Americans' confidence in air travel safety dips slightly after DC plane crash: Poll

ABC News - Feb 19th, 2025
Open on ABC News

A recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals a slight decline in Americans' confidence in the safety of air travel and federal agencies responsible for air safety. Following a tragic crash in Washington involving an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, where all 67 people aboard were killed, only 64% of U.S. adults currently consider plane travel to be “very safe” or “somewhat safe,” down from 71% last year. Confidence in federal agencies has also slipped, with just over half expressing a “great deal” or “moderate amount” of trust, compared to about 60% previously. The poll was conducted between February 6-10, shortly after the Washington incident but before another incident involving a Delta jet in Toronto.

The decline in confidence is particularly notable among Democrats and independents, while Republicans' views remain unchanged, a shift possibly influenced by political dynamics following the change in presidential administration from Joe Biden to Donald Trump. This political aspect is reflected in Trump's comments blaming federal diversity and inclusion efforts for the safety concerns. Despite the dip in confidence, the overall perception of air travel safety remains similar to other forms of transportation like walking or driving. However, the incident has highlighted concerns about the federal government’s role in maintaining air safety, with potential implications for future policy and public perception of air travel safety.

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RATING

7.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a generally accurate and timely examination of public perceptions of air travel safety following recent incidents. It effectively uses reputable sources and presents a balanced view, though it could benefit from more depth in exploring the reasons behind political differences in perception. The clarity and readability are strong, making the information accessible to a wide audience. However, the article could enhance engagement and impact by incorporating more expert analysis and personal narratives to contextualize the statistics. Overall, it offers valuable insights into a topic of significant public interest, with room for deeper exploration of underlying causes and potential solutions.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story provides a generally accurate account of the survey results and relevant events, such as the collision in Washington and the Alaska Airlines incident. These are corroborated by multiple sources. The reported statistics on public confidence in air travel and government agencies align with the poll results. However, the article could improve in precision by clarifying the timeline of events and ensuring all figures are consistently reported. The mention of changes in public trust correlated with presidential administration changes needs more evidence or clarification.

7
Balance

The article attempts to present a balanced view by including perspectives from different political affiliations, showing how Democrats, Republicans, and independents perceive air travel safety differently. However, it could enhance balance by providing more depth on why Republicans' views remained unchanged and exploring other factors influencing public perception beyond political affiliations. The focus on political differences may overshadow other critical aspects affecting confidence in air travel.

8
Clarity

The article is generally well-structured and clear, presenting information logically and cohesively. The use of statistics is straightforward, and the narrative flows well from one point to another. However, the discussion of political differences could be more clearly delineated to avoid confusion about the causes of changes in public perception. Simplifying complex statistical data and avoiding jargon would further improve clarity.

8
Source quality

The story relies on a reputable source, The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, known for its rigorous methodology and credibility. The use of a probability-based sample adds to the reliability of the findings. However, the article could benefit from additional expert opinions or independent studies to broaden the perspective and support the claims further. The lack of direct quotes from experts or officials is a minor drawback in establishing comprehensive source quality.

7
Transparency

The article provides basic transparency by detailing the poll's methodology, including sample size and margin of error. However, it lacks depth in explaining the potential impact of the timing of the poll relative to recent incidents and political changes. More transparency about the selection of questions and potential biases in interpretation would enhance the reader's understanding of the results' implications.

Sources

  1. https://www.dailypress.net/opinion/local-columns/2024/02/poll-most-americans-say-air-travel-is-safe-despite-recent-scares/
  2. https://apnorc.org/projects/despite-recent-safety-incidents-most-adults-think-air-travel-is-generally-safe/
  3. https://abcnews.go.com/US/recent-plane-crashes-induce-anxiety-travelers/story?id=118491746
  4. https://www.airlines.org/news-update/71-of-americans-satisfied-with-their-air-travel-experience/
  5. https://apnorc.org