- During a plane emergency, flight attendants know exactly what to do.
- It's a flight attendant's primary role to keep passengers safe - serving you drinks and meals comes second.
- To know exactly what to do in an emergency, flight attendants must complete about two months of extensive, hands-on training.
Even though midair disasters like the one that happened aboard Southwest Airlines flight 1380 on Tuesday are rare, plane emergencies are a possibility when you fly.
After Flight 1380 experienced a major engine failure, along with a window failure, that resulted in a passenger death on Tuesday, Southwest's crew were commended for how they handled the emergency landing - and they have their extensive training to thank.
"By all accounts, the crew - both the pilots and the flight attendants - did an outstanding job," wrote Patrick Smith, a commercial airline pilot who runs the blog AskThePilot.com. "That is to say, they did exactly what they were trained to do, what they were supposed to do, and what they were expected to do."
It's understandable that the story would strike fear into even the most confident flier's heart.
But you may take some comfort in learning that airline crew on all airlines are trained extensively on how to handle any emergency - ensuring your safety is, after all, their primary role.
"People think we are just there to serve up Cokes and attitude, but we're fully equipped to save you and your loved ones in an emergency," Riley, a flight attendant with three years' experience, told Business Insider.
Other flight attendants say one of the most common misconceptions people have about their jobs - that they are simply glorified waitresses - is flat out wrong.
"Our job is dangerous, physically demanding, and laden with immense responsibility for the safety, security, and survival of our passengers," a flight attendant with 23 years' experience told Business Insider.
Here's how flight attendants know exactly what to do during a plane emergency: