11 Devastating Plane Crashes Caused By Pilot Error

Statistically speaking, flying is still the safest way to travel. In fact, the National Center for Health Statistics estimates the average person’s odds of dying in a plane crash at 1 in 20,000. Compare that to the odds of being struck by lightning (1 in 3,000) or dying in a car accident (1 in 100). Commercial airplanes are highly regulated in most countries, and must pass extensive testing before being approved for flight. Advancements in technology have outfitted modern planes with highly effective safety features that prevent catastrophic failures mid-flight. But no matter how fit the vessel, or how advanced the technology, there is one element that is impossible to control: the human element. People, even highly trained professionals, will make mistakes. Though major pilot error happens rarely, the results can be truly devastating.

United Airlines Flight 173 (1978)