Aviation expert’s guide to surviving a plane crash could end up saving your life
Tips include what to wear,which airlines to avoid and when to take your sleeping pill
On March 8, 2014, the Malaysia Flight 370 became one of the most famous plane crashes in history when it flew into the South Indian Ocean and investigators have spent the following three years looking into the cause of the incident.
While huge strides have been made in flight safety, there will always be plane crashes, but according to one aviation expert there are numerous things you can do to make sure you survive unscathed.
Christine Negroni has just released a book on the world’s most mysterious air disasters and she told Sun Online that getting on a plane is one of the least risky things you can do in life, so long as you take precautions.
Here are Christine’s tips to follow if you want to avoid dying in a plane crash…
Avoid cheap airlines
Try to avoid airlines from countries that are lightly regulated, as their mechanics, controllers and inspectors are not likely to be as well funded.
You get what you pay for in aviation and people who pay the low fares have to understand that cheap tickets mean that airline is undercutting – they have to pay for fuel, employees and maintenance just like every other company, so what is being cut?
This rule doesn’t apply to no-frills carriers like Ryanair, as they are making their money elsewhere by charging for things like luggage.
Listen to the safety briefing
In an emergency situation, many people go throuh a type of paralysis called negative panic where they’re frightened but don’t do anything, so they look around to see what others are doing.
If no one has paid attention during the safety briefing then you get a cascading problem of passengers who remain in their seats when they should get up, or who leave their seats back so the person behind can’t get out.
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Don’t take your sleeping tablet until after the seatbelt signs are off
A plane is a safe method of transportation, so if you’re on an eight hour flight and have to function the next day, I say take the sleeping pill.
But make sure you’ve listened to the pre-flight briefing, seen where your nearest exit is, and noticed the age and weight of your neighbour first.
Wear your shoes during landing
The riskiest time on a flight is during landing and I think it should be a rule to have shoes on during this time.
If you escape an aircraft, the floor could be very hot or cold, it might be covered in oil or on fire, or in a cornfield – you won’t want to be barefoot.
Don’t wear yoga pants
Everyone is wearing yoga pants on aeroplanes now, but I avoid all artificial fibres because they are more likely to burn and stick to you if there is a fire.
I’d say wear cotton clothes or anything made of natural fibres.
Turbulence is nothing to worry about, unless you’re not wearing a seatbelt
With turbulence, there is often no warning, so when the pilot advises you to wear your seatbelt at all times on the plane, they really mean it.
If you’re going to want your phone during an evacuation, don’t store it in your bag
Do not reach up and grab your bag from the overhead locker in the event of a crash, leave it behind.
If you know you’ll want your phone, hold it with you.
Stick to one alcoholic drink
Don’t drink heavily. Have one drink but any more and you could make judgement errors in an emergency.
Don’t wear headphones during take-off or landing
Don’t block out the sounds on take-off and landing, because you need to know if the flight attendants are saying something.
The Crash Detectives: Investigating the World's Most Mysterious Air Disasters by Christine Negroni is out now, , Atlantic Books