Aviation passengers may worry the most during mid-air turbulence, but a transport expert has revealed the most dangerous moment during a flight happens when aircraft are much closer to the ground. Mary Schiavo, a CNN Transportation Analyst and former US Department of Transportation Inspector General, has shared the moment during every flight that poses the highest risk, and it’s one that every traveller experiences.
“Descent and landing are the absolute most dangerous time,” she explained in a recent interview. “It is just really a critical time, especially for mid-airs and collisions, etc.” According to Schiavo, while takeoff also presents its own challenges, such as aircraft entering the runway without clearance or engine failure shortly after liftoff, it's the approach and landing phases that account for the highest number of accidents.
“If you’re taking off, you have the runway. You see the runway in front of you,” she said. “But descent and landing are more complex. There’s traffic, terrain, and timing, and everything must align perfectly.”
Statistics from aviation safety authorities support this: more than 45% of all aviation accidents happen during the final approach and landing phases, despite them making up just a small fraction of total flight time.
During landing, pilots are juggling multiple factors: communicating with air traffic control, adjusting speed and altitude, aligning with the runway, all while potentially facing unpredictable weather conditions. Even slight miscalculations or delays can have serious consequences.
Schiavo added that unexpected complications, such as aircraft “entering the pattern without the right clearances,” can lead to near-misses or runway incursions, particularly at busy airports where planes are arriving and departing in rapid succession.
While flying remains statistically one of the safest modes of transport, Schiavo’s insight offers a sobering reminder of just how crucial those final few minutes are.
Her advice? Stay seated with your seatbelt fastened, avoid distractions, and always pay attention to the safety briefing. In her words, “those last few minutes of flight are when it really counts.”
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