Aviophobia

Aviophobia (from Greek avio, meaning "air"), or aviatophobia, is the fear of flying or being on an and other flying vehicles. Also known as pteromerhanophobia (from Greek ptero, "wing", and merhano, "shake"), this fear is commonly triggered by learning on the news or history about airplane crashes that kill everyone aboard, including terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Other triggers for aviophobia include other phobias like acrophobia (fear of heights as airplanes fly high up), agoraphobia (fear of having no escape as being on an airplane can pose danger), and claustrophobia (fear of being in small space like an airplane cabin).

Aviophobia is very common, affecting up to a quarter of all people. People suffering aviophobia would not go on a flyplane, meaning they would not travel for thousands of miles unless if they do it by road vehicle, unless if the aviophobe is also suffering from ochophobia.

Methods of treating aviophobia include, , , and medications, as well as taking aviation education.