A person who refuses to fly due to severe anxiety may be diagnosed with which phobia?

The correct diagnosis for a person who refuses to fly due to severe anxiety is aerophobia. This phobia specifically refers to an intense fear of flying, which can manifest in various ways, including anxiety or panic attacks at the thought of boarding an aircraft. People with aerophobia may experience symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, and a feeling of dread when facing the prospect of flying.

Other phobias mentioned relate to different fears: ailurophobia pertains to a fear of cats, agoraphobia involves fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable (often related to open or crowded spaces), and acrophobia is the fear of heights. Each of these phobias addresses distinct aspects of anxiety and fear, but none align with the fear of flying as closely as aerophobia does.