Flights: Pilot reveals why plane passengers should never do this with cabin crew in emergency (Image: Getty Images)
Flights experience multiple bumps and noises that can alarm travellers who don’t know what is happening. It can be tempting during these episodes of uncertainty to look at cabin crew to gauge their reaction. However, a pilot has explained that passengers should not try to interpret flight attendants’ facial expression at such times. Doing so is ultimately pointless as it easy to misread the crews’ faces and flyers will be told if there is an actual emergency.
In reality, passengers will be told about any emergency or serious malfunction
Patrick Smith
Pilot Patrick Smith said in his book Cockpit Confidential: “That glazed look in the flight attendant’s eyes is probably one of exhaustion, not fear.
“Nervous flyers are prone to envision some silently impending disaster, with distressed crew members pacing the aisles and whispering to each other in secret.
“In reality, passengers will be told about any emergency or serious malfunction.”
There are certain things that passengers will be told about that are not worth getting overly worried about as well.
“If you’re informed about a landing gear snafu, pressurisation problem, engine trouble, or the need for an unscheduled landing, do not construe the thing to be a life-or-death situation,” advised Smith.
“It’s virtually always something precautionary - though
