Former NTSB investigator address air travel safety concerns

SAN DIEGO — A series of recent aviation incidents, including an engine fire, a near-miss, and a landing gear malfunction, have sparked public concern about airline safety. However, aviation experts maintain that flying remains one of the safest forms of travel despite these high-profile events.

Greg Feith, a former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator with over 20 years of experience, addressed the perceived increase in aviation incidents. 

“People with cell phones, iPads, and just the fact that they are in the vicinity of what all of a sudden becomes an internet phenomenon if you will,” said Feith, suggesting that social media has amplified awareness of these events rather than indicating a spike in actual occurrences.

The most severe recent incident occurred in January when 67 people were killed after an American Airlines plane collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, DC. This tragedy, the first mid-air collision in the US in 16 years, prompted the NTSB to open an investigative hearing today to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.

“We’re looking really for lessons learned. Where is it that we had deficiencies in the system? Whether it’s in communications, operations by one or more pilots, things like that, and then how can we fix the system,” said Feith, explaining the purpose of such investigations.

Preliminary findings suggest a possible mechanical issue with the helicopter’s altimeter may have contributed to the collision. Feith emphasized that each incident is unique, with no common denominators among recent events.

Despite these incidents, Feith reassured the public about aviation safety. 

“We have a very, very safe system,” said Feith. He noted that the chances of being seriously injured on a plane are significantly lower than winning the lottery.

The NTSB’s rate of commercial safety inspections confirms that we are not seeing a spike in incidents. In 2016, they had 49. In 2024, there were 46. The numbers have been pretty steady over the past decade, with the one exception being during the COVID pandemic.

As an experienced accident investigator who frequently flies, Feith expressed his confidence in the aviation system. 

“As an accident investigator, I’m on an airplane almost every week… I trust the system,” said Feith.

While the recent events have raised questions about aviation safety, experts continue to emphasize the overall safety record of air travel and the ongoing efforts to learn from and prevent future incidents.