You're 626 times more likely to die in a car crash than an airplane

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Published: 15:18 BST, 8 September 2026 | Updated: 15:19 BST, 8 September 2026

Flight anxiety is something that affects around one in six people – but a new study suggests it's actually more dangerous on solid ground. Scientists from Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University compared the fatality risk of flying with other transportation modes. The results revealed that, for the same distance travelled, you're 626 times more likely to die in a car or truck than on a commercial airline. 'Public perception of transportation safety is often shaped by the visibility and emotional impact of rare catastrophic events rather than by objective measures of risk,' the researchers explained in their study. 'Commercial aviation accidents, although exceedingly uncommon, receive disproportionate media attention and can create a persistent impression that air travel is inherently dangerous.'In contrast, far more common causes of injury and death – including everyday transportation, recreational activities, and routine occupations – receive comparatively little attention, despite posing substantially higher risks.' Flight anxiety is something that affects around one in six people – but a new study suggests it's actually more dangerous on solid ground (stock image)In the study, the researchers set out to understand just how safe flying really is. The risk of death on different forms of transport Transport Relative Risk vs Commercial Airline Flying 1 Highway Bus 9 Railway Train 239 Car 626 Highway Motor Vehicle 674 Cycling 11,998 Motorcycle 22,279 The team analysed the fatality risk in US commercial aviation from 2016-2025, and compared it with other transportation modes, recreational activities, household hazards and occupational risks.The results revealed that commercial airline travel is 'exceptionally safe'. The fatality risk in a car or truck was found to be 626 times higher than on an airplane, while motorcycle travel was more than 22,000 times more risky. Even highway bus travel was found to carry about nine times the risk of commercial airline travel. Beyond transportation, several common recreational activities were found to be more risky than flying. This includes skiing and snowboarding (73 times higher risk of death), scuba diving (180x), marathon running (202x), and skydiving (422x). In addition, the researchers looked at the risk of death from various injuries.