The most recent crash of a commercial passenger flight in the United States occurred a decade ago when a flight headed for Buffalo went down, killing 50 people. Since then, more than 300,000 people in the United States have been killed in motor vehicle accidents.
But that statistic doesn't mean people have no right to be concerned with the safety of the Boeing 737 Max 8, now that two of them have crashed since October. It doesn't mean that the 40 airlines around the world that fly these jets should ignore customer concerns. Nor does it mean the Federal Aviation Authority can be complacent.
Travelers have reason to be concerned. Airlines should heed those fears. And as a leader in the field, the FAA must do everything possible to maintain the safety of air travel in the United States and the world.
