In contemporary society, people can easily move from one place to another, especially when they use airplanes because it makes their work easier. Although it offers great convenience, just as other forms of transport, air travel is linked with a number of risk factors and difficulties. Passengers traveling in the sky may be at risk from anything such as mechanical faults, non-favorable climate among others that can spoil their smooth journey. This article focuses on understanding some of the risks experienced in flights using some actual cases to explain them.
1. Mechanical Failures
Mechanical failures pose one of the most significant dangers inherent in air travel, despite regular maintenance checks on commercial planes. Things can still go wrong and serious accidents then become possible. In 1989, for instance, an engine failure forced United Airlines Flight 232 – despite the efforts of its pilots – to make a crash landing that killed 111 individuals when it came down at Sioux City in Iowa. It seems like even playing a big bass game is less risky – flights bring us many more surprises.
2. Severe Weather Conditions
Flight risks also include running into difficult weather while airborne such as thunderstorms, hail or very icy conditions.
These natural phenomena can be big problems for pilots by making them late; requiring where they land to change or if particularly unlucky even causing accidents (albeit quite rarely).
One example occurred when Air France’s Flight AF447 ended up crashing into the Atlantic Ocean during June 2009 after being buffeted around by several storms there temporarily disrupted its airspeed sensors resulting fatalities all those aboard northern Brazil Paris flight: On this occasion turbulence came before what would turn out be fatal incident which took lives everybody onboard Airbus A330-203 numbered it was therefore not directly responsible deaths but certainly contributed indirectly.
3. Pilot Error
Even after extended training and adhering to safety procedures, human error is still a factor that affects aviation. If pilots read weather conditions incorrectly or make mistakes at important times during flights, something might go wrong – sometimes seriously so;
In 2013 for example Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed while trying to land at San Francisco International Airport due to pilot error: three people died; many others were hurt.
4. Security Threats
Keeping everyone safe from terrorism and acts of sabotage continues to be a big problem now.
Despite airports’ and airlines’ strict security measures terrorists may try taking over planes in flight…or smuggle bombs on board beforehand – all risking passengers as well as crew members.
Remember how bad things got on September 11th, 2001? Using airplanes hijackers caused two tall buildings (World Trade Center) plus one military headquarters-type place (Pentagon) lots of damage! So yeah, the aviation industry = danger zone owing to possible security threats like those just described.
5. Bird Strikes
A risk during flights is also bird strikes, which happen when birds crash into aircraft. This can be especially worrying on takeoff and landing. Mostly things are fine if a bird hits a plane – it might hurt the paintwork but not much more.
But sometimes an engine stops working or something else important goes wrong because of a bird strike. That was what almost happened to US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009.
Soon after taking off from LaGuardia Airport near New York City the airplane hit lots of geese and both engines stopped working; this means that the plane would have crashed within minutes if it had carried on flying straight ahead as planned.
Conclusion
While air travel is generally considered safe, it is not without its risks. From mechanical failures to severe weather conditions and human error, passengers may encounter various hazards during flights. However, it’s essential to remember that the aviation industry continually strives to improve safety standards and mitigate risks through advanced technology, rigorous training, and robust safety protocols. By understanding these risks and remaining vigilant during their journey, passengers can enjoy a safe and comfortable flight experience.