Flight Attendants Share What Their Safety Training is Really Like

09.02.2024 - 18:03 / cntraveler.com / Sara Nelson / Airlines

Many travelers tend to forget that the primary responsibility of flight attendants isn’t to mix your drinks and serve you snacks—it’s ensuring the safety of everyone on board.

Then, two incidents took place this January that captured the attention of flyers everywhere and underscored the critical importance of flight attendants in aviation safety: On January 2, a Japan Airlines plane combusted into flames after colliding with a Coast Guard aircraft on the runway. And a few days later, a door plug flew off an Alaska Airlines flight, leading to a nationwide grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft.

No passenger lives were lost on either commercial airliner—an incredibly fortunate outcome that's no thanks to luck alone. The Japan Airlines flight attendants managed to successfully evacuate all 367 passengers in 18 minutes before the plane caught fire, even with some exit doors blocked and a failed intercom system. And on the Alaska Airlines flight, a teenager sitting near the gaping hole managed to remain safely in his seat despite having his shirt ripped from his body—likely thanks to his seatbelt (you know, that thing flight attendants give a detailed demonstration on how to fasten properly).

“Last night’s incident could have been worse, but Flight Attendants and Pilots of Alaska 1282 ensured all passengers and crew arrived safely back on the ground,” Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) President Sara Nelson said in a statement following the Alaska Airlines incident. “Flight Attendants are aviation’s first responders. We are trained for emergencies, and we work every flight for aviation safety first and foremost.”

Indeed, flight attendants are constantly protecting passengers in the air and on the ground (even if you don't notice it). When they greet you at the boarding door they’re not just just being friendly—they’re actually selecting “Able Bodied Passengers” (ABP) who can assist crew in an emergency, as well as taking note of people who may need additional support during an evacuation. And the safety briefing on how to use oxygen masks and life vests? You might tune those instructions out, but flight attendants have been trained and tested on every scenario mentioned.

When the time comes for take-off and landing, flight attendants sit on their hands in the jump seat to protect them from unexpected impact that could prevent them from being able to open the emergency exits. At the same time, they’re reviewing emergency procedures before these critical phases of flight so they remain fresh in their mind—a 30-second exercise known as the “silent review.” Mid-flight, although they’re in more of a service mode while manning the beverage cart and passing out snacks, flight attendants are always