The recent crash landing of a Delta Air Lines flight in Toronto has once again raised concerns regarding the safety of young children who travel on adults’ laps. In this incident, the plane overturned, presenting a significant challenge for parents trying to hold onto their infants during such turbulent events. Although authorities have not disclosed whether the 18-month-old child who sustained injuries was seated on a parent’s lap, it is noteworthy that all 21 individuals injured in the incident have since been released from the hospital. History has shown that young children can sometimes suffer fatal injuries in aviation accidents.
Despite the ongoing incidents, aviation disasters remain quite rare. However, experts mention that young children could face greater risks if they are not secured in their own seats during turbulent flights. This has led specialists to recommend that children under the age of 2 should have their own seats and be secured in approved car seats, even if it means families must pay for an additional ticket. Sadly, babies are still permitted to travel as lap children, which leads many parents to opt for this method despite the associated dangers.
Jan Brown, a former flight attendant, shared her tragic experience with a mother who had just lost her young son in a plane crash in Iowa back in 1989. Brown recalled stopping the grieving mother from attempting to re-enter the wreckage of United Flight 232, assuring her that rescue workers would find her child. The mother, filled with pain, revealed that following the advice Brown had given her, she had placed her baby on the floor; he was among the casualties. This profoundly affected Brown and inspired her to become an advocate for child safety in aviation.
In the years since, there have been more heartbreaking incidents involving infants traveling as lap children. For instance, a 6-month-old boy died during a hard landing in Nunavut, Canada in 2012. Additionally, last year, a threatening situation occurred when three infants could have been expelled from an Alaska Airlines aircraft after a cockpit door malfunctioned mid-flight.
When it comes to safety recommendations, both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board in Canada have long advised that children fly in approved car seats to mitigate risks. Although the Federal Aviation Administration recommends car seats as well, they do not enforce this requirement, despite encouragement from various advocacy groups. The American Academy of Pediatrics and major airline associations support policies designed to require car seat usage for younger travelers.
Experts in crash investigation have advocated for these recommendations since the 1989 tragedy that Brown witnessed. NTSB member Tom Chapman acknowledged that while many families are trying to save money, they may not realize the dangers they are exposing their children to when they forgo an extra seat for safety purposes. In reality, children are safer in their designated seats, and parents may also find it less stressful than holding a restless toddler throughout the flight.
Michelle Pratt, a safety advocate and mother, emphasized that while it might be tempting to save on tickets for children, families should always purchase a seat for every child. She remarked that the cost of a child’s ticket may even be less than that of a checked suitcase.
However, opinions among parents vary. Clare Ronning, a mother with a 5-month-old baby, expressed skepticism about needing a car seat while flying, citing her past experiences without one as proof of safety. On the contrary, Meredith Tobitsch, who has a toddler and an infant, firmly believes in the importance of having dedicated seats for children, mentioning that her older daughter slept better during flights when secured in her car seat.
Currently, the FAA’s stance on not requiring tickets for lap children is derived from a study conducted in the 1990s, which suggested that mandating extra seats might prompt families to avoid flying altogether. Chapman argues this reasoning needs to be revisited, especially as airfares have become more affordable over the years. However, parent Andrea Arredondo highlighted how the requirement might impact families, indicating that if they had to purchase tickets for younger children, it might reduce their willingness to travel by air.
In summary, the question of safety for young passengers is complex and fraught with various opinions. While some parents argue against additional costs for car seats, experts maintain that the well-being of children during air travel should always take precedence.
