Perhaps I’ll start a new featured called “Random Question Friday” and just pose a single random question. On Friday.
Or maybe I’ll just do it today, which happens to be Friday, but never again. Mainly because I have a question:
What percentage of passengers on an airplane are – at some point during a normal flight – worried it will crash?
Here’s a hint: If I were a pilot, carrying no passengers and I received this survey, the answer would be 100%. (Although that kind of feels like a trick question along the lines of “What is any number divided by zero?”)
What is your answer?
In related news: I’m glad to be back home.
pithypants 
Every landing in Denver as, despite sunny skies, the turbulence hits in the last 5-10 minutes of flight. Every landing in Boston when you get close enough to the water to see fish.
Funny you mention Boston… I fly between DC and Boston, and both landings are water-meets-runway. I’ve heard that DCA is one of the most hated landings by pilots – because the runway is short and there are noise restrictions so they can’t come in on full power. There’s actually a pretty compelling blog about it (from a pilot) that makes me feel crazy for using it as my airport of choice.
Every, All, 100%.
Whew. I’m not alone.
Hmmm… I admit that, even though I don’t have the slightest fear of flying, I DO have a pretty acute fear of crashing and burning. If I were to consider the total number of flights I’ve been on in life divided by the number on which it’s at least crept into my head that we could either erupt into a skyborne fireball or slam into the ground with a horrifying and spectacular impact… well, that’s not the percentage you’re looking for. Alright… imma guess 80% of passengers on any given flight are, at some point, at least fleetingly wondering if they’re about to die horribly. (I kind of willfully ignored the hint.)
PS: I’d rather erupt into a skyborne fireball. Less likely I will have known for a seemingly interminable amount of time that my death was approaching. Knowing that and just waiting? No thanks.
Me too – I’m nervous the entire ride.