Well things happen to any carriers and I think about the many times on the public bus when the thing just plain broke down completely and everyone was forced to walk the rest of the way. Not much you can do at 35,000 feet. If I had a choice I would avoid flying except for vacations but this is the only fesible way for my weekly 1000 mile round trips. One reason I choose AS is for their non-stops. My most common mechanical problem I have experienced a few times on various airlines has been when the plane's power shut down on the taxi and the plane had to use the back-up battery which they say is OK since after the engines power up you don't need an additional power source.