Freaking out bc we were about to take off and the pilot
Aborted the take off saying a light came on for a maintenance issue. Now they reset the system and it’s functioning normally and we are taking off again. Is this common/ normal? Freaked me out a bit
I can’t fly I can’t breathe I don’t want to do this I just want to cancel my flight. I genuinely feel so overwhelmed I can’t do this.
Hi,
Last year I was doing 2 short flights every Sunday Glasgow- Dublin in the morning and back again in the evening. I was so used to this flight, it's only about 40 mins and knew every bit of it like the back of my hand. I did about 30 flights from Sep - Feb for work and never worried about flying, in fact it was just part of my weekly routine. On my last scheduled flight, before I wouldn't be going back to Dublin for a few months I had a very bad flight.
All was going normal, it was a bit rainy when we took off but that was very normal for Glasgow. 30 mins in the pilot said "cabin crew seats for landing" as normal, but then things started to feel a bit different, there was a lot of turbulence and instead of trying to land we were still flying an hour or so in. We started to make a descent and the plane dropped for what felt like ages. We started getting thrashed by the crosswinds, going side to side, but we were about 100ft from landing at Dublin so I thought we were going to land, but we started going back up in to the sky. We flew again for another 20 mins before trying to go in for landing, the turbulence was really bad, sick bags were being given out etc and it was quite a quiet flight, so noone was screaming, but you could feel the fear in the cabin. We attempted to land once or twice again (can't remember because I basically blacked out). I remember we were so low to the ground everyone was getting their "welcome to ireland!" texts and I was messaging my family saying I loved them. I felt like I was never going to have my feet on the ground again.
After the last landing attempt the pilot said that we were going to go to Manchester to land because the weather was too bad to land in Dublin. We finally managed to land in Manchester and I'd never been more happy. The idea was to wait for the storm to ease and fly back to Dublin but I chose to get off because my nerves were absolutely shot. Also by this time we had been in the air for 2.5 hours and I was already very late for work so there was no point in flying there to have to return in a few hours.
It was genuinely the scariest thing that has ever happened to me, made worse by the fact I was alone. I know that I wasn't technically in 'danger' and the pilots did what they were trained to do and turbulence doesn't hurt the plane. But my body was a mess, shaking, sweating, crying, feeling like I was going to pass out.
I have done hypnotherapy, I have read up about planes and procedures etc and am very logical but I cannot get my body to know that we're not in a dangerous situation. I have flown several times since last year, again mostly alone, and most notably a flight from Bangkok to Dubai in January that had 5 hours out of 7 of turbulence and I cried the whole way. I then had to do a 7 hour Dubai to Glasgow straight after (which thankfully was a lot less bumpy).
I wonder how do people manage when it is a strictly somatic response? Any time there are bumps my body goes into that fear response again and I think what happened in Dublin is going to repeat. I want to travel and don't want my fears to stop me but I also am so aware it's affecting me hugely. I did a flight from Dublin to Glasgow on Tuesday which had some big bumps that really set me back. I am on an anti-anxiety med (but I can't take beta blockers) but I think even a dose that could kill an elephant doesn't work when I'm in that heightened state. I will say travelling with someone really helps but I love to solo travel and don't want my holidays dictated by someone else's availability. Would love to know what has helped others! thank you
I booked this villa over a year ago for my husband’s 50th. I fly a lot because I love seeing the world and I just accept that the flying part is just something I have to get through. I would love if some day the flying was enjoyable but for now, I just do it to get to be in places like this.
Currently on the plane but we’re delayed because the plane has too much fuel and they need to defuel… now I’m extremely anxious about flying once they get it sorted right now :(
For the past 10 years, I've developed a really bad fear of flying, to the point where I will have anxiety attacks and become drenched in my own sweat whenever there's a weird sound or turbelence. I have watched countless videos on why airplanes are so safe and I'm fully aware that my fear is irrational based on the stats and probability alone, yet I can't shake the fear whenever I step on a plane.
This year, I booked a flight to Japan for my family and I'm dreading the 11~ hour flight. I specifically chose Japan Airlines based on recommendations from friends and it seems the flight I'll be on is a 787-9 Dreamliner. I don't know much about the plane but I've found out what it is that causes my fear...
Cruising altitude. Whenever we get to cruising altitude, for some reason my brain starts racing and my heart is pounding thinking we are so high in the sky. After all this time, I've realized once we start descending, or even during climbing, I'm not as afraid (hardly at all to be honest). Its the cruising altitude that makes me fear for my life every second.
Does anyone know why this might be? I understand they say cruising altitude is the safest part of the flight due to how high you are in the sky, the pilot has more time to react yet I can't shake the thought for even a minute that I am safe. My plan is to try to ask my doctor for some medication as the fear is unbearable and I know I won't be able to last that long in the air ...
Side note, one of the things I started doing on my shorter flights recently is simply thanking the pilot at the end of the flight and the cabin crew. In today's world, appreciation feels more necessary than ever. With so much negativity around us, it's easy to overlook the incredible work people do every day just to keep others safe and happy.
