As of this year 64% of Americans said they believe air travel is very or somewhat safe, marking a decrease from 71% of Americans who indicated so last year, said the poll, conducted by AP-NORC and released on Wednesday.
On 6 February, a small commuter plane carrying 10 people across Alaska’s Norton Sound crashed in the western part of the state, killing all 10 people onboard.
It was the US’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2009 when a Colgan Air plane crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing all 49 people on board, as well as a person on the ground.
They did not include air traffic controllers, but the union said positions terminated included maintenance mechanics, aeronautical information specialists, environmental protection specialists, aviation safety assistants and management administration personnel.
Public confidence in air traffic controllers has also dipped – from 40% of Americans last year to 35% this year.
