Watch Out for These Airplane RED FLAGS Before You Fly

We’ll admit that it’s a bit nerve-wracking these days to get on a plane.

Flying is scary right now

With all the issues with the 737 Max 9 planes and general news about planes sliding off runways, people being hurt during turbulence, engine malfunctions, and more, we get it — flying may be a little scary for you now. The good news is that flying is still pretty safe, but if you want reassure yourself that you’re getting on a safe flight, there are things you can check before you take off.

According to USA Today, experts still say that flying is VERY safe, at least in the U.S. There are TONS of safeguards in place to prevent disasters. When a door flew off a 737 Max 9 plane recently, those planes were immediately grounded for inspections. According to NPR, there hasn’t been a fatal plane crash involving a major American Airline since 2009.

Frontier Plane at the Orlando Airport

However, for those who need extra assurance, there are things you can look for when boarding a plane to determine how safe or unsafe it is. For example, if you smell strong odors, fuel fumes, or burning smells, there might be a problem. Same goes for if you smell raw sewage. If you walk onto a plane and see things that are broken or things duct- taped together, you might want to turn around and walk off that plane.

Other red flags include visible water or oil stains, as well as dents, scratches, and rust on the outside of the plane. Now there might always be some minor cosmetic damage, but larger areas of damage could mean that the plane is potentially unsafe. A worn-out interior might also point to a lack of proper maintenance. If you see something, mention it to a crew member. If they dismiss your concerns, you might want to reconsider flying.

Look around

There are also things you can look for before your flight. Both the European Union and FAA keep a blacklist of unsafe planes. It’s also recommended that you book your airline tickets with companies you know, especially if you’re flying outside the U.S. There are also now several flight search tools that will let you choose the kind of aircraft you want to fly on and avoid those you don’t. For example, Kayak will let you search for flights that don’t use 737 Max 9 aircraft. You can also often get more details about the plane, including its age and recent flight history.

Spirit Airlines

We can’t reiterate enough, though, that it is generally safe to fly in the U.S. despite all the news that might suggest it’s not. Flying still remains the safest form of transportation in the U.S., even safer than driving.

Stay tuned to DFB for more.

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