Fear of Heights (Acrophobia)
Being 30,000+ feet in the air can trigger vertigo or intense dread.
Often paired with fear of falling or dying mid-air.

Fear of Enclosed Spaces (Claustrophobia)
Airplanes offer little physical space or mobility.
Can feel suffocating, especially during turbulence or long flights.

Fear of Loss of Control
Someone else (the pilot) is in charge.

• You can’t stop the plane or get off once you’re in the air.

• Related to trauma, OCD, or anxiety disorders.

Fear of Crashing or Dying

• "What if the engine fails?" or "What if the plane explodes?"

• News stories and movies often exaggerate this fear.

• Survivors of trauma often feel hypervigilant and catastrophize risk.

Fear of Panic Attacks

• Fear of having a panic attack on the plane and not being able to escape.

• This fear feeds itself: the fear of panic causes panic.

• Can lead to anticipatory anxiety days or weeks before a flight.

Fear of Terrorism or Hijacking
Especially post-9/11 or after media coverage of hijackings.

• Often includes hypervigilance of other passengers or behavior on board.

Fear of Getting Sick (Emetophobia, Germophobia)

• Fear of vomiting during turbulence or due to anxiety.

• Fear of catching airborne illness from fellow passengers.

• COVID-19 intensified this for many.

Fear of Elevators, Subways, or Other Triggers

• These fears may generalize to flying since they involve:

  • Lack of escape

  • Dependence on machines or strangers

  • Confined movement

Fear of Being Judged or Seen as Weak

• “What if I cry, scream, or freak out?”

• Performance anxiety and shame about not having control of emotions.

• Tied to social anxiety and people-pleasing tendencies.

Fear of Separation or Abandonment

• Tied to attachment trauma or fear of being far from loved ones.

• Fear something bad will happen to family while you’re flying.

Fear of Turbulence

• Misunderstanding of turbulence as dangerous (it's not, but it feels like it).

• Shakes, drops, or sounds can mimic a traumatic or panic-inducing event.

Fear of Long Flights / Duration

• “What if I can’t handle 10+ hours in the air?”

• Anxiety around boredom, fatigue, jet lag, or being far from medical care.
  
   Hidden Fears (Symbolic or Subconscious)

         
                   These may not be about flying at all:

Hidden Fear                                           How It Shows Up in Flying
Fear of change                                      Flying often means transition, new places, or uncertain situations
Fear of success/failure                      Flying for a job interview, presentation, or big life event
Fear of independence.                      Being on your own without someone you trust nearby
Fear of being out of your body.     Common in those with dissociative or trauma-related disorders
Fear of discomfort.                             “I can’t handle being tired, nauseous, or emotionally overwhelmed up there”