Would you report a problem with your plane? Would they believe you?

[AviatorTom]

The canceled flight

On Monday, January 15, 2024, Virgin Atlantic flight VS127 from Manchester (MAN) to New York (JFK) was boarded and getting ready to taxi, when a passenger noticed a problem with the wing and told the crew. Maintenance personnel were called, and the flight was canceled as a “precautionary measure.” The issue was reportedly that the tops of four fasteners on a wing panel were missing.

If you saw a problem with your plane, would you tell the crew? Do you think they would believe you?

I'd report it, the crew would believe me and take action

I'd report it, but the crew would ignore it... I'm not an aviation mechanic

I wouldn't report it, they wouldn't believe me anyway

I wouldn't report it, they might cancel my flight

I wouldn't report it, planes are safe

I'd get off the plane

Something else

[rigmarole]

You won't even need plane defects soon, major airline companies like United are implementing woke pilot hiring standards. Rather than recruiting military pilots for example that have extensive experience flying jet aircraft safely, they want 50% of their pilots to be either people of color or women within the next 10 years. These people will come directly out of their short term training academies. The color of their skin and their genitals is the only hiring criteria... In the past, pilots responsible for large aircraft with many souls aboard had to log thousands of hours of flight time that proved their experience and expertise in the position... It didn't matter what they looked like, so long as they could do the job responsibly. They don't even care if the people can fly jet aircraft anymore. Scary... A lot of birds will be falling out of the sky soon enough...

[bolverk]

I'd report it, and if nothing was done before push-back from the gate I'd leave the plane, I'm an engineer and worked for a company that made extruded sections for British Aerospace and understand the safety requirements of the aerospace industry, so if no action was taken to deal with a safety critical problem I would not stay on a plane where it was not being addressed...

[Daniela1982]

I recall when a passenger noticed a crack in the roof when boarding but didn't say anything. The whole front portion of roof on the plane blew off in flight. Fortunately, all the passengers still had their seat belts on and only one person, a stewardess, was killed when she blew out the opening. The plane managed to land safely. It was luck that the plane didn't crash.

[northerngal]

Crews are trained to take every observation seriously. You just never know right? Its our responsibility to take each one seriously and investigate. If I have even the slightest doubts about something I always bring it to the Captain's attention.

[exitseven]

I would go out with my Swiss Army knife and duct tape and fix it myself before we took off

[RebelinSteel]

Speed tape patches are a thing, as is stop drilling cracks

[Daniela1982]

Just jump off before the plane takes off.

[BoopBoopBeep]

I've reported issues a couple times. Some were just cosmetic (loose overhead panel on the seat in front of me), but I knew if they failed midflight the person sitting there could get hurt and at a minimum and at worse the rest of the cabin would freak when shite starts falling off where it ought to be. I reported an engine flameout one time on final approach which of course the pilot was already aware of due to instrumentation and at that point may have already declared TOGA time, but better safe than sorry.

[TheorionMage]

Was a SSGT in VT Air National Guard on a personal commercial flight out-of-uniform. Mid-flight noticed blackish brown fluid leaking from the side of the starboard engine jet nacale. Paged the Stweardess to discretely notify the Flight Engineer, she said to ignore it but DID alert the flight crew. Upon landing, they came looking for me but I made myself scarce. Suspect it was hydraulic fluid for the braking thrust reverse diverter assembly on the engine~

[DeeDeeDeVour]

I'm paranoid when I'm in a large jet plane.

They probably wouldn't take me seriously but I'd still insist.

My husband is an experience licensed private Pilot who thoroughly understands aircrafts in general.

He will verify if my concerns are truly valid.

If it's just my paranoia, he will calm me down.

[JacobJordan]

They would take you seriously. May help your paranoia a bit to know this. Legally any and all reported issues even if false have to be checked. In addition even jokes or digs at the pilot or even flight crews ability to fly safely (for example jokingly telling the pilot "how was your pre flight drink?" Will cause the flight to be immediately terminated and the pilot will report to nearest security point for a breathalyzer). Airline companies are responsible for several hundred people per flight and pilots are PERSONALLY responsible for those people. As a result the FAA and each individual airline companies rules are extremely black and white. Even jokes made in jest about the well being of an aircraft will ground the flight because by law it can NOT be treated as a joke even if it obviously is one

[I_love_tities_oo]

Fasteners come in many types

You might be familiar with protruding type of fastener where head is lying we'll above the skin plate

Whereas a countersunk fastener sinks and gels with the plate giving wings a more aerodynamic surface thus decreasing drag and accumulation of snow, dust, or unwanted stress.

