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US flight attendants demand ban on unsecured infants on laps during flights
The recent occurrences of severe turbulence on planes have flight attendants once again calling for a ban on infants sitting on their parents’ laps.
Airlines should mandate that every passenger, regardless of age, have their own seat on a flight, according to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union, which represents close to 50,000 members.
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Children under 2 years old can presently fly for free on their parent’s laps on the majority of airlines. The topic has remained a priority for flight attendants for decades because of safety concerns, according to Sara Nelson, the union’s international president.
Nelson told the Washington Post, “We’ve seen flights go through turbulence recently and drop 4,000 feet in a single second,” referencing a Dulles flight earlier this month that resulted in seven injuries and sent an infant flying out of its mother’s arms.
It recently sent the US Congress a list of recommendations calling for an amendment to the present airline regulations in order to improve passenger safety.
A seat and an individual safety belt are necessary for every passenger and crew member, with the exception of infants who are not in a recumbent position, according to the FAA’s current regulation. The FAA states in its review on “Flying with Children” that placing a child under the age of two in a child restraint system (CRS) or other device that has been authorized is safer than placing them in your lap. In particular, during unanticipated turbulence, which is the leading cause of child injuries on airplanes, your arms are unable to hold your in-lap child safely.
