Fear of Flying? These 8 Things Seem Scary on a Plane But Are Totally Normal

On a recent flight, we experienced three things that often make passengers nervous: a passenger asked to get off after the doors had closed, we had some classic turbulence, and the pilots did a go-around just before landing. These things can seem scary if you’re not used to them happening, but we’ve experienced each one quite a few times, and now we know they are completely normal situations that happen all the time. 

Once you understand why they happen, they feel a lot less intimidating. Here are a few of the most common “scary but routine” moments you might notice on a flight.

Note: We are not pilots, flight attendants, or aviation experts in any way. We are simply frequent fliers that have experienced these situations and found explanations that put us at ease. 

1. A Passenger Leaves After Boarding

This just happened on our flight. A passenger got up after boarding was completed and said he had a family emergency. If someone decides they can’t fly after the doors are closed, the airline has to follow security procedures, which usually means identifying and removing their checked bags. In this case, the crew also searched  his seat and the surrounding area. It takes time, but it’s standard protocol and nothing to worry about.

2. Turbulence

It might feel uncomfortable, but turbulence is just caused by changes in air currents. Planes are built to handle it, and pilots often adjust altitude or speed to minimize the bumps. We experience this all the time and barely notice unless we need to use the lavatory and aren’t allowed out of our seats! 

3. Go-Arounds

Sometimes as the plane is about to land, the pilots will power up and climb in altitude again. It can feel sudden, but it usually just means spacing wasn’t right with other traffic, weather shifted, or the landing wasn’t quite right. Pilots practice this maneuver regularly, and it’s totally normal. 

I remember freaking out the first time this happened in a lightning storm while trying to land in Singapore. I was really freaked out, but since then, I’ve experienced it countless times. It’s never fun, because you’re prepared to land and get to your destination, and then you’re up in the air again, but it’s nothing to worry about, and it’s done for your safety.

On our latest trip, the Southwest pilot actually threw a little shade at a United pilot and he said was taking too long. It was kinda funny 😆

4. Holding Patterns

If you find yourself circling above the airport, that’s just air traffic control managing flow or waiting for weather to improve. It’s a routine part of flying and also done for safety. 

I had one occasion when this was really scary to me. We prepared for landing and were told we’d be on the ground in 20 minutes. An hour later we were still in the air and it felt like we were just going up and down in altitude without actually descending. It was dark and rainy. We couldn’t see out of the window, and no announcements were made.

This was with an airline I would never fly again (Level). A little communication from the crew would have made all the difference – and most airlines are courteous enough to keep passengers informed. It turns out we were just circling at JFK because it’s a super congested airport on a holiday weekend and it was no big deal at all. 

5. Aborted Takeoffs

Occasionally, pilots will start the takeoff roll and then stop before leaving the ground. It’s generally not an emergency, it simply means they noticed something that needed to be checked before committing to the flight. This has happened to us a number of times, and usually it’s because the flight attendants noticed something, and they request a maintenance check out of an abundance of caution. 

6. Unfamiliar Noises

From the thumps of landing gear to the “barking dog” sound some planes make when hydraulics are running, airplanes can be noisy machines. Most of these sounds are completely normal operations.

7. Diversions

If a flight is rerouted to another airport, it’s usually for weather, fuel, or medical reasons. Diversions are carefully planned for and handled safely.

This happened to us when flying from Santiago, Chile, down to Patagonia. The weather is so unpredictable that we needed to land at an airport in between and wait out the weather for a few hours. The pilots were very used to taking this action on this route.

8. Fire Trucks on the Apron

Seeing emergency vehicles on the runway can feel intimidating, but airports often send them as a precaution if a plane reports anything unusual. Most of the time, they aren’t needed at all. You may also see a salute if it’s an inaugural flight, which can be lots of fun to experience!

A Good Rule of Thumb

If something unexpected happens in the air, remember that it’s almost always routine for the crew. Aviation has so many safety layers built in that what feels surprising to passengers is just part of a normal day for pilots and flight attendants.

If you’re feeling anxious, watch the cabin crew. Their calm demeanor is one of the best indicators that everything is running smoothly.

What’s your craziest flying experience? How do you cope with the routine annoyances? Let us know in the comments.