Flight attendant explains why you should never inflate a life jacket on board

In the event of an airplane emergency, it is strictly forbidden to inflate a life jacket on board as this significantly increases the likelihood of death. This is what an experienced flight attendant said.

She stated that in no case should you panic. Instead, follow the instructions given by airline employees at the beginning of the flight, "Do not inflate your life vest in the case of a crash until you leave the aircraft. If the plane goes underwater and you inflated it you’ll drown before you exit," The Sun quoted the flight attendant as saying.

Another employee of the plane, a former pilot, noted that life jackets become very stiff when inflated and constrain your neck.

"This keeps you from drowning, if you become unconscious. Therefore, passengers would effectively be trying to escape a confined space, in a rush, with a large disabling neck brace which is hard as a rock," he said.

Experts advised putting on the jacket near the emergency door before leaving the plane.

"The crew will tell you to only inflate it when outside, or about to leave the aircraft," the pilot added.

In 1996, a plane crash occurred in Ethiopia when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 made an emergency landing in water. 125 passengers died that day because they inflated their life jackets inside the cabin while their plane was plunging into the water. As a result, they could not get out of the aircraft.