Why do I suddenly have a fear of flying?

Suddenly developing a fear of flying can be unsettling, especially if you’ve previously been comfortable with air travel.

This anxiety might stem from a specific incident, such as a turbulent flight, or it could emerge without a clear cause.

The fear can manifest as a feeling of intense unease or panic at the thought of boarding a plane, potentially leading to avoidance of air travel altogether. Some people experience significant difficulty when flying, which may include panic attacks, worry about being on planes, and anticipatory thoughts about losing control or feeling trapped. It’s important to recognise these feelings and consider seeking support, as many effective strategies exist to help manage and overcome this phobia.

What causes sudden fear of flying?

Sudden onset fear of flying, also known as aviophobia, can be a perplexing and distressing experience for individuals who previously had no issues with air travel.

For most people, this fear can feel overwhelming and may seem to come out of nowhere, affecting their lives and travel plans.

This sudden fear can arise due to a variety of factors, often interlinked, including psychological, situational, and physiological elements.

The environment of planes, with their confined spaces and unfamiliar noises, can contribute to anxious thoughts and feelings.

One significant cause is a traumatic experience. This could be a particularly turbulent flight, an emergency landing, or even witnessing a distressing event related to aviation, such as a news report of a plane crash.

Hearing about incidents that have happened or are happening in the news, including scary stories and news reports, can trigger anxiety and reinforce the idea of danger, even though the reality is that commercial flying is statistically very safe. 

In fact, when you compare the safety of flying to driving a car, statistics show that flying is much safer, and it’s important to realise that the risk to our lives is far lower in the air than on the road.

Such events can imprint strongly on the mind, leading to anxiety and fear the next time one faces a similar situation. This type of fear can also be linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where the individual re-experiences the traumatic event and associates flying with those negative feelings.

Hearing stories about what happened to others can make a person imagine themselves in those situations, increasing their worry and anxious thinking.

Another cause can be the development of generalised anxiety. Sometimes, a sudden fear of flying can emerge as part of a broader anxiety disorder.

Panic attacks and panic attack symptoms can occur during takeoff or turbulence, and some passengers may feel the need to escape the plane or environment, especially if they are nervous about what might happen next.

Life stressors such as work pressure, family issues, or personal health concerns can exacerbate anxiety levels, making individuals more prone to developing phobias. In such cases, the fear of flying might not be an isolated issue but a symptom of a larger anxiety problem.

Circumstances such as having children or worrying about loved ones can make a person more afraid of flying, as they worry about the impact on their lives and the lives of those they care about.

Phobias can also develop from a fear of loss of control. Flying involves placing one’s trust entirely in the hands of the pilots and the aircraft’s technology, which can be unsettling for those who are generally more comfortable when they are in control.

The idea that most people feel anxious when they cannot control the environment is common, and focusing on what is within their ability such as their own thoughts and responses can help reduce anxiety.

This loss of control can be particularly frightening, leading to the sudden onset of aviophobia especially at the point of boarding or during takeoff.

Cognitive factors also play a crucial role. Misconceptions about the safety of flying, often fuelled by sensationalised media reports of aviation accidents, can cause a disproportionate fear response.

Hearing stories or hearing about bad flights can lead people to imagine worst-case scenarios, reinforcing their anxieties and worry. 

The way a person thinks about flying, including their thoughts and mental images, can shape their emotional responses and make them more afraid.

Despite air travel being statistically one of the safest modes of transportation, the dramatic nature of aviation incidents can leave a lasting impression, creating an irrational fear based on perceived rather than actual risk.

The gap between perception and reality is often widened by hearing about what could happen, rather than focusing on the facts.

Health issues can contribute as well. Physical conditions such as vestibular disorders, which affect balance, can make flying uncomfortable and induce fear.

Similarly, claustrophobia, the fear of enclosed spaces, can make the confined space of an aeroplane cabin intolerable for some, leading to panic and avoidance behaviour.

Additionally, psychological associations and learned behaviours can be significant. If someone close, such as a family member or friend, has a fear of flying, it can influence one’s own perception and potentially trigger a similar response.

Observational learning and shared anxiety can play substantial roles in the development of phobias. Fearful flyers may seek out stories or information that confirm their fears, and this thinking can reinforce their anxieties and make it harder to break the cycle of worry.

Lastly, fear of flying can sometimes be a manifestation of other underlying fears, such as fear of heights (acrophobia) or fear of crashing (basophobia). These deep-seated fears can become more pronounced in the context of air travel, leading to a sudden onset of aviophobia.

Understanding the root cause of a sudden fear of flying is the first step toward managing and overcoming it. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and cognitive restructuring such as Allen Carr’s Easyway to Enjoy Flying programme can help tremendously.

It is a wonderfully positive thing to be able to cure your fear of flying and it opens up a whole world of possibilities. Understanding the reality of commercial flying, the expertise of pilots, and the true level of danger can help anxious passengers feel more normal and less afraid.