Cabin Crew Are Life Savers

Sad news made the rounds on January 2nd when an Airbus A350-900 operated by Japan Airlines collided, while landing, with a smaller De Havilland Dash 8 operated by the Japan Coast Guard. Japan Airlines Flight 516 was on its way from Hokkaido to Haneda Airport in Tokyo when the collision occurred just before touchdown. Tragically, five of the six Coast Guard crew members lost their lives. Fortunately, all 367 members and 12 crew members of the bigger A350 were successfully evacuated just before the aircraft got engulfed in flames and was burned beyond recognition.

While a lot has been said about this incident, many aviation enthusiasts have taken time to praise the professionalism of the cabin crew and the cooperation of the passengers on the A350. Others have also debated the fire-resistance ability of the aircraft.?

It is true that the Airbus A350 is made up of 52% composite, which might cause it to burn faster than an A330 or A340. The essence of the composite in the make-up of this aircraft is to contribute to its lightweight and fuel efficiency. Any aircraft could have suffered the same fate as this A350.

While the JTSB Air Accident Agency investigates the incident, we should appreciate the professionalism and work rate of the cabin crew. The total flight time was about an hour and forty minutes, but the cabin crew would typically arrive two hours before takeoff so they could assist with check-in and prepare for the flight. That puts them at almost four hours of work. Yet, they calmly evacuated all the passengers in a short time. An Airbus A350 has eight emergency exits, but video footage only showed three exits in use during the evacuation.?

The cabin crew is trained to face different scenarios that could occur during air travel. Many passengers don’t exactly treat them well or cooperate with them. The air hosts and hostesses are not just there to serve food and drinks mid-flight. They also provide first-aid and medical assistance to passengers in need. They give guidelines on emergency landings and turbulence. While the pilot works, the air hostess does the job of the lifeguard on any flight. The passengers’ cooperation would do them a world of good, and it did in Flight 516.

"I was wondering what happened and then I felt the airplane tilted to the side at the runway and felt a big bump," said Satoshi Yamake, who was on board. "The flight attendants told us to stay calm and instructed us to get off the plane."

"I heard an explosion about 10 minutes after everyone and I got off the plane," said 28-year-old Tsubasa Sawada. "I can only say it was a miracle, we could have died if we were late."

Another report stated that the cabin crew had to pass across information through megaphones since the in-flight announcement system had stopped working.

The passengers also deserve to be commended for their cooperation and selflessness during the evacuation. Sometimes, obeying simple instructions from the crew could be the difference between life and death. Carry-on bags lost is nothing compared to lives lost.

The cabin crew plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers before, during, and after a flight. Passengers’ cooperation is essential to ensuring a smooth and safe flight. Remember to follow the instructions of the cabin crew the next time you are on a flight.

Thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the five Coast Guard crew members who died in the collision.