A recent poll reveals a slight decline in Americans’ confidence in air travel and the federal agencies responsible for ensuring air safety compared to last year. Despite this, a majority still perceive air transportation as generally safe. The survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that 64% of U.S. adults consider plane travel as either “very safe” or “somewhat safe,” a decrease from 71% in the previous year. The number of individuals viewing air transportation as unsafe has increased from 12% in 2024 to 20% currently. Confidence in government agencies tasked with maintaining air safety has also decreased, with just over half of U.S. adults expressing “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of trust in these entities. The poll, conducted from Feb. 6-10, followed the Jan. 30 collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., highlighting a potential factor in the shift. President Donald Trump’s response to the incident, attributing concerns to federal diversity initiatives and affirming the safety of air travel, appears to have influenced perceptions among Democrats and independents rather than Republicans. Overall, confidence in pilots and commercial airlines remains steady, with most U.S. adults maintaining high trust in these aspects of air travel.
The margin of error for the survey results among adults overall is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
