Emergency slides are a crucial component of airplane safety, designed to save lives during emergencies. However, their deployment force is so strong that it can cause harm or even death to those in its way. Former flight attendant Jay Roberts shared with MailOnline Travel that accidentally activating an emergency slide is a frightening mistake that flight attendants and airport staff worldwide fear, causing anxiety and nightmares. Although multiple checks and balances are in place to prevent accidental deployments, mishaps still occur, costing airlines thousands of dollars to repack slides and leading to embarrassment and safety concerns.
Every airline is required to evacuate a plane within 90 seconds or less in case of an emergency. The rapid deployment of emergency slides is essential to meet this timeline. Unfortunately, the force exerted by the slides can be deadly to anyone unexpectedly in their path. While there haven’t been reports of fatalities due to slide deployment, close calls have occurred. For instance, during the Asiana Flight 214 crash in 2013, the impact compressed two slides inward, trapping flight attendants beside the exits. Quick action and the use of an emergency axe saved a flight attendant from choking to death due to the pressure.
To mitigate this safety risk, modern aircraft have automatic disarmament systems for exit slides when opened from the outside. Additionally, airlines have slide-disarming procedures at the end of each flight to minimize the risk of accidental deployments. The lead flight attendant checks the slide status via a screen and verifies the disarmament verbally with all crew members. Strict protocols are followed to ensure safe door opening, including confirmation from a senior crew member and monitoring warning lights.
Ground staff are also trained to disarm doors from the outside, taking precautions like stepping to the side or back to avoid slide inflation. Despite all these procedures, accidents can still occur. Crew oversights, manual disarming procedures on older aircraft, equipment malfunctions, or even passenger interference can lead to inadvertent slide deployments. Crew fatigue, especially after long night flights, has been a contributing factor in some incidents.
Accidental slide activations often result in delays or flight cancellations. Replacing a deployed slide can take time, and if unavailable, the affected area of the aircraft must be sectioned off, potentially leading to reduced passenger capacity. Despite the challenges and risks, emergency slides are essential to aviation safety and save thousands of lives annually. Each deployment is thoroughly investigated to improve procedures and aircraft components, prioritizing both profitability and passenger safety.
For more insights from Jay Roberts, please visit www.instagram.com/aflyguytravels and www.facebook.com/aflyguyslounge.
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