed, all while enduring blistering 130°F (54°C) heat. The advice to meditate didn't go over well with several passengers who were heard mocking the suggestion.(Reddit) Shared by user @brigchicago, the video captures the stifling chaos in the cabin as passengers try to stay cool. However, what really infuriated the passengers was a cabin crew announcement that suggested a way for them to feel calm. 'Folks, we are trying to do our best right now. The sooner we get the air, the better. Please be seated, seatbelts fastened and armrests down. Please meditate and stay calm,' the flight attendant said over the speaker. Take a look at the video here: The advice to meditate didn't go over well with several passengers who were heard mocking the suggestion, with someone exclaiming, 'Are you serious right now?' The video's caption read: "POV: it's 130° on the plane and you are being told to meditate." The clip has sparked widespread outrage online, with many criticising the suggestion to meditate in what appeared to be near-heatstroke conditions. "That is my hell. I find normal planes stuffy and nearly unbearable. I'm a pretty chill person but I'd have a full on panic attack if I was stuck in there," said one user. Another user mocked the suggestion and said, "Might as well brew some hot coffee while you are at it. Get a cup and wait for 5 minutes." A third user said that while the video mocked the suggestion to meditate, this could have become a dangerous situation. "People with medical problems can die from the heat at that temperature. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen," they wrote. One comment claimed that the passengers on the plane were given airport food vouchers and an official apology. cannot independently verify this information. (Also read: 'I'm still shaken': Indian mom, daughter stranded in Kuwait for 36 hours as Iran bombs US bases in Qatar)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
MoU signed for major expansion of Gorakhpur Airport
Gorakhpur: In a major boost to air connectivity in eastern Uttar Pradesh region, a new terminal building will soon be constructed at the Gorakhpur Airport. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the same was signed between the Indian Air Force, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Gorakhpur district administration on Tuesday. The MoU paves the way for the transfer of 42 acres of land from the Air Force for the new terminal. The airport currently operates over two dozen flights to major Indian cities. With the rising passenger footfall, the need for a bigger and better terminal has long been felt. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the MoU was finalised to facilitate the long-awaited expansion. The agreement was signed by district magistrate Krishna Karunesh, AOC Prashant Singh of the Air Force, and airport director R K Parashar. The new terminal will significantly enhance the airport infrastructure, enabling parking space for up to 10 aircraft simultaneously and accommodating around 1,400 cars. Once completed, the upgraded facility will be capable of handling around 200 flights daily, a massive leap from the current 26. Passenger handling capacity will rise from 270 to 2,500 per hour. The land, currently under the Military Engineering Services, is adjacent to the existing airport. The present infrastructure on the land will be relocated to make way for the new construction. Connectivity enhancements like a roundabout from Nandanagar, an underpass, and four-lane road access are also on the cards. The airport director noted that delays due to apron congestion will soon be a thing of the past. "With dedicated space for 10 aircraft, operations will be smoother and flight turnaround will be faster," he said.
