Airline Passenger Not Strapped In

[Ann]

Saw this (rather non) story in paper today - set me wondering, if a passenger walks down the aisle when the plane is taking off, is the danger just to that passenger or to the whole operation of the plane?

[Ann]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2487570/Female-passenger-left-trapped-lavatory-British-Airways-plane-sped-runway-took-off.html

[237SJ]

I love the way they showed a completely different aircraft in the picture - usual Daily Mail stuff. Just a danger to the passenger (and anyone they manage to fall onto)

[sandyRoe]

Probably more to the other passengers and to herself rather to the safety of the plane.

[Ann]

She would be quite safe sitting on the loo then - no room to swing a cat round in there!

[sandyRoe]

But when you're sitting on the pot there's no belt to hold you securely in case of wind rattling the plane around. :-)

[Mamyalynne]

The story, non or otherwise goes further though - the plane started to move when some passengers were still stood up. Poor show overall as well as embarrassment.

[tamborine]

The danger is to other passengers, if an unstrapped person is thrown around by velocity of take-off.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe it depends on whether they leave a human shaped hole at the back as they depart ?

[jno]

rather unusual to start moving while people are still stashing their bags, isn't it?

[youngmafbog]

Depends on the size of the passenger perhaps?

[Mamyalynne]

More than unusual jno, dangerous I would say.

[Prudie]

I always thought the toilets were locked until after take-off - or is that old trains?

[EDDIE51]

IF( and a big IF) this is true (remember it is the Daily Wail ) the fault was with the cabin crew. You have NEVER been allowed to use the toilets while the plane is on the ground. Even the air crew have to be strapped in for take off, which means from the time the plane starts its engines until it is a cruising height. A standing passenger or crew member could be thrown against another person or against the aircraft seats or fuselage with enough force to cause injury if there was turbulence during take off.

[jno]

that was my thought, Eddie, with the proviso that the cabin crew can't be expected to rush round slamming everyone into their seats, their luggage still in their hands, just because the pilot's in a rush to leave. He's the one who should wait.