Unexpected Turbulence

As a former private pilot (really small planes) I assure you that it's a really good idea to keep your seat belt at least loosely fastened when you're in your seat, and when you hear one of those announcements that the OP refers to, cinch it a bit tighter, or a lot tighter if you like. Pax and flight attendants have been killed or seriously injured when their heads have smashed into the ceiling caused by unexpected turbulence.

Since it was a Delta flight, it was actually "rough air".

I had my first abort and go round last year going into Salt Lake City (crosswinds) and when the captain went into a holding pattern afterwards somewhere over the Bonneville Salt Flats, she told everyone to stay belted in, even the flight attendants, and people were still getting up to mess with stuff in the bins against captain's orders.

We were next to the flight attendants belted into their jump seats, and they were getting really angry at the passengers and assuming it was because the passengers were hearing a female voice and thinking it was a FA and not a captain's order.

(She did make a safe and firm landing in Salt Lake City on the second attempt after operations said we were not going to have to divert to Las Vegas after all)

I too am a former private pilot and I keep my seatbelt fastened (loosely) whenever I am in my seat. When the captain puts the seatbelt sign on during the fight after a bit of bumpiness, I tighten it. If the captain gets on the PA and tells the FA's to take a seat, I make sure all loose items near me are stored safely so they don't go flying.

Having flown small planes, a bit of turbulence doesn't bother me. I hit some bad turbulence on a flight a couple of weeks ago and of course it always happens as soon as I get served a hot cup of coffee. That turbulence continued all the way down to final approach.

On a Southwest flight from Dallas to Houston a few years ago. Really rough summer thunderstorms as the plane was getting ready to land. Flight attendant walking down the aisle when the bottom dropped out and we fell a few hundred feet before recovering and she fell and slid toward the nose of the plane catching one arm under the seat support. Broke her arm. Looked like she had 2 elbows on that one arm. She also said a few words you don't normally hear from a flight attendant on a plane. Took us 3 attempts to land in Houston due to the rough weather even after declaring a medical emergency for the FA. She recovered well, saw her on another flight about 6 months later.

I always keep my seat belt fastened. Don't understand those who as soon as the light goes out, unclip.

I always keep my seat belt fastened. Don't understand those who as soon as the light goes out, unclip.

Probably the same folks that think an IDP and money belt are 'silly' and unnecessary

OK, I will apologize now for being 'off topic'

All it takes is to have one of those flights and you’ll keep things buttoned up for the rest of your flying life. A flight into Dallas through turbulence and an unfortunate flight attendant went flying up and hit the ceiling. I didn’t realize just how fast things could happen and how far loose items could travel.

It's the same significance as seat belts in a car. Turbulence can happen in a split second at any moment. It's for those rare moments that you need your belt fastened. Turbulence can cause major injuries. A trip to the hospital is not worth the risk of not being secured down. Stay buckled up as much as possible.

If an attendant can hit the ceiling, just think of the injuries to babies sitting on parents’ laps or unbelted light-weight sleeping children.