[I_love_tities_oo]

Oh didn't read it completely
Yep open holes without fasteners are not acceptable
It compromises stress flow within panels and unriveted panels specially in wings are highly dengerous

[JacobJordan]

Doesn't matter if they believe you by law they have to investigate. Matter of fact even jokingly asking the pilot if they had drank alcohol forces that pilot to terminate the flight and go take test to prove they are not intoxicated even a little bit. When one is responsible for several hundred people the rules are incredibly black and white.

[RingOfFire]

Hell yeah I'd report it! We're talking life and death here. If they didn't take it seriously I would demand to get off the plane.

PS: I am getting addicted to those plane disaster videos on YouTube! The things they can do with the simulated animations and reenactments today are incredible! They look so real, you feel like you are on the plane with them (but usually wish you weren't!). Some of them are just incredible.

[Amy10223]

Of course I’d report it. Whether or not there was a real problem would be up to a mechanic. I know nothing about what normal aircraft should look like, but if I saw a hole anywhere or something didn’t look right, I’d tell someone.

[RebelinSteel]

Yes I would and have done so in the past. They send someone out to look (hopefully). Panels behind the intakes are usually okay if they come off unless it’s a big one, forward of the intakes then you have possibly lost some physics.

[OlderAndWiser]

I would report it if i saw a monster walking on the wing!

[AviatorTom]

@OlderAndWiser Are you related to William Shatner?

[OlderAndWiser]

Yes, we are geriatric cousins, twice removed!

[mikee555]

A plane is still a man-made product and any man-made product can kill you lol. But i would certainly report if i saw something broken or missing.

[DJB72]

I'd report it. I have aviation experience. The crew are required to tell the captain, who is required to check it out. Usually it's nothing serious, but with upwards of a hundred souls on board no pilot flying wants to take the risk.

[purplepoppy]

I don't know the first thing about planes so when I told the thingymabob from the whatchamacallit isn't connected I doubt they'd take much notice.

[andreasderjuengere]

I don't get involved with virgin/s :)

But a little adventure in the air may distract me from feeling bored from travelling in a sardine can.

So I'd lean back and anticipate.

...

Would I? ... Well - I usually have a fatty sitting next to the window and won't notice anything, except the panty lines of the stewardess.

[Demonatrix]

I would try to ask questions directing them to the problem for them to see the problem for themselves.

[Staximus]

I'd report it. Whether they believe me or not, I'd get off the plane. If they start taxiing to the runway anyways, I'm blowing the escape hatch. I know about basic mechanical stuff and a little about planes. Enough to know when to get off the plane at least.

[Andy1970guy]

My seat didn't have a life vest once, I always check on taking my seat, the plane was delayed about 5 minutes whilst they got an additional one and fitted it under my seat.

[msc545]

I'd report it. I'm a small airplane pilot but I know enough about large planes to be able to report problems in a convincing way if I actually see them. So far I never have. Thank God.

[Sparkie460]

I would definitely report it. I'm not going in no death trap. I wouldn't be on the plane in the first place. I'd be driving

[douride2]

If I saw something out of the ordinary I would bring it up.

[chrissykerdock]

so you would be a mouse that you are and not say anything... tom your pathetic

[AviatorTom]

@chrissykerdock Where did you get that idea? I've talked with flight crews many times about the plane. One time, in Philadelphia, the strobe light at the end of the wing was out as we landed at night, and I mentioned it to the captain as we deplaned. He said "Thanks, I'll check into that."

[Jmmmfi4]

YES ID ASK THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WHY DID WE LAND IN THE HUDSON? IM GOING TO MIAMI.

[mandyfire98]

I would absolutely report it.

[Likes2drive]

Yeah I would say something and hopefully they would take action

[NathanDavis]

if they don't... I would leave the plane

[LemiaOfThunder]

Yes unless it a very minor problem

[KrakenAttackin]

I would and have reported issues to crew.

[strateguy632]

.,5th

[91bryce91]

is this the place where idiots go to die?