Experts are now worried that infants on their parents’ laps could get sucked out mid-flight if more doors blow off commercial planes. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressed concerns, saying that infants near the window could be at risk if a similar incident to that of Alaska Airlines happened again.
Because of this, the agencies urged parents to buy a separate seat for infants. This is despite the guidelines that allow infants under two years old to fly for free.
Will Parents Be Required to Buy a Separate Seat for Infants?
The FAA said, “The safest place for a child under age two is an approved child-restraint system or device, not an adult’s lap.” According to both the FAA and the NTSB, parents are not yet required to buy a separate seat for a child; however, protecting the child could outweigh the financial toll on passengers.
So what about parents who can’t afford to buy a separate seat for their children? The FAA only said, “For every rule, the FAA is legally required to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to show that the benefits of the proposal exceed the costs.”
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282
Alaska Airlines flight 1282 was forced to make an emergency landing after a window panel blew out while ascending. Debris from two mobile phones, a seat back, and a tray table were recovered on the ground in Portland. After this, all Boeing 737 Max 9 planes were grounded as a safety precaution.
Boeing 737 Max 9
Based on the report of federal investigators, they are looking into loose bolts as the culprit for the incident. Investigators spotted loose parts in the door panels of grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 planes.
Pediatric Airplane Injuries
The most common cause of pediatric airplane injuries is unexpected turbulence. However, the Alaska Airlines incident brought renewed safety concerns about infants just sitting on their parents’ laps.
During the Alaska Airlines flight, three infants were on board. Fortunately, none were seated in the aisle where the window blew off.