Recently, an accident has attracted widespread attention. A British Airways airliner was intercepted in Italy because the seat cushions were too thick and too wide. This sudden inspection left passengers stunned and sparked heated discussions on social **.
According to British media on February 11, as the inspection progressed, the problem finally surfaced - the seat cushion of the Airbus A320neo aircraft did not meet the regulations. The problem is mainly with emergency exit seats, which are usually designed to be flatter to provide more space for evacuation in the event of an emergency. However, the inspection found that the seat cushions on the aircraft were not modified short cushions.
One passenger uploaded his experience to TikTok, and the ** showed the passengers in business class looking confused and the scene was very funny. Flight attendants read the correct serial number aloud, and passengers were asked to push their seats back in search of smaller cushions that could be swapped for luxury pillows. After careful searching, the passengers finally found the right seat cushion, and the flight took off smoothly after only an hour of delay.
However, this incident has caused doubts among netizens. One netizen questioned: "When will passengers be allowed to disassemble the seat base?" This should be done by an engineer or a trained crew. Another netizen praised British Airways for its strict adherence to the rules, writing: "British Airways has done a good job and must follow the rules. ”
The incident comes after new data was released, which showed that a third of UK passengers experienced flight delays or cancellations in 2023. London Gatwick was the worst airport for delays, with 42 per cent of passengers affected, while London Stansted was not far behind with 39 per cent of flights disrupted, according to Airhelp. In contrast, Durham Tees Valley Airport performed well, with only 19% of flights disrupted.
The incident of overly thick seat cushions has once again raised concerns about aviation safety. The attentiveness and cooperation of the passengers allowed the problem to be solved and the flight to take off smoothly. However, this incident is also a reminder that even seemingly small details can have a significant impact on flight safety. Airlines and relevant agencies should strengthen the supervision of aircraft maintenance and inspection to ensure that every detail meets safety standards and provide passengers with a safer and smoother travel experience.