You probably think the job of a cabin crew is to greet you as you board the flight, serve you tea and coffee, help you out with in-flight instructions, or check boarding passes one last time before takeoff. Well, that’s only a tiny part of the story. According to aviation experts, the act of cabin crew greeting you has reasons that go beyond what meets the eye.
“When you walk into an airplane, while the attendants are being polite, they’re secretly scanning you, too. It means they quickly scan if someone looks unwell, overly nervous, intoxicated, or acting suspicious,” said Capt Tomar Awdhesh, director, Golden Epaulettes Aviation.
If passengers consume alcohol before or during a flight, excessive drinking could pose serious safety risks for everyone on the flight. They may require medical intervention or delay the flight’s departure.
In the face of such a problem, the captain or ground crew can be alerted before the doors close, said Capt. Tomar.
But that’s not all.
“They also scan for able-bodied passengers, people who look strong, fit, and calm. These are the individuals who might assist during an in-flight emergency, like evacuation or handling an unruly passenger,” said Capt Tomar.
Did you ever consider this aspect? (Photo: Freepik)
He explained that in emergencies, flight attendants need to identify passengers who are physically capable and willing to assist with evacuation or other necessary tasks. The greeting, according to him, is an opportunity to observe passengers’ physical characteristics and demeanour. “Remember that they are highly trained to save your life in the most critical emergencies,” said Capt Tomar.
So, while they are being courteous, they are also looking at visual cues, which is called ‘profiling’, and they are “highly trained” for the same.
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DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.
