When a Cathay Pacific Airways flight made an emergency landing in Hong Kong last month, the evacuation drill to which most passengers usually pay scant attention became a heart-thumping reality.
Fearing a fire in the aircraft's undercarriage, the captain made the serious decision to use the emergency slides to evacuate the 322 passengers and crew. While the evacuation resulted in some minor injuries, it was by all accounts a good example of crew training and discipline.
But what if the flight attendants had been seriously injured and unable to assist in opening the doors and slides? Despite the hi-tech wizardry that has made modern aviation generally safe, there are still some situations which require passengers to help themselves and their fellow travellers in the most basic of ways.
One of those situations is an emergency landing where passengers located in exit-row seats will be required to open the doors if the cabin crew is incapacitated or cannot reach the exits in time.
Ironically, these seats are also the most sought-after in an increasingly cramped economy class as they have more legroom and usually have no passenger seats in front.
As cash-strapped global carriers have started to make use of every inch on board to generate income, including the overhead luggage compartment, these seats have also become increasingly profitable for airlines. Gone on many airlines are the days when passengers could enjoy exit seating free.