Chilling reason plane window shades need to be positioned correctly during takeoff and landing

The reason why airplane window shades must be positioned correctly during takeoff and landing has been explained.

For those who enjoy a window seat, it’s common to be instructed to raise the window shade before takeoff or landing.

While it’s perfectly acceptable to have the window blind down when flying at high altitudes, flight attendants usually require passengers to lift them at the beginning and end of a flight.

But what’s the rationale behind this request?

Flight attendant Cher, known for her travel videos on TikTok under the username @cherdallas, has unveiled the important reason for passengers needing to view outside the window.

https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/7418351714970914078

She explained: “There are a couple of US airlines that still do this. It’s requiring you to open your window shade for a taxi, take-off, and landing.”

She further stated: “If you’ve ever had to do that and you’re wondering why, just look at all of the news stories of pieces of the plane flying off or engines being on fire. If you think about where the flight attendants and pilots are sitting, we do not have a clear vantage point of the wing.”

Cher added: “We can’t see the entire plane from our seats. Airlines that require you to open your window shade are making sure that if something falls off, or something is on fire, or something is broken, that passenger’s gonna see it and alert a crew member.”

The comments section of the TikTok video has been buzzing with people sharing what they’ve learned from the clip.

One comment read: “I always thought the window shades was to have your eyes adjusted to the light,” while another expressed: “It drives me bonkers when everyone leaves the shades down for take off and landing. It’s like have some situational-awareness in your life.”

Pilot Patrick Smith confirmed these claims to Travel+Leisure, stating: “Raising your window shade during takeoff and landing makes it easier for the flight attendants to assess any exterior hazards, like fire or debris, that might interfere with an emergency evacuation.”

He added: “It also helps you remain oriented if there’s a sudden impact with rolling or tumbling.”

Reports from Boeing and Airbus indicate that the most dangerous incidents tend to occur during takeoff and landing, hence the need for window shades to be raised for better visibility.

The Airbus report explains: “Approach and landing are highly complex flight phases, which place significant demands on the crew in terms of navigation, aircraft configuration changes, communication with air traffic control, congested airspace, and degraded weather conditions.”