Ask that stranger to hold their hand!!
If it hadn't been for the kindness of strangers, I don't think I would have had the courage to keep flying.
I dealt with severe fear of flying for about a two year period when I was 22 where I didn't fly at all. When the fear of mine was first starting, I had a 2 hour flight scheduled by myself. I was getting really scared but at that point I had zero resources and didn't even know why I was freaking out. I forced myself to get on the plane anyway.
I was in the window seat sitting next to this middle aged guy, and when the plane started taking off I thought I was gonna hyperventilate I was so scared. In desperation I tapped this stranger on the arm and frantically asked if I could hold his hand. This guy didn't bat an eye, just gave me his hand and held onto mine.
Once the plane got up to cruising altitude and I felt like I could breathe again, I finally let go of the guy's hand. I thanked him and said I was sorry and he smiled at me so kindly, I'll never forget it. He told me to just let him know if I needed a hand again. He said he flew almost every week for work, and that everything would be okay.
I'll never forget that guy. He was so incredibly kind, solid, and safe, in a moment where I desperately needed it. I think about him every time I fly, and I hope he is reaping some crazy good karma, wherever he is.
Over the course of my journey with my flight phobia, I have asked several other strangers next to me if I could hold their hand. Not only has every single person said yes, every single one has been so incredibly kind and understanding that it's literally redeemed my faith in humanity.
It's been three years since then, and I feel confident enough flying now that if some 22 year old girl needed a hand to hold, I know I could be there for her the way that he was for me.