Travel experts have revealed the different codes used by cabin crew staff when something goes wrong onboard a flight, including the signal for a person who has died
If you hear a certain sound when onboard a plane, it could mean that someone has died.
Travel experts at Wander have put together a list of in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may encounter on a flight, but not know what they mean. Whilst most flights go smoothly, on others there can be some issues where flight crews need to communicate with each other secretly, so as not to alert passengers.
One such code to listen our for is ‘Code 300’ or ‘Angel’, which signals that there is a deceased passenger onboard the aircraft. The discreet code allows the crew to handle the situation without alarming other passengers or drawing attention to the event.
There are a number of other in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may hear when on a flight.
If a traveller hears ‘Squawk 7500’ or ‘Hotel’ it means that a hijacking is in progress. As a passenger, if you hear this either mentioned by flight crew or air traffic control, it signals that there is a potential security threat on the flight. Usually, the aircraft’s transponder will send a signal with this code to alert authorities that the plane is in danger.
Another alert is ‘Code Yellow’. A ‘Code Yellow’ indicates that there is a minor medical situation, such as a passenger feeling lightheaded or nauseous. While not an emergency, it allows crews members to discreetly monitor a situation and assess whether they need any assistance.
If a serious, but non-life-threatening emergency occurs whilst on a flight, passengers may hear ‘Peter Pan’. The phrase indicates that there is something wrong onboard the flight, which could be mechanical trouble or a medical emergency, but it also signals that the flight is not in imminent danger.
‘Mermaid’ is nickname used for a passenger who deliberately sprawls across empty seats. This behaviour is particularly common on flights with spare seats, where a passenger may stretch out to try and claim the extra space. Last year, one passenger got into an argument with another passenger over an empty seat, as she was told she wasn’t ‘allowed’ to sit in it despite nobody paying for it.
The woman needed to move seat due to something being wrong with hers, and was informed by a flight attendant she could move to an empty seat in the row across from her own. When she tried to sit in it, however, the woman sitting next to the empty chair told her she “wasn’t allowed” – despite nobody having booked it.
‘Code Adam’ is used not onboard the aircrafts, but in airports to indicate a missing child. If an announcement is made for a ‘Code Adam’ staff will begin to search the airport, whilst securing exits to prevent abductions. At an airport, ‘Code Bravo’ may also be used to signal a general security alert.
Finally, whilst ‘VIP’ is usually used to refer to a ‘Very Important Person,’ in the airline industry it can be sometimes used to refer to a ‘Very Irritating Passenger’. Crew will sometimes use the code to refer to a traveller who is making any excessive demands, complaining a lot or generally being difficult without violating any specific rules.
