How Flight Crew Handle Deboarding After a Hard Landing

We often joke about it, saying, #8220;I guess the pilot didn’t use the auto landing.#8221; However, when a hard landing occurs, the flight crew treats the situation with professionalism, ensuring the safety and comfort of the passengers.

Professionalism During Deboarding

Despite the humor and jokes, the crew handles the passengers the same way they would during any other deboarding process. Hard landings, whether intentional or not, are part of the flying experience. If the plane safely reaches the gate and all passengers have disembarked, it can be considered a successful landing. An excellent landing occurs when the plane can still be used, showcasing the pilot's skill.

Cabin Crew's Role in Deboarding

The deboarding or deplaning of passengers is primarily handled by the cabin crew. The captain makes a public address (PA) announcement to ensure that the doors or slides are manually disarmed or disengaged and that they can be opened. An apology over the PA is not necessary and could lead to legal complications. However, the captain is required to report the event in the aircraft maintenance logbook. The automatic aircraft communication address system (ACARS) will already have triggered a message to all concerned, including the chief pilot and various other officials via SMS. Important details, such as the g-forces at touchdown, are recorded by the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) on every landing. Depending on the recorded values, specific maintenance procedures may be required before the next flight.

Examples of Funny Announcements

While serious, there are instances where the crew lightens the mood with a humorous announcement. One memorable instance involved landing in a strong cross-wind, where the touchdown was a misnomer with multiple bounces and landing one wheel at a time. The cabin crew jovially offered hard hats to anyone who would fly with them again, which received a mixed reception.

Another example occurred at Luton on an EasyJet flight. After an extremely hard landing, the stewardess made a joke: #8220;Ladies and gentlemen, you may have noticed we have just landed at Luton. After we've checked that nothing has broken off the plane, we'll taxi to the gate. Local time is...#8221; This is a perfect example of British understatement.

In general, the crew tries to get passengers off the plane as quickly as possible to avoid dealing with unhappy passengers. This not only maintains the crew's professionalism but also ensures the smooth operation of the next flight and the well-being of the passengers.