Keep your seat-belts fastened

Thirty people were injured on a Northwest flight from Manila to Tokyo today as the plane encountered some heavy turbulence. This is not the first such incident nor will it be the last, unfortunately. The number of people who unbuckle their seat-belts as soon as the Fasten Seat-belt sign is turned off still amazes me. Many years ago, I was on a flight that had just taken off from Singapore. The pilot turned off the Fasten Seat-belt sign as the plane cleared the cloud cover. The gentleman in front of me unbuckled his seat-belt almost immediately and was subsequently thrown out of his seat when the plane flew into an air-pocket several moments later. Those seat-belts are there for everyone’s safety and with the unpredictable nature of weather, it’s wise to keep those belts fastened even during the flight’s cruising phase.

Travel safe!