Completely normal — it is one of the most common fears there is. Estimates suggest up to 40% of people feel some anxiety about flying, and a smaller share have a phobia. It affects all kinds of people, including frequent travellers and even aviation professionals. Feeling nervous does not mean anything is wrong with you or the flight; it is a very human response to a situation that feels out of your control.

Yes — commercial aviation is one of the safest forms of travel there is, statistically far safer than driving. Aircraft are built and maintained to extremely high standards, and crews are highly trained. Turbulence, which frightens many people, is uncomfortable but not dangerous; planes are designed to handle far more than they normally encounter. The gap between how risky flying feels and how safe it actually is drives much of the fear.

Slow your breathing deliberately — in for four counts, out for six — to settle your body's alarm response. Ground yourself with the 5-4-3-2-1 senses method, and remind yourself, "this is anxiety, not an emergency." Keep your mind occupied with a film, music, or a book, and let the cabin crew know you are nervous. Small, practised techniques can meaningfully reduce the intensity in the moment.

It very rarely poses a danger to the aircraft. Turbulence feels alarming because of the sudden movement, but planes are engineered to withstand far more than they typically meet, and pilots routinely navigate around the worst of it. The main real risk is to unbelted passengers, which is exactly why crews ask you to keep your seatbelt fastened. It is deeply uncomfortable for a nervous flyer, but it is not a sign of danger.

It is best not to. Alcohol and unprescribed sedatives tend to make anxiety worse over time and can leave you feeling more out of control, so they are not a real solution. Calming techniques — slow breathing, grounding, distraction — and, for a severe fear, proper therapy work far better. If you feel medication might help for a specific journey, discuss it with your doctor rather than self-medicating.

Fear of flying is a highly treatable phobia, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is among the most effective approaches. It helps you challenge the catastrophic thoughts that fuel the fear and gradually, safely face flying through exposure — sometimes supported by relaxation skills or virtual reality. Many people who once could not fly go on to travel comfortably. If the fear is limiting your life, professional help is very much worth it.

Many people overcome it to the point where they fly comfortably, and some lose the fear almost entirely. "Cured" varies from person to person — some feel a small residual nervousness that no longer stops them, which is a perfectly good outcome. What matters is that the fear stops controlling your choices. With the right techniques and, where needed, therapy, that is a very achievable goal.

Because the fear is about the imagined catastrophe, not only your own presence on the plane — so worry about a loved one flying can trigger the same anxious response. It often reflects a broader pattern of anxious anticipation. The same tools help: grounding yourself in the facts about how safe flying is, managing the physical anxiety, and, if the worry is persistent and distressing, talking it through with a professional.

It genuinely can. Flight attendants deal with nervous flyers regularly and are trained to help — a reassuring word, an eye kept on you during turbulence, or simply knowing someone is aware can be steadying. There is no shame in it; you will not be the first passenger that day to mention it. A quiet word at boarding often makes the whole flight feel more manageable.

Consider it when the fear stops you flying, shrinks where you are willing to go, causes intense dread before trips, or the self-help techniques are not enough. You do not have to live around the fear. A psychologist can help you understand and treat it, usually with CBT and gradual exposure, which are very effective — often giving people back the freedom to travel.