[dnewcome]

Citing a single data point doesn't refute the quoted assertion. It is basically the same as me trying to refute that air travel is safer than automobile travel per passenger mile by mentioning a single notable crash.

I'm not trying to downplay the plight of those affected, but it's worth separating these concerns when evaluating the true risks involved with any technology that can potentially have great benefits for the bulk of humanity, the rare catastrophe notwithstanding.

[yread]

You can always look at different statistics. If you count deaths per journey, air doesn't look that good anymore http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_safety#Statistics

[nitrogen]

Deaths per journey is a silly statistic. People don't fly to the neighborhood supermarket to buy their groceries. All the inconsequential car trips at mostly sub-lethal speeds would significantly deflate an automotive death-per-journey statistic.