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April 21, 2026 \u2014 7:30pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n \u201cOh, we crashed.\u201d<\/p>\n File those three words under the worst thing you can hear on a plane<\/a>. But aviation expert Salim Hijazeen uttered them calmly when this masthead\u2019s senior reporter Chris Zappone<\/a> tried his hand at piloting an Airbus A320<\/a>.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a big deal. The duo were practising at Swinburne University\u2019s flight simulator facility<\/a>. Students, staff and aviation industry professionals use it for research and training, but Hijazeen \u2013 who is an associate lecturer in aviation at the institution \u2013 has given it another life beyond Melbourne.<\/p>\n \u201cI try and help people that have a fear of flying,\u201d he explains in the video above. Hijazeen has grown a following of more than 36,000 users on TikTok<\/a>, where he reassures nervous flyers from all corners of the globe of the aviation industry\u2019s safety statistics and protocols, and answers their questions.<\/p>\n Related Article With war in the Middle East disrupting international flights<\/a>, and plane-maker Boeing under heightened scrutiny following June\u2019s Air India Dreamliner crash<\/a>, those questions are coming in thick and fast.<\/p>\n The first thing he tells a nervous flyer? That at any given time, there are typically 13,000 to 15,000 aircraft in the air across the world. We do not see that number of aviation incident reports even in a decade. The chances of a catastrophe occurring are slim.<\/p>\n \u201cFlying is statistically one of the safest forms of transport,\u201d says Hijazeen.<\/p>\n Aviation expert Salim Hijazeen\u2019s tips for nervous flyersTurbulence may make you feel unsettled (literally): rest assured, the aircraft is designed to handle a substantial amount of turbulence, far greater than what passengers would ever experience in most cases.Pilots are always in communication with air traffic controllers throughout their entire flight.Modern aircraft used throughout Australia are designed to help pilots with automation and advanced protection systems that ensure the aircraft is flown within the normal performance envelope.Pilots spend many hours in the simulator practising emergency scenarios to ensure they are always fully prepared, even though they may never need to use these skills in real flights.Before every flight, pilots thoroughly inspect their aircraft to ensure everything is in order, giving you confidence that your journey is well prepared.Sometimes, aircraft make sounds which are very normal, but for a first-timer, it may sound concerning when it could simply be the landing gear, flaps or hydraulic systems.<\/p>\n Former United States Federal Aviation Administration staffer Philip Mann agrees<\/a>. He says the risk of dying on a commercial flight is so \u201castronomically low\u201d, a passenger would need to fly daily for more than 103,000 years to experience a fatal accident.<\/p>\n In contrast, the national road fatality rate in Australia<\/a> in the 12 months to January 2026 was 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people.<\/p>\n Should that fail to reassure a nervous flyer, then this reminder from Hijazeen might ease worries: \u201cThe pilots want to get home, the cabin crew are very well-trained.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re ever concerned during a flight from turbulence or anything else, look at the cabin crew,\u201d says Hijazeen. \u201cIf they\u2019re smiling, you have nothing to worry about!\u201d<\/p>\n For more tips and tricks for nervous flyers, watch the video above, where Hijazeen and Zappone explain the importance of Australia\u2019s high safety standards and critical systems.<\/p>\n Hear the story behind the headlines on The Morning Edition podcast, every weekday from 5am on Apple<\/a>, Spotify<\/a> or your favourite podcast platform.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"Airlines](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6ab0a4ef45db6052e26b6dda52c7de2d74806e0c.jpeg\")
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Chris Zappone<\/a> is a senior reporter covering aviation and business. He is former digital foreign editor.Connect via X<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> or email<\/a>.From our partners