What Passengers Can Do to Stay Safe in the Air
Flying can be frightening. Unlike traveling in a car, passengers often feel that their safety is out of their control, that there is nothing they can do to make sure that they arrive at their destination safely.
According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, that is simply not true. There is plenty that airline passengers can do to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, even if they are involved in a plane crash.
What Airplane Passengers Can Do
In preparation for this summer's vacation season, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt and Association of Flight Attendants International President Veda Shook released a list of safety tips for passengers. Their tips include the following:
- Listen to the safety announcement — Even if you've heard the pre-flight safety announcement hundreds of times, it pays to listen. Flight attendants are planes' first responders in emergencies and have received hundreds of hours of training to keep you safe.
- Wear your seat beat — Keep your seat belt buckled when you are in your seat. Even on a clear day, a pocket of air turbulence can propel you out of your seat if you aren't strapped in.
- Adhere to the airline's carry-on restrictions — Large, heavy objects in the overhead bins can fall and injure passengers in the event of an airplane accident. It's better to limit your carry-on luggage to what can be stowed under the seat in front of you.
- Turn off your electronic devices when asked — Cell phones, PDAs and other electronic devices interfere with flight communications during takeoffs and landings. Make sure your devices are powered off so the pilots can hear.
Said FAA Administrator Babbit, "We're calling on passengers to take an active role in aviation safety." Make sure to do your part to prevent airplane accidents and injuries, whether you are riding in a large passenger jet or a smaller plane.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in an airplane accident, whether it was caused by pilot error, poor aircraft maintenance or other negligence, speak with an aviation accident lawyer near you.
