Airplane crashes: National newspapers such as USA Today and the New York Times c

Question

Airplane crashes: National newspapers such as USA Today and the New York Times carry many more stories about deaths from airplane crashes than about deaths from auto crashes, even though the total number of deaths from auto crashes is much higher. Why do the news media give more attention to airplane crashes? What are the implications concerning probability?

Asbestos in schools: High exposures to asbestos are dangerous. Low exposures, such as that experienced by teachers and students in schools where asbestos is present in the insulation around pipes, are not very risky. Why do we take asbestos so much more seriously than driving and the probability of car accidents?  Give your own example of probability and risk.

Explanation / Answer

Airlines work at 6 sigma, which means that the chances of an airline accident are very minimal. Hence media coverage is given because it is rare and also sensational as opposed to a road accident. Also, airplane crashed cover more number of deaths in a single crash than in a single road accident.

Probability of dieing in road accident is higher than in aircraft crashes,although it looks otherwise.

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