Prayer for Flight
Before a flight, commit the trip to God, ask for safety for everyone on the plane and for calm for yourself, and entrust the people you are leaving behind. A short prayer at the gate or in your seat is enough. Scripture invites believers to bring fear and travel to God in prayer, and Philippians 4:6-7 says to let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving.
A prayer does not guarantee a particular outcome for a trip. It does give you a place to set down the fear, the plans, and the people you love before you board. You can pray at home the night before, in the car on the way to the airport, at the gate, at takeoff, during turbulence, and at landing.
Each part of a trip can have its own short prayer, so you do not need one long prayer to cover the whole day. The prayers below are written for each of those moments, along with prayers for the pilots, crew, and fellow passengers. We wrote every prayer on this page to be read aloud or prayed silently.
If your mind is racing, start with the one-line prayer and let the rest wait. If you are afraid of flying, pray and breathe at the same time. Breathe in slowly, then breathe out more slowly, and let each breath carry one short line of prayer.
Breathing slowly is something you can do in your seat, at the gate, or during turbulence. Severe flight anxiety deserves more help than a prayer card alone, and a doctor or counselor can help you with it. A pastor can also pray with you in person before you leave.
If you are leaving family at home, pray for them by name while you wait at the gate. For a long-haul flight or a trip with connections, pray over each leg, asking God to go with you to the next gate and the next seat. Give thanks when you land, whatever the flight felt like.
A Short Prayer Before Boarding
Father, I commit this flight to You. Keep everyone on this plane in Your care, and give me calm for the hours ahead. Watch over the people I love while I am gone, and bring me to my destination in Your time. Amen.
A Longer Prayer for a Nervous Flyer
Lord, I am about to board a plane, and my heart is louder than I would like. I bring this trip to You before I take another step toward the gate. Hold me in Your hand, the way Psalm 139 says Your hand leads and holds even in the farthest places. Keep me steady when the cabin feels too small and the noise feels too big. When my thoughts run ahead to what might go wrong, bring me back to what is true right now: You are here, and nothing about this day surprises You. Guard my mind. Let Your peace, which passes understanding, stand watch over my heart and my thoughts. Help me breathe slowly, one breath at a time, and let each breath become a small prayer. Keep watch over my going out and my coming in. I entrust the people I am leaving behind to Your care, and I ask You to keep them in their own days and their own needs. Thank You for the pilots and crew who will carry me, and for the freedom to travel at all. Whatever this flight holds, I want to hold it with You. Amen.
A Prayer at Takeoff
Lord, the engines are building and the ground is falling away. I thank You that You made the sky, and that You made my lungs and my heart to rise with each breath. Be near me as the plane climbs. Keep the pilots focused and the crew calm, and let my fear settle as the wheels leave the runway. Walk with me as we go up, and let Your presence fill this cabin from front to back. Amen.
A Prayer During Turbulence
Father, the plane is shaking and my stomach has dropped. I do not understand every sound, and in this moment I do not need to. Psalm 139:10 says Your right hand shall hold me, so I hold on to that word now. Steady my breathing and steady my thoughts. Help me to pray the words I have, even if they are only Your name. Be with the pilots as they work, and with the crew as they move through the aisles. Let Your peace guard my heart until the ride smooths out. Amen.
A Prayer for the Pilots, Crew, and Passengers
Lord, I pray for the pilots at the controls, for the crew moving through the aisles, and for every passenger in these rows. Give the pilots clear minds and steady hands. Give the crew patience with each person, including those who are frightened. Give each passenger a moment of rest and a kind word from the person beside them. Keep all of us in Your care. Psalm 91:11 says You give Your angels charge over Your people to keep them in all their ways, and I ask You to keep everyone on this flight in those ways. Amen.
A One-Line Prayer for the Flight
Lord, go with me on this flight and keep me in Your peace. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanks on Landing
Father, the wheels are down and I am thankful. Thank You for the hands that guided this plane, for the crew who looked after us, and for the peace You gave me when I needed it most. Thank You for every mile You carried me through, and for the people waiting on the other side. Help me remember this moment of gratitude the next time I fly. Amen.
Scripture to pray
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.— Psalm 139:9-10 (KJV)
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.— Psalm 121:8 (KJV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.— Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.— Psalm 91:11 (KJV)
Frequently asked questions
What is a good prayer before a flight?
A good prayer before a flight is short, commits the trip to God, and asks for safety and calm. The short prayer under the heading A Short Prayer Before Boarding works at the gate or in your seat. Add the names of the people you are leaving behind if they are on your heart. Keep the words simple if your mind is racing.
Is there a Bible verse for flying?
Psalm 139:9-10 says God's hand leads and holds even in the uttermost parts of the sea. Psalm 121:8 asks the Lord to preserve your going out and your coming in. Philippians 4:6-7 invites you to bring every request to God with thanksgiving.
How do I pray when I am afraid of flying?
Start by naming the fear to God in plain words. Philippians 4:6-7 invites you to make your requests known to God. Pair slow breathing with short lines of prayer, breathing in slowly and out more slowly. Pray the same few words each time the fear rises, so you have something ready. If the fear is severe, a doctor or counselor can help, and a pastor can pray with you in person.
What should I pray during turbulence?
Pray something short and specific, such as asking God to steady your breathing and your thoughts. Psalm 139:10 says God's right hand shall hold you, and you can pray that line in your own words. Keep praying for the pilots and crew while the cabin is shaking. The prayer during turbulence above is written for this moment.
How can I pray for the pilot and crew?
Pray for the pilots by name if you happen to know who they are, asking for clear minds and steady hands. Pray for the crew's patience with every passenger, including the frightened ones. Psalm 91:11 says God gives his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways, and you can pray that same care over the people serving your flight. The prayer for the pilots, crew, and passengers above gives you words to start with.
Is there a prayer for a long flight or connecting flights?
Pray over each leg of the trip, asking God to go with you to the next gate and the next seat. Each connection is a new stop, and you can pray a short prayer at each one. Psalm 121:8 covers both going out and coming in. Ask God for patience with the schedule and for rest in the time between flights.