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She’s going on a wing and a prayer.

Amid the recent spate of airplane disasters, one God-fearing JetBlue passenger has turned to the Almighty to keep her safe in the sky by anointing an aircraft with holy water prior to boarding.

“In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen” Desiree Salter captioned the clip of her preboarding ritual, which boasts over 5.6 million views on TikTok.

In it, the content creator can be seen dipping her fingers in a bottle of holy water and then using it to paint the sign of the cross on the doorway before walking on.


  Salter gives the aircraft her blessing. @ desireesalter/TikTok Salter gives the aircraft her blessing. @ desireesalter/TikTok

All the while, gospel music plays in the background as she conducts her holy ritual.

While JetBlue hasn’t seen any mishaps of late, there has been a recent string of calamities that have air travelers on edge.

On Feb. 17, an Endeavor flight in Toronto flipped over while touching down, injuring 21 people, as seen in viral photos circulating online.


  “The way I would instantly feel safer on that flight,” praised one viewer. @ desireesalter/TikTok “The way I would instantly feel safer on that flight,” praised one viewer. @ desireesalter/TikTok

Last month, 67 people died after a Blackhawk helicopter crashed into an American Airlines jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC.

Data collected by air traffic control show the chopper was flying too high — at an altitude of 300 feet at the time of the fiery collision.

In light of the incidents, TikTok commenters didn’t begrudge Salter seeking out some divine travel insurance.

“The way I would instantly feel safer on that flight,” praised one while giving her their blessing.

Another wrote, “You protected that whole plane.”

“You can fly with me anytime maam!!! lauded a third, to which Salter responded, “Yes maam! We praying every single time!”

“At this point… I don’t blame you,” said another.


  Passengers leave a Delta Airlines CRJ-900 jet after it flipped over following a crash-landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada February 17, 2025. via REUTERS Passengers leave a Delta Airlines CRJ-900 jet after it flipped over following a crash-landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada February 17, 2025. via REUTERS

Salter is not the only one seeking some assurance — many people are nervous about air travel nowadays.

A study published last year found that a staggering 49% of Gen Z, 39% of millennials, 38% of Gen X and 40% of baby boomers are afraid to take to the skies.

“Anxiety about flying can range from mild to severe,” licensed therapist Jenny Matthews, owner of Minnesota-based State of Mind Therapy, previously told Travel + Leisure while describing the fear of flying. “If someone has mild anxiety symptoms, they may feel on edge about their flight or experience nausea, but they continue to travel by plane anyway.”

She added, “Others with more severe flight anxiety [might experience] significant anxiety symptoms like panic attacks, difficulty breathing, and intense fear, which may lead them to avoid flying completely.”

Despite this rise in fly-phobia, air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation, according to experts, including the National Safety Council.

Commercial pilots are required to have airline transport pilot certification, the highest possible aviation credential, Thomas Anthony, director of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program, recently told the Los Angeles Times.

If travelers are feeling a bit squirrely at 30,000 feet, experts advise deploying several coping techniques, including acknowledging one’s anxiety, tactical breathing and even distractions.

Ryanair flight attendant Rhia Kerr previously suggested “getting noise-canceling headphones, as certain noises that the aircraft makes can be unsettling.”

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