Ding! Even if the seatbelt sign is off, you should stay buckled while flying. Here’s why.
- You should keep your seatbelt buckled on planes because turbulence can happen unexpectedly.
- Pilots do their best to avoid turbulence, but it can be hard to predict.
- Planes can handle turbulence, but you could be injured if you’re not secured when you hit a bump.
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We’ve all heard it: the announcement on an airplane that even if the seatbelt sign is off, you should buckle up whenever you’re seated.
According to experts, there’s good reason for that guidance. Although flying is a safe way to travel, staying strapped in while you’re in the air is a good idea because unexpected bumps are possible en route.
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Why should I keep my seatbelt on while flying?
According to Nelson, it’s a good idea to stay buckled up whenever you’re seated on a plane because it’s always possible to encounter unexpected turbulence.
Highlights from the Senate hearing over Southwest’s holiday meltdownencountered severe turbulence and 36 people onboard were injured. One passenger said she hit the ceiling of the cabin when she was unable to buckle her seatbelt.
How reliable is turbulence forecasting?
Strzempkowski told USA TODAY that turbulence is notoriously difficult to forecast.
“When you go onto the National Weather Service website, and you look up their aviation forecasts, they’ll even tell you on there that these are not 100% accurate,” he said, adding that turbulence in storms is a little more predictable than in places without bad weather. But, turbulence can happen anywhere, including over the ocean where air masses converge, or, commonly, over the Midwest as winds dissipate across the Rocky Mountains.
Is turbulence dangerous on airplanes?
Not if you’re strapped in.
“If you are sitting there with your seatbelt on and you’re secured, there really is no risk. These planes are built strong enough that they’re able to withstand extremely bad turbulence,” Strzempkowski said. “(Planes) all have to be able to withstand strong turbulence … I realize it’s uncomfortable for passengers, but the plane itself can handle it.”
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The bigger danger, Nelson said, is the possibility of getting injured in turbulence, not structural damage to the plane.
“The people who are not strapped in now also become projectiles themselves and can harm people when they come back down,” she said. “I know plenty of flight attendants who have had career-ending injuries from turbulence.”
Are there other risks while flying?
While turbulence is common on airplanes and can be dangerous when passengers aren’t buckled up, it’s not the only way someone can get injured in the air.
Nelson said it’s not unusual for bags to fall out of overhead bins when they’re opened, which is why announcements about being careful when retrieving your carry-on baggage are also common.
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As the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization looms in Congress, Nelson’s organization is advocating for some new safety regulations as well, including setting minimum climate control standards for airplane cabins, and air quality monitoring systems that would alert flight attendants if any toxic chemicals get introduced into the air supply.
Overall, however, both Nelson and Strzempkowski emphasized that flying remains a very safe way to get around, especially when passengers are educated about how to mitigate risks onboard.
“Just follow the instructions of flight attendants,” Nelson said, ending her interview with her top piece of perennial advice: “If there is an emergency evacuation, leave all bags behind.”