I think the question is which option is safer. Sure, being on a plane in close proximity of others is problematic, but it's important to consider the comparative level of safety in the US and Germany.
For example, in the US, at least 3,921 people have died (around 12 per million), whereas in Germany it's 732 (around 9 per million). However, these numbers change daily and are not the best indicator of where we're headed. In the same sources, however, you'll find these graphics:


This implies that the turning point between exponential growth and saturation is already in the past in Germany (however, it may return to exponential growth, if for example people resume their pre-corona habits), but not in the US.
An often used metric is also the hospital beds per capita. Wikipedia lists a higher number for Germany, however, ICU beds are fewer per capita in Germany than in the US. Also, I couldn't find reliable data on ventilators, which may be another important metric.