Flight crews worldwide have revealed unsettling truths about flying: turbulence injuries, reused items, hidden emergencies, and disruptive passenger behavior are more common than passengers realize. Let’s check out some of the most disturbing facts that airlines don’t want you to find out.
Believe it or not, pilots sometimes sleep behind closed cockpit doors, at least that’s what John Greaves, an airplane accident lawyer, claims. “Do pilots sleep in there? Definitely, sometimes it’s just a ten-minute catnap, but it happens,” he said. The thing is, unless there’s a malfunction, planes can fly themselves.
Has a flight attendant ever told you that you have just 20 seconds to put on the oxygen mask in case of emergency before you pass out? We doubt it. The oxygen mask provides air for only 15 to 20 minutes.
Almost all pilots eventually face lightning strikes, but airplanes withstand them safely. When you see a flash and hear a boom, lightning most likely struck your plane, yet it remains unharmed.
You may feel safer flying over water, but landing a plane there is nearly impossible in real emergencies. “We call it ‘crashing into the ocean,'” says a pilot from Manchester.
Don’t drink the water unless you see a flight attendant pour it from the bottle. Airplane tap water isn’t sterile, and some passengers have gotten sick from drinking it. That’s why experts recommend sticking to bottled water during flights.
Take a Soda or anything that comes in a can, and you’ll be safe.
Pilot and his co-pilot aren’t allowed to have the same meal. They would risk their jobs if they ever took something off of each other’s plate. Why? If one pilot suffers food poisoning and loses control, the other must be able to land the aircraft safely.
Did you ever think about tipping your flight attendant? Thought so. Tipping flight attendants is rare, but when you do, they often give extra attention and may slip you free drinks.
Never drink the water in an airplane’s bathroom. It is definitely not clean. If you’re really thirsty, ask your flight attendant for a bottle of water.
Diseased people and human organs are sometimes on the same flight as you. They are usually located underneath in the cargo. Of course, no company talks publicly about it because they don’t want to creep people out.
If you’re particular about cleanliness, bring wipes and clean your seat and tray, since airplane blankets and pillows aren’t sanitary.
Airline earphones often look new in packaging, but airlines reuse them, just like blankets and pillows that are cleaned and repackaged.
If one engine on the aircraft fails, chances are you won’t know about it. “We are trained never to tell the true extent of a situation. Most planes fly fine with just one engine, so we wouldn’t tell you if one had failed. Equally, you will never hear us mention zero visibility; instead, we may say there’s fog,” said an EasyJet captain.
Traveling with a baby in your lap is not particularly safe, according to Patrick Smith, author of askthepilot.com. He says that in case of an impact or deceleration, “there’s a good chance you’re going to lose hold of your kid, and he becomes a projectile. The government argues that buying an expensive seat for your baby makes flying safer than driving, in which injuries are more likely.
They dim cabin lights during night landings so your eyes adjust to darkness, making emergency evacuation faster and safer.
Flight attendants know that airplane toilets are so dirty that they rarely use them. “To be honest, I only use the lavatories on the airplane if I need to wash my hands or if I absolutely have to go to the bathroom. If it’s a short flight and I can leave the plane, I’m definitely waiting until I can use the bathroom in the airport,” said Kelly Goodnuff.
Most flight attendants will tell you they eat the same meals as you do, but that is not the case. Their meals are slightly better and feature fresh fruits, fancy bread rolls, desserts, and beverages.
Think twice before choosing to fly your pets, because conditions for them are far from ideal. Ramp noise is extremely loud, requiring ear protection for workers. Pets waiting outside endure the same harsh noise exposure.
If you’re traveling with a musical instrument, you should never check it! Baggage handlers often toss bags roughly, even when marked fragile, so delicate items risk damage during loading and transport. If you’re traveling with a musical instrument, you should never check it! They simply don’t care, because they generally have very low wages.
Pilots discreetly signal hijackings on the ground, but reporting in-flight is harder, though still possible with training and protocols.
Don’t get scared if there’s a hard landing during a storm. Pilots do this on purpose to avoid hydroplaning, so keep that in mind the next time this happens and you think to yourself — “Oh, this pilot really sucks.”
