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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? Your support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n Your support makes all the difference.Read more<\/p>\n Passengers feared for their lives on an Israel-bound Flydubai flight after its co-pilot stabbed <\/a>the other pilot on board and may have attempted to hijack and crash the plane.<\/p>\n Flydubai flight FZ1073 plummeted 14,000 ft in less than 30 seconds <\/a>while travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, then put out an emergency signal and changed course over Jordan.<\/p>\n Several passengers joined crew members in physically restraining the attacker on the floor, while an off-duty British pilot on board executed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. <\/p>\n After passengers got to safety on the ground, families recounted bidding goodbye to each other as the hijacking attempt unfolded. Meanwhile, others who watched the incident play out have raised concerns over their fear of flying, taking to social media<\/a> to say their flying anxiety has skyrocketed.<\/p>\n Professor Robert Bor, a clinical aviation and aerospace psychologist at the Centre for Aviation Psychology <\/a>who has written papers and books on treating fear of flying, recognises that an incident like this is \u201ceveryone\u2019s nightmare\u201d.<\/p>\n To cope with anxiety, however, this situation needs to be put into perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cThese [incidents] are so incredibly rare that we can list, name and number them on two hands in the history of modern aviation, and the outcome here was incredible as well,\u201d Mr Bor said, praising the heroism of crew members and passengers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt shows that, in spite of something being so incredibly unwelcome, chilling, awful, not every situation on board an aircraft that we dread has an unhappy ending, so we need to put it into that perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n It is currently unclear what caused or motivated the pilot to carry out the attack and the potential hijacking. A professional pilot taking such action has called into question what is being done to screen pilots to ensure they are fit to fly.<\/p>\n \u201cPilots are highly skilled, hugely focused on safety and security as part of what they do, as are the airlines as well,\u201d Mr Bor said, highlighting the rarity of the Flydubai incident. <\/p>\n \u201cThis kind of incident \u2013 there may be a handful that have happened in the history of aviation,\u201d he added. \u201cI think people can just be hugely reassured that behind the scenes there are a huge number of things that go towards ensuring safety and security.\u201d<\/p>\n What is the psychology behind a fear of flying?<\/p>\n Mr Bor says that fear of flying is in the top 10 phobias, particularly in countries with frequent air travel<\/a>. Yet, the interesting difference between a fear of flying and other phobias is that it does not necessarily lead to avoidance.<\/p>\n Air travel is often essential to reach other countries, whether that’s for a holiday, to visit friends and family abroad, or for work that requires travel. So many people who fear or dislike flying still board a plane to reach their destination, whether they enjoy the experience or not.<\/p>\n This is different from other fears that can be more easily avoided, such as someone who has a fear of clowns \u2013 they will simply not go to the circus, watch scary clown films, and maybe stay indoors at Halloween.<\/p>\n While some people vow never to get on a plane, Mr Bor explains that a fear of flying does not necessarily lead to long-term avoidance; instead, it can materialise as an \u201carousal\u201d.<\/p>\n He explains: \u201cBy that, we mean people may feel stressed, they may get sweaty, they may do a lot of thinking.<\/p>\n \u201cThey may do some bargaining with people around them, with themselves, with God or whoever it may be. But it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an avoidance.<\/p>\n \u201cWith flying, there will be people who don’t want to be on the plane, but who are going to manage it.\u201d<\/p>\n It is not always a plane crash reported on the news that can trigger an onset of fear; there are multiple reasons why people may have stress or anxieties around getting on a plane.<\/p>\n \u201cPart of it may just be familiarity, \u2018how does all of that metal stay in the air? \u2019\u201d Mr Bor says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe other is just the physical experience. As a species, we’ve not evolved to fly, we’re best suited to being on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n Fear may also be influenced by pre-existing stress, worry and anxiety in our day-to-day lives stemming from other events, as Mr Bor explains: \u201cRarely do people get on board an airplane completely free of any feelings.<\/p>\n
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