Aviation safety experts share four things people should do to increase their chances of survival if they are involved in a crash on an airplane.
Over the past few months, it feels like there have been more crashes on planes than usual.
In fact, there have been 153 accidents so far this year, according to data from the US National Traffic Safety Commission. Of these, 23 were fatal.
It makes sense that people feel a little more nervous than usual.
On January 29, an American Airlines airliner collided into the air with a US helicopter near Washington, DC, killing 67 people.
Just 48 hours later, a medical plane carrying six people plunged to the ground, exploded into a fireball in Philadelphia, all of which killed the ship and one pedestrian.
A small chartered aircraft then crashed in Alaska on February 6th, killing 10 people.
The disaster then struck again when Delta Flight 4819, which departed from Minneapolis, flipped over when it landed on the Toronto runway on February 17th.
Thankfully, 76 passengers and four crew survived.
Currently, one expert shares four things you should do if you find yourself on a plane and in a critical situation.
What you wear on your flight is important (Getty Stock Image)
Don't wear leggings
Written for Slate, journalist and aviation safety expert Christine Negroni explained that wearing leggings is not recommended.
They may be a very popular choice to keep you comfortable in flight, but chemically produced fibers can reach temperatures sufficient to melt into your skin.
“The Federal Aviation Administration in 1999 recommended clothing made from cotton, wool and leather. Yes, even denim is recommended to be more preferred over synthetic,” Negroni said.
“I don't trust all of the fashion advice I've had since 1999, but this tip still applies today.”
Choose your shoes wisely
Arriving at the airport by flip-flop is attractive, but if you need to get off the plane quickly, it is best to wear shoes that make this as easy as possible in case of an emergency.
Negroni explained that they should be there for takeoff and landing.
“The ground could be cold, wet, frozen, or hot, or covered in glass, fuel or plane debris, so you'd want them to wear shoes for that,” she said.
Negroni recommends wearing a round seat belt (Getty Stock Image)
Buckle up
Aside from the risk of unexpected turbulence, Negroni said that while many people focus on which seat to choose for their flight, the key is to wear your seat belt all over.
Beware of gadgets
Negroni claimed that the pilot was “the most worrying of smoke and fire.” This is especially true as recent lithium-ion-driven gadgets drive a huge number of lithium ions.
“Always pay attention to your devices and the devices around you, charging them, dropping them, or getting wet, causing the batteries to get hot and smoke and igniting them,” the expert added.
Meanwhile, Negroni also recommended calling on the straps during the flight, so you can hold your hand whenever you land.
