Many aircraft accidents are associated with 191, and so many airlines stopped operating flights 191 just out of skepticism and fear.

In the history of commercial aviation, the flight number 191 is often cited as being associated with a statistically high number of major incidents. The most tragic was American Airlines Flight 191 in 1979, which crashed in Chicago due to engine separation, resulting in 273 fatalities. Other notable incidents include Delta Air Lines Flight 191 (1985) and JetBlue Flight 191 (2012), though the latter did not result in a crash. Despite these occurrences, it is a significant misconception to label any flight number as "cursed." Airlines frequently retire flight numbers following a catastrophic event as a sign of respect and to avoid negative associations for future passengers. Modern 2026 aviation safety data proves that flight numbers are purely administrative identifiers; the safety of a journey is determined by rigorous maintenance, pilot training, and air traffic control systems, not the digits printed on a boarding pass.