and why you must ignore Press reports
It probably seems unnecessary to repeat the headlines, but it is vital that you learn to ignore press reports if you want to manage your fear.
At the end of 2024, there was an accident in South Korea, which has gained worldwide press coverage because of the video images that have been posted on social media. Unfortunately, there is no undoing what you see. However, curious you are, and however much you think it might help to see the truth, to see reality or to see things as they really are, I promise you that it will have an detrimental effect on your thoughts.
This is not the same as denying the fact that accidents do happen. But they happen very rarely and unfortunately this makes better headlines in the newspapers and on the television than every day events, such as motoring accidents, heart attacks and falling down the stairs.
Naturally, as a pilot, and as someone who continues to train pilots in safety matters, I have to take an interest in these matters from a professional point of view. Because I am informed about Aviation, I can sift the relevant and the irrelevant, I can ignore spectacular headlines and concentrate on facts.
I have just read a U.K. national newspaper of good standing, which has reviewed an interim report on the accident to which I refer. It saddens me to say that even this newspaper has reverted to speculation, and what amounts to no more than idle gossip and fortune-telling.
Anyone who has had experience of a serious medical condition will know that one of the things that doctors say is to not refer to the Internet for information and guidance about your illness. As one nurse said to me, Google is very good for restaurant opening times and for directions but definitely NOT for medical guidance. Much of the information is worse than wrong. There are sites of course which can give good information, but usually these are low in the rankings of Google, because they do not get the clicks that the more sensational sites get.
The same is true of Aviation. Google is good for airline, paint schemes and seating arrangements, but not so good for informed comment on aviation safety.
Please heed my advice and do your very best to ignore headlines that are designed to promote interest, but which will end up alarming you unnecessarily. I am happy to answer any of your questions if you email or call me.
Captain Keith
