- TJ Newman was a flight attendant for 10 years before publishing books
- Her latest novel, Worst Case Scenario, deals with a catastrophic plane crash
- The author’s most important safety tip for emergencies is: “Leave everything behind”
What would you do in the event of a plane crash?
To prepare passengers for the worst, flight attendant turned author TJ Newman shared a series of safety tips from her time as a pilot with DailyMail.com.
Her latest novel, “Worst Case Scenario,” is about exactly that: a plane that crashes into a nuclear power plant.
However, the Phoenix author stresses that this is the most extreme sequence of events that could occur in the sky, and that the most likely disturbances travelers would experience would be mild turbulence.
First, says the pilot, the first safety measure anyone can take is to fasten their seatbelt.
TJ Newman was a flight attendant for 10 years before turning to writing aviation-themed novels
Her latest novel, Worst Case Scenario, deals with a catastrophic plane crash
She explains: “When you are in your seat, your seat belt should always be fastened.”
“Just look at the incredible videos of the severe turbulence that have been in the news recently.
“In such situations, most injuries could have been avoided if the passengers had been wearing seat belts.”
While it may seem like they are complaining, TJ says it is always “imperative to follow the instructions of crew members” and they are “on board for one reason: safety.”
In addition to buckling your seatbelt, other instructions from the crew before takeoff may include properly stowing your luggage, adjusting the back of your seat to an upright position, and securing your tray table, according to the author.
Although all aircraft appear the same, TJ points out that configurations can vary greatly, with emergency exits in different locations and rows arranged in different ways.
For this reason, she believes it is important to review the safety information card of each aircraft on every flight.
The globetrotter reveals: “I flew as a flight attendant for ten years and even today, as a passenger, I still look at the menu before every flight.”
Although they may seem like they are complaining, TJ says it is always “imperative to follow the instructions of crew members” and they are “on board for one reason: safety.”
TJ Newman’s latest book, Worst Case Scenario: A Novel, published by Little, Brown and Company, is now available
TJ continues the same path, adding, “Familiarize yourself with the aircraft’s exits and emergency equipment, then you will not hesitate in the unlikely event of an evacuation.”
“You already know which direction to go.”
“These seconds may save your life.”
And last but not least: In a real emergency, TJ’s most important advice is: “Leave everything behind.”
The New York Times bestselling author, who himself worked as a flight attendant for ten years, concludes: “When a plane needs to be evacuated, time is everything.”
“Do not stop to pick up a bag. Nothing is more important than your life and that of your fellow passengers. Drop everything and leave the plane.”
TJ Newman’s latest book, Worst Case Scenario: A Novel, published by Little, Brown and Company, ism