Hi! Long time lurker first time poster. This sub has really helped me better manage my flying fears. I have to travel last minute for work this week, and I’m flying into Reagan in DC. I can’t shake the thought / memories of the crash last year. Do any of you have similar fears flying in/out of airports where there have been accidents? Anything you do / remind yourself of to get through it? Open to literally anything
My flight got delayed and I already have bad anxiety with flights. Is anyone able to track - G4372 from Myr > CVG
i’m otw back to philly from houston and i left my noise cancellation headphones at home and im freaking out! i hate the sounds of the plane im literally sick to my stomach. im boarding now, id appreciate any advice as well please ❤️
FLIGHT UA2748
Hi everyone! I’m a nervous flyer and I’ll be flying from Porto (OPO) to Bucharest (OTP) soon.
I was looking at my flight on FlightAware and noticed that the route is quite curved instead of what I imagined would be a more direct path..
I know planes don’t always fly in a straight line, but I’m curious what determines a route like this?
I’m also a bit worried about the summer thunderstorms across Europe, especially after the recent heat wave. Does a route like this ever get adjusted in advance because of forecast storms?
I’d really love to understand how these routes are planned. Thanks!
Finally get to share the awesome joy of what you see on the other side of your fear. Been wanting to go to Scotland for as long as I can remember and it was amazing, especially Edinburgh. You got this!
Hi everyone. I have a 1 hour flight from myrtle beach to philly today on a Beoing 737-800. I know it’s “safe” but I have never been on this aircraft before and i already have a fear of flying as it is so i’m not doing well this morning. I’m scared something will happen. I don’t know what to do but my flight leaves in 5 hours. I just wish i didn’t have to in order to go home. my flight here last week went smooth, but it was a different aircraft and the flight attendant sat with me the whole time which i know i can’t rely on for comfort the whole flight.
Hello
Sorry I’m posting again but I’m on my flight to SFO (VS19) and we seem to be going off the planned course. We were due to go up over Scotland and now we’re heading out over Ireland.
I am really panicking as the pilot didn’t say much and sounded a bit unsure and now the engines keep accelerating and then going down again
It’s very strange never experience it before
I have an 11 hour flight from London to San Francisco with my toddler
I’m so scared of turbulence and I’m on the last row of the plane
I always avoid the back because I know it’s bumpier and now I’m just sick with fear I don’t think I can get on
Hello everyone , I’m taking DL 2510 at the end of July which is a routine, everyday flight between New York and Minneapolis. One thing I do to help manage my flight anxiety is to check on the flight everyday leading up to my flight so I can watch how it safely arrives every single day. This may not be a good strategy for everyone but it does help me a lot.
Well, today I watched this flight touch down in Minneapolis and then go around to land on a different runway. I hang out on this thread a lot and always see Pilots talking about how this is normal and safe and you train for this all the time but now I’m spinning trying to figure out why this happened and now my anxiety is bad all over again. I guess my main question is how often does something like this actually happen?
I had a small flight today, about 2 hours in total (1 hour first plane, 1 hour on a second plane).
Despite all the fear and anxiety, I was able to get in the plane and get to my seat. I waited until the last call to get in. This triggered me a panic attack and right after they were about to close the airplane door, I asked to leave the plane. I feel bad about it, missed a wonderful trip and had two friends waiting for me on the final destination, but today wasn't my day.
Hopefully it will be better next time.
I’ve flown quite a bit as i’m living in a different country than my home country, and all this time I never thought i’d need to worry about not being able to breathe.
On a recent trip back from holiday, I felt extremely unsettled, dry mouth, couldn’t keep my eyes open, gastric upset, and almost as if i couldn’t sit still comfortably.
Which i now knew are due to being hypoxic on the flight.
The journey TO the holiday destination was fine, took 4.5 hours and i felt completely fine. But the journey back was terrifying. I started feeling better as the plan began its decent. I don’t have any known lung issues, recently completed full checkup (before trip) and my only issues are sometimes elevated blood pressure.
My friend who is in healthcare believes that it could be due to the activities that i’d done on holiday. I don’t usually smoke but I did on this holiday (a lot), was drinking for most of the week there as it was a celebration, fatigued from lack of sleep and definitly didn’t hydrate well enough for the circumstances. Which she believed contributed to the lack of oxygen being transported in my blood.
Research showed that all of those things could easily influence the discomfort on the flight back, but I’m due to visit my family on a longer flight (8 hrs) in a few weeks and i’m terrified of it happening again. I’m terrified that i’ll be mid-flight and can’t breathe and will require oxygen to make it to my destination.
Any advice?
I'm flying from Yerevan to Alicante today. My flight is 3F711, and I'd appreciate it if you could track it.
My flight was delayed by 4 hours, and my fear of flying is through the roof.
Please, support me!
I’m already a very scared/nervous flyer but tomorrow I’m taking my first international flight WITH MY KIDS and I was really hoping to be brave for them. We’re leaving at 6 pm out of Newark going to Zurich, and they’re calling for thunderstorms all evening. I really want to keep a brave face for my kids but I’m freaking out.
Please remind me that pilots won’t take off if it’s not safe, and that there must be some kind of sophisticated tracking system that lets them know it’s safe?? I need a mantra I can repeat to myself AND my kids 🙏 🙏 😭
Hi guys.
So, I'm just gonna go straight to the point. I'm so terrified of flying - especially the take off. I'm going to fly alone in 5 days, to join my family in Portugal. My imagination is going completely off, trying to convince me something bad is going to happen.
I'm really just looking for some reassurance from people who have felt the same way, or just some kind, encouraging words 🥹
If you've been through this kind of flight anxiety and still got on the plane, I'd really love to hear your experience ♥️