On Jan. 29, a PSA Airlines plane enroute from Wichita D. Eisenhower National Airport in Kansas collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River during its descent to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The tragic incident took the lives of all 67 people onboard both aircraft, making it the first fatal crash in the United States involving a major U.S. airline since 2009, and the deadliest crash since Nov. 12, 2001.

Still under investigation, the crash left thousands mourning for the loss of life, including a team of young figure skaters, a Harvard-grad lawyer and former world champion figure skaters. Unfortunately, this is just one of two recent deadly plane crashes in the United States in the last few weeks, raising fears among many travelers.

Just two days after the crash in Washington, D.C., a medevac flight from Northeast Philadelphia Airport to Tijuana International Airport crashed in Northeast Philadelphia, killing all onboard, as well as one person on the ground. Valentina Guzman Murillo, an 11-year-old patient, had recently received lifesaving treatment before taking the doomed flight with her mother. No official cause of the crash has yet been provided, but investigators have recovered the black box.

These recent accidents are enough to raise concern for travelers. According to the Cleveland Clinic, aerophobia affects more than 25 million U.S. adults. Many more Americans suffer from flight anxiety, and this number will likely increase due to these two fatal events.

Of course, when reading news covering these crashes, it’s likely similar articles and topics will appear on your screen, further embedding you in negative and often frightening stories that might increase your anxiety. It’s actually quite normal to feel a heightened sense of concern following an event like this. After all, passengers on a plane have no control over their travel as they would with driving, for instance. Add in an enclosed space and it can make some passengers more unsettled.

It’s important to remember, though, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics still confirms flying is the safest way to travel. Other things to reduce your anxiety onboard include staying hydrated, avoiding caffeine and sugar, and grounding yourself in your immediate surroundings. Bringing noise-cancelling headphones is also a good idea.

In other words, despite the D.C. collision and medevac crashes, there’s no need to feel any additional concern regarding the safety of your upcoming flight. There will always be isolated incidents like last year’s Alaska Airlines’ door debacle and extreme turbulence, but considering the fact that every day, more than 2.9 million passengers fly commercially in the United States, you have little to fear.

Do you have any additional tips for travelers suffering from flight anxiety? How do you best keep your mind at ease when flying? Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.