Ever wondered what happens if you forget to put your window up during take-off or landing? One flight attendant explained the purpose behind the important safety precaution
Travelling on a plane comes with plenty of safety precautions, like going through security and putting your phone on airplane mode. While it can be nerve-wracking for people to remember these steps, there is a cabin crew to remind you along the way.
Now when you’re about to take-off, flight attendants usually have a checklist to tick off before the plane enters the runway. You must have your seats in a upright position, as well as armrests down. But one crucial part of safety is making sure your blinds are up during take-off and landing, so have you ever wondered what happens if you forget?
In a Reddit post, one person asked: “Why do you have to have the windows up for landing sometimes? This is something I’ve always wondered and I had no clue who to ask!”
Well the reason for having your windows up is quite simple – it’s in case of an emergency.
That’s because if you need to evacuate, you won’t be able to see if the engine is on fire, or there’s any hazard which means you can’t evacuate out of that side.
A flight attendant said: “In case something goes wrong a passenger can see it and alert the flight crew. It also has to do with safety. If you crash upon take-off inside a dark plane, the light could be blinding upon evacuating.”
Putting your window shades up during take-off and landing is for critical safety reasons as it also allows crew and passengers to see external hazards.
It’s also done for quick assessments to help your eyes adjust to light for a faster emergency exit and allows emergency services to see inside the cabin if needed.
Often flight attendants require your blinds to be up during take-off and landing. At night, shades stay open (with cabin lights dimmed) so emergency services outside can see in, meanwhile in the day, it’s so your eyes adjust.
What other safety precautions are there during take-off and landing?
- Seatbelt: Passengers must make sure their seatbelt is fastened and even when the sign is off, it’s best to keep it buckled.
- Seat position: Make sure your seat is in a full upright position
- Tray table: Put it away securely
- Electronics: All devices must be switched off or on airplane mode
- Attention: Watch the safety video and demo
- Exits: Revise your nearest exits in the case of an emergency
- Shoes: Keep footwear on to protect your feet from debris
- Window shades: Keep them open for visibility
- Baggage: Make sure carry-ons are stowed away properly