FlightGyaan EP03: Why are we always told to keep our seats upright and window shades open during takeoff and landing?

 Namaskaar and welcome aboard Flight Gyaan — the show where we go beyond the boarding pass to uncover the “why” behind what happens in the sky.

I’m your Captain Sandhya, and today’s episode dives into something every flyer has probably ignored at least once:

“Why are we always told to keep our seats upright and window shades open during takeoff and landing?”

Seems like a minor thing, right?
But what if I told you…
It could be the difference between life and death. Let’s start with why seat upright matters.
Takeoff and landing are the most critical phases of a flight.
In fact, over 80% of aviation incidents occur during these few minutes.

Now imagine — there’s an emergency landing.
You need to get out fast.
But the seat in front of you is reclined, and you’re stuck. The person behind you? Also stuck.
That few-second delay in a smoke-filled cabin? It can cost lives.
So the upright seat rule isn’t about comfort.
It’s about giving every passenger a clear, unobstructed path to safety.

Now, let’s understand why window shades stay open.
Recently, the DGCA issued a directive that at certain airports shared with the military, shutters must stay closed during ground movement for security reasons.

But there’s a powerful reason why you’re asked to keep them open during takeoff and landing.

Not to enjoy the view , but to protect lives.

In case of an emergency, the crew must instantly assess what’s outside:

Is there fire on one side of the aircraft? Is a wing damaged?

Can we safely open this door, or do we need to redirect the evacuation?

And it’s not just for the crew.

In a high-stress situation, your brain reacts better to familiar surroundings.
If you’ve already seen what’s outside, your body responds faster.

Also, if the power fails and the cabin lights go off,
Those windows could be your only light source.

Take the Emirates EK521 crash in Dubai in 2016, for example. The aircraft crash-landed and caught fire. Because the window shades were open, passengers and crew quickly spotted flames on one wing and evacuated from the opposite side. Over 300 lives were saved—all because someone saw what the cockpit couldn’t.

Why Passengers’ Eyes Can Be the First Line of Defence”
Here’s something even more important—and not often discussed:

Aircraft are advanced, yes. But they’re still machines.
And sometimes, systems fail.

There have been rare situations where a cockpit system didn’t detect a fire or damage in time.
But a passenger near a window did.

They spotted smoke… sparks… even flames — 
and raised the alarm first.

When cabin crew and passengers are alert and aware,
They become part of the aircraft’s safety system.

So, keeping the window open isn’t just about evacuation visibility — 
It could literally help prevent a disaster.

Sometimes, the first “sensor”…
It's you.

And last but the most important one, Why Civility Can Save Lives, that’s something we rarely talk about

Kindness and cooperation onboard can save lives.

“In the 2024 Japan Airlines runway accident, 379 people evacuated a burning aircraft in just under 90 seconds — not because of luck, but because everyone followed instructions, stayed calm, and listened to the crew. That’s what civil behavior in the sky looks like — and it saved every single life onboard.”

We’ve all seen it — passengers arguing over reclined seats, someone refusing to follow basic safety instructions, or someone insisting on closing the window shade because they want to sleep. Then there are those who open the shades when told but quietly shut them again the moment the cabin crew returns to their jump seats.

What many don’t realize is that takeoff and landing are the most critical phases of flight, and that’s exactly when the window shades need to stay open. Closing them defeats the entire purpose of this safety protocol, which is to ensure that both passengers and crew can see outside instantly in case of an emergency.

A few seconds of visibility can make the difference between confusion and survival.
In aviation, every second counts.
Every blocked aisle, every delay, and every distraction can put lives at risk.
The next time someone asks why, you’ll have the answer. And maybe, you’ll pass it on. Safety spreads when knowledge does.”

Being civil on board isn’t just etiquette — 
It’s part of the unwritten flight safety manual.

When we follow instructions, think of others, and stay alert,
We become each other’s safety net in the sky.

So next time you hear:
“Seat upright, window open” — 
Don’t roll your eyes; instead, smile.
Because now you know — 
It’s not just a rule. It’s a lifeline.
If this episode changed how you look at flying, imagine how many lives we can protect by simply spreading the word. Like, share, and subscribe to Flight Gyaan. Let’s make the skies safer—together.
 This is your Captain Sandhya, signing off from Flight Gyaan.
Until next time — 
Fly informed. Fly kind.

Thank you!