“Airline is still the safest way to travel”
Istanbul Gelisim University
Faculty of Applied Sciences Department of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair lecturer Asst. Prof. Haluk Kul stated that although the recent increase in accidents has caused public uneasiness, the airline is still the safest method of transportation:
“Air transport is statistically much safer than other types of transport. For instance, an average of 40-50 million flights take place every year in the world. Compared to this number, there are only 3-5 accidents per year. On the other hand, hundreds of accidents occur on highways every day, but this situation does not become an issue in the same way.”
Drawing attention to the low risk rates of aviation, Kul emphasized that the level of risk is quite low, such as 3-4 per million, thanks to the strict measures taken. However, Asst. Prof. Kul also pointed out the reasons for the increasing accidents:
“ Each event has its own dynamics. For example, the incident in Azerbaijan was not a emergency issue, but a safety issue. It was a tragedy that a civilian aircraft was perceived and shot down as a military target in the war zone, which was difficult to prevent.”
"Technical failures cannot be commented on without examining them in the cockpit"
Stating that there is no clear information about the plane crash in Korea yet, Asst. Prof. Kul said that the technical details should not be evaluated before the cockpit examinations are completed.
“In order to understand the cause of the accident, it is necessary to know what happened during the landing. The speed at which the aircraft lands on the runway, the state of the braking mechanisms and the physical conditions of the runway are important factors.
Asst. Prof. Kul emphasized that aviation rules are shaped by the lessons learned from accidents:
“The rules in aviation are written as a result of accidents in the past. Strict enforcement of these rules ensures flight safety. That's why we have to keep believing the planes are safe.”
Which seats are safer on the plane?
There is a widespread belief that the possibility of surviving plane crashes is linked to seat placement. Asst. Prof. Kul shared the following information on this subject:
“The back of the plane is relatively safer. If the probability of survival is around 25 percent on the front side, this rate increases to 44-45 percent on the back side. In the middle part, it is around 35 percent. However, the survival rate does not reach as high as 90 percent in any region.”
“Crosswalks are more dangerous”
Asst. Prof. Kul pointed out a striking point, stating that trust in airline transportation should continue:
“In Türkiye, people should be more afraid at the crosswalk instead of being afraid of the plane. Unfortunately, drivers do not pay attention to pedestrian crossings, speed limits are not followed. This makes road accidents more dangerous.”
While these statements about the safety of air transport alleviate some of the post-accident concerns, experts stress that it is vital to strictly enforce the rules and minimize the risks.
