> Looking through the chart you linked, averages around 3 per year. > this is a wildly useless statistic used to cause fear and panic.

I can read too. I added a comment with a number. You don't know my intent, this is your interpretation.

Besides, 2018/19 was a steep outlier with the 737 MAX crashes. This is why these got widespread attention and have been discussed down to the last detail for years.

We're on 4, and only halfway through the year. We're on track to exceed 7.

4 in the last year (365 days), not calendar year.

Post-covid, aren't there considerably fewer planes in the skies? When i look up, the skies seem remarkably empty, compared to previously.

Anecdotally there seems to be a bit more air traffic in around Chicago versus 2019, but perhaps I just notice flights overhead more now as I commute downtown far less. This site shows current ORD volume at roughly 2019 levels:

https://chicagoairportguide.com/statistics/