Action star Tiger Shroff plans to take therapy for aerophobia after a frightening flight experience. What is aerophobia and its common symptoms?

Tiger Shroff made his debut with Heropanti in 2014 and has since established himself as one of Bollywood’s leading action stars. Known for his martial arts skills, high-energy dance moves, and performing his own stunts, he has won audiences over with films like Baaghi and War. However, despite his on-screen fearless persona, the actor recently opened up about dealing with a very real fear in his personal life, flying.

Tiger Shroff is planning to seek theraphy

In a recent conversation with Lilly Singh, Tiger revealed that he has been struggling with aerophobia, a fear of flying, for the past few years. He shared that the fear began after a particularly frightening flight experience that involved heavy turbulence.

He said, ". A couple of years ago, I was on a very turbulent flight and… I don’t have control over a turbulent flight, right? What do I do? Ever since then, every time I have to board a flight, I have anxiety a couple of days prior. For some reason, I’m still not able to get over that."




Tiger also mentioned that he is now planning to take therapy to deal with this fear. He admitted that the anxiety doesn’t just begin during the flight, but starts building up days in advance whenever he has to travel. According to him, even though he is aware that flying is statistically one of the safest modes of transport, it doesn’t calm his mind in the moment.

Explaining his discomfort, Tiger said that what unsettles him the most is the lack of control during turbulence. While pilots often compare turbulence to a bumpy road, he shared that it’s difficult to convince his mind of that when he is actually experiencing it mid-air. He added that he prefers being in control of his body and surroundings, which makes flying particularly challenging for him.

What is aerophobia?

Aerophobia, also known as aviophobia, is an intense and often irrational fear of flying. It is more common than many people think and can affect individuals regardless of their travel experience. For some, the fear may stem from a past traumatic experience, while for others, it could be linked to anxiety, claustrophobia, or fear of losing control.

This condition can significantly impact a person’s lifestyle, making them avoid flights altogether—even if it means missing important personal or professional opportunities.

Common symptoms

According to Cleveland Clinic, people with aerophobia may experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms. These include anxiety, excessive sweating, dizziness, nausea, and heart palpitations. In more severe cases, individuals may also have panic attacks either before boarding a flight or during the journey.


Some people may also go to great lengths to avoid flying, choosing longer and less convenient modes of transport like trains or road travel. Others may constantly worry about flight safety or avoid content related to air travel altogether.

Can it be treated?

The good news is that aerophobia is treatable. Experts often recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps individuals understand and manage their fears. Exposure therapy, where a person is gradually introduced to flying-related situations, is also considered effective. Additionally, learning about how flights operate and understanding the science behind turbulence can help reduce anxiety.