‘Flying has gotten so scary’: Woman flies with United Airlines. The she hears something ‘scary’ coming out of the speakers
A woman flew with United Airlines, only to hear what she described as the most perilous song while landing. “Hallelujah,” a classic written by Leonard Cohen and covered by thousands of artists across multiple genres, blasted through the speakers after the plane’s wheels touched the ground.
That moment struck a nerve, according to TikTok user Paige Ruder (@paigegettingpaid), who said flying already feels frightening amid recent plane crashes in the United States. She posted her experience with United Airlines in a video with over 4,000 views. That anxiety, combined with the plane playing a praise-filled song like “Hallelujah,” which is traditionally folk but sometimes bluesy, pushed Ruder toward unease rather than calm.
“About the last song I want to hear playing on a plane from the AIRLINE,” she said in her video’s comments section.
Is there a reason to be scared of flying?
There have been a number of incidents that have made U.S. passengers cautious on domestic and international flights in recent history. In January 2025, an American Airlines flight crashed into a Black Hawk Helicopter, which resulted in 265 people dying. In February 2025, another Delta Airlines flight crash-landed at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
There have also been a number of incidents with airliners catching fire before and during routine flights. In July 2025, the left engine of a Boeing 767-400 headed toward Atlanta caught fire. The flight crew immediately initiated an emergency landing. Later, in November 2025, A UPS cargo flight crashed, killing 15 people.
There’s also been increasingly more incidents of thermal runways on flights across all carriers. The FAA has tracked an increase in lithium battery incidents since 2021, with each year having over 70 different events involving “smoke, fire, or extreme heat.”
All of these instances have a variety of factors playing a part in flight risks or total crashes. In essence, severe mistakes on commercial and even cargo flights usually occur due to a combination of errors. But that’s not necessarily comforting when considering taking a flight in 2027.
These incidents can make flying feel riskier. But flying with an air carrier is still very safe, according to flight experts. Statistically, it is still incredibly unlikely for a fatal crash to occur. After the fatal Washington D.C crash, publications like The Independent compared fatal crashes to fatal air incidents, ultimately concluding that flying only gets safer over time. That still rings true in 2026.
How often do United Airlines flights play ‘Hallelujah’ on the speakers
It seems that United Airlines is statistically more likely to play music upon landing than to crash the airplane. At least, that’s what many United Airlines fliers may have experienced. Commenters shared that they, too, have heard “Hallelujah” while flying.
“They played it on my flight to Colorado!! The people behind me were singing out loud. I thought we were going down,” said one commenter.
The tone of “Hallelujah” greatly depends on which version is playing. If it is Jeff Buckley’s, expect a slightly melancholic journey off the plane. But expect a different vibe from a Jennifer Hudson or Brandi Carlile rendition, which may end up being slightly more suited to calm nerves after a slightly perilous ride.
@paigegettingpaid On both flights i took with them ? #travel #traveltiktok #fyp #flying #unitedairlines ♬ Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
The Mary Sue reached out to United Airlines and Paige via email for comment.
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