Welcome to FlyFright. Our primary mission is to help fearful flyers conquer their fears and learn to enjoy the joys of air travel. 

Shenella Karunaratne

Contributing Writer, Program Therapist, LPC-A 

Shenella Karunaratne is a licensed mental health therapist (Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate) that currently works with adolescents struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in clinical psychology from Midwestern State University. Shenella has a background working as a therapist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is a freelance writer and editor part-time, specializing in topics related to mental health and education.

The Latest from Shenella

7 Common Carry-on Mistakes

Preparing for an upcoming flight entails planning and preparation that can be stressful in itself. Packing and making sure you have all the items you need for your trip can be difficult because you would

5 Common Reasons People Believe Car Travel is Safer than Air Travel

As technology has advanced over the last few decades, travel worldwide has become more affordable, accessible, and routine. In 2014, the recorded number of flights was 1.1 billion, compared to a mere 25 million in

What are the Safest Airlines?

What are the safest airlines in 2022?During the pandemic in 2019, the world saw a halt in the availability and accessibility of flights with a decrease of approximately 41% according to the Bureau of Transportation

4 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Methods to Overcome Fear of Flying

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?The American Psychological Association (APA) defines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as an effective, evidence-based psychological approach used by many mental health professionals to treat depression, anxiety, trauma, relational, and general mental

Brian Fischer

Chief Editor

Brian Fischer manages the day-to-day operations of the FlyFright.com website. 

The Latest from Brian Fischer

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 – What Happened?

Summary On Friday, January 5th, 2024, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 departed from Portland, OR, bound for Ontatrio, CA. Approximately six minutes after takeoff, the door plug (see photo below), on the Boeing 737-9 MAX blew

9 Common Commercial Flight Myths – Debunked!

If you fly enough times, you’re bound to have at least one or two experiences that you could have done without. While occasional turbulence, which is usually light, or a hard landing may rattle your

6 Reasons Your Flight Keeps Getting Delayed

It’s inevitable that at some point, your flight will be delayed. Many factors can cause delays, from mechanical issues to weather patterns. Airlines have different procedures for addressing delays, so it’s important to understand why

US Federal Air Marshals – Are they on every flight?

In short, no. There is not an Air Marshal on every flight. By only looking at the statistics, we can determine it’d be impossible for there to be an Air Marshal on every flight in

Darrell Davis

FlyFright.com Founder

Darrell Davis is a recovered fearful flyer. His first flights were true white-knuckle affairs, filled with anxiety from boarding the plane to takeoff to landing, but he is now an avid flyer.

He currently oversees content strategy at a digital media organization, but previously spent 10 years in the psychology field. The fusion of these worlds inspired FlyFright, in the hope that anyone can learn to enjoy the wonders of air travel.

Apart from this about section and his contributions to the FlyFright website, Darrell is no longer associated with FlyFright.com and has since moved on to other endeavors.

Jennifer Dubose

Former Editor and Contributor, B.A. Psychology

Jen was FlyFright's authority on psychology and mental health. She is an avid traveler, adventurer, and writer. When she wans't writing for FlyFright, she covered mental health phobias for Fearapy.com, wrote for multiple other sites, produced podcast show notes and was an Intake/Benefits Coordinator at a counseling agency.