WOMAN OVERCOMES 17-YEAR FLYING PHOBIA WITH K-POP PLAYLIST

Debbie Adamson, a retired headteacher from Southampton, has returned to flying after 17 years of avoiding aeroplanes due to aerophobia. Adamson suffered from an intense fear of flying that at its worst led her to hide her boarding pass in a magazine at Gatwick Airport in 2006 to avoid a family trip to Orlando, Florida. She says she began listening to music by Korean boyband BTS during flights, which she credits with helping her manage sensory overload and allowing her to fly again.

Adamson's phobia began during a student flight from Budapest that she describes as traumatic, involving the aircraft bouncing during landing with sparks coming from the wing tips. She forced herself to take eight trips to Disneyland Florida with her family whilst her phobia was at its worst, during which cabin crew would console her whilst she was "howling" in fear. She quit flying entirely in 2008 but decided to attempt travel again in 2025 after learning more about how aeroplanes work from a pilot friend and joining a Facebook support group for people with flying fears.

Adamson flew to Orlando last year and reported experiencing no anxiety even during turbulence. According to medical sources, aerophobia affects approximately one in 10 people. Adamson has said she hopes to raise awareness of the condition and encourage others to seek help rather than avoid flying altogether.