A viral TikTok video teaches passengers to fasten their seatbelts on airplanes in a way that has aviation experts concerned.
Aviation experts warn about the risks of a viral TikTok trend that teaches passengers to fasten their seatbelts around their ankles.
The videos encourage travelers to place their feet on the seats and fasten the seatbelts around their legs instead of their waist, as they were designed to be used.
“To whoever suggested putting the airplane seatbelt around the ankles, I owe you my life,” one person wrote in the video caption.
The president of the Association of Flight Attendants, Sara Nelson, said that this practice is extremely dangerous.
“The seatbelt is designed to be worn low and tight across the lap. This ensures the best protection in case of turbulence, emergency landing, or accident,” she said in a statement to CNN.
“This is not just for your safety; if you are not properly secured, you could end up injuring someone else by being thrown around during turbulence,” she warned.
+Watch the video of the risky maneuver using the seatbelt around the ankles
Experts stated that if a passenger refuses to follow the flight attendants’ instructions on proper seatbelt use, they could be fined up to $35,000.
Photos: Pexels TikTok @alexisburnaby1711. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
