What Do Dreams of a Plane Crash Mean?

7 Min Read

Last Modified 21 July 2024   First Added 7 July 2022

This article was written and reviewed in line with our editorial policy.

Have you ever experienced a vivid dream of a plane crash? If so, it’s likely to be one that you won’t easily forget. Dreams of aeroplanes are closely linked to the meaning of dreams of flying or birds. All symbolise liberation, transcending daily life or soaring above situations and the sensation of release.

Aeroplanes in dreams usually mean that you’re heading towards success, but if something goes wrong in your dreams, then you may start to drift away from the right path. According to Aunty Flo, having an aeroplane in your dream represents a spiritual journey: “In life, we have been shaken over the awful events of 9/11, and it is only natural that at times we have a “fear” type dream.”

In this article, we’ll explore the variations of plane crash dreams and what they could mean to your waking life.

The dream:

Walking your dog around a local woodland, you’re both having fun playing fetch the stick when you reach a clearing. Looking up, you smile as you see the sun has come out. The powder blue sky is crisscrossed with white fluffy vapour trails stretching away towards the horizon.

But as you throw the stick again, a loud bang up above causes you to peer at the sky. You instantly spot a small propeller-engine aeroplane with smoke billowing behind it, dropping lower and lower out of the blue – and it’s heading straight at you!

Spinning around and running for your lives back into the woods, the sound of the engine gets closer and louder. But just as the plane is about to crash down, your eyes open, and you wake up with a start. It was just a dream. But what could it all mean?

Different variations of the dream and their meanings:

There are various types of plane crash dreams, including being a passenger, flying the plane, or surviving a crash. Here are descriptions of the most common variations:

Dreaming of a plane crash meanings

Dreams about plane crashes often symbolise feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, or fear of failure. They may also represent a loss of control in one’s life due to major setbacks or sudden and unexpected changes. Dreams of aeroplanes hold a similar meaning to other dreams of flying or birds. They can represent notions of liberation, the ability to transcend daily life or rise above situations, and the sensation of release from some entrapment—whether in a relationship or at work.

According to Millers Guild, aircraft crashes in your dreams can highlight unforeseen events that might trigger strong emotions. The turbulence in these dreams may refer to a family member, parent, or romantic partner. Perhaps you or someone close is experiencing strong emotions that need controlling.

Having a nightmare about a plane crash may be warning you to face the issue head-on before the relationship falls apart.

On the other hand, dreaming about a plane crash may also encourage you to become more persistent when dealing with life’s challenges. Despite the ups and downs of life, it can mean that you’ll succeed in becoming stronger than ever before.

Dreaming about causing a plane crash

You might be surprised to learn that if you are in charge of a plane crashing down from the sky in your dreams, you should consider it a good signal. According to Miller’s Guild, these visions usually predict a happy love life or an unexpected encounter. In fact, you may meet your future spouse, and if you’re married, a baby may be on the way.

Dreaming about witnessing a plane crash

Watching a plane crash take place in a dream can be a warning of danger on the horizon, according to The List. To sum up, watching a plane crash can reveal that you’re struggling to finish what you started or that the schemes you set in motion aren’t going to plan. Again, you should be reassured to know that dreams involving your loved ones being in a plane crash point to the fact that you don’t want to lose them and nothing more than that.

Surviving a plane crash dream meaning

Dreaming about a plane crash but surviving has a positive meaning. It symbolises your ability to overcome challenges. Having this plane dream means that you’ll overcome any obstacles in your path and start a fruitful period in your life.

According to Miller’s Guild, surviving a plane crash can mean abandoning a toxic relationship. You can expect your life to undergo a remarkable transformation, and you have a strong chance of meeting somebody new.

Answering the dream:

Dreams of aeroplanes can turn into vivid nightmares, leaving lasting impressions on our psyches. However, rest assured that such nightmares aren’t necessarily signs of dark times ahead. They often reflect your inner desires or fears.

Airplane crash nightmares can symbolise your ability to reach success despite difficult challenges. Typically, planes represent your life journey, fresh starts, and goals you intend to achieve. While dreaming of a plane crash may indicate inner turmoil, it’s important to understand that the appearance of an aeroplane in a dream can also signify the beginning of new encounters or chapters in your life.

Careening violently toward the earth in an aeroplane doesn’t mean you must re-evaluate your life’s purpose! In fact, if you weren’t scared as the plane crashed down, the dream could indicate that your subconscious feels you’re on the right path and will soon reach a new level of success.

The spiritual meaning of a plane crash dream

Dreaming about a plane crash can serve as a reminder to seek spiritual guidance or reconnect with your values and priorities. It may indicate a deviation from your spiritual path, higher self, or a loss of faith.

Experiencing a plane crash in a dream can symbolise feeling overwhelmed and highlight the need to ground yourself spiritually or emotionally. It’s a reminder to look inward and strengthen your faith during challenging times.

Notable appearances in popular culture:

It’s reassuring to know that aeroplane crashes are extremely rare, as otherwise, watching some of the films and television dramas that depict them might put you off flying forever.

On TV, these include the ‘Beckindale Air Disaster‘, an ITV soap opera Emmerdale storyline. Airing in December 1993, the episode gave the show its highest-ever viewing figures of 18 million and helped the soap transform from a minor daytime rural drama into one of the biggest shows in the UK.

One of the most realistic depictions of an air disaster in the cinema can be seen in Sully: Miracle on the Hudson, the Clint Eastwood-directed drama in which Tom Hanks plays hero pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. The film follows Sullenberger’s January 2009 emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on New York‘s Hudson River, in which all 155 passengers and crew survived, with most ‘miraculously’ suffering only minor injuries.

However, of all the depictions of air disasters on film, perhaps the most culturally significant—surprisingly considering the subject—is a comedy. Airplane! The 1980 parody featuring Leslie Nielsen spoofs the disaster film genre, particularly Zero Hour! Airplane! has been judged the second-greatest comedy of all time, behind Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

Just like dreaming of a plane crash, being chased in your dreams has a meaning to your waking life. For more, take a look at what being chased in your dream means, or what dreaming about running late means.