Galley Gossip: In-flight emergencies - what are the odds?

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A planned emergency is where there is time to make some kind of preparation for the events to come- whether that is a ditching, emergency landing or a full evacuation. For example, the plane experiences engine trouble, the pilots advise there is 15 minutes to landing, and the FAs have time to 'prep the cabin' (do a safety briefing, stow equipment, reassure pax etc)

Unplanned is where there is no warning for the crew- e.g. plane runs off the runway on landing, landing gear gives way, sudden engine fire on the stand- it pretty much means the crew are entirely unprepared & have no warning of what is about to happen, therefore they just go right into the emergency procedures. Planned is preferable because at least one can try prepare the passengers for what to expect and what to do.

I believe the Hudson was unplanned as the FAs literally had like 2 minutes notice, not nearly enough to prep the cabin for ditching, they had to do it as they went...

Planned would be, for example, the Qantas plane last year which lost the cabin pressure. They would have prepared the cabin for an emergency landing and potential evacuation if required.

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