8 secret safety features you didn’t know existed on an aeroplane

Do you know why flight attendants tell you, in case of sudden pressure loss, you have to pull the yellow mask towards you? Ever wondered why the windows have tiny holes in them (surely not a good idea at 36,000 feet)?

Even if you’re a seasoned traveller, chances are you won’t be aware of many of the hidden safety features that are built into an aeroplane. Here are eight of those amazing elements, and a look at how protect you.

1. Yellow hooks on the wings

In case of an emergency that requires the pilot to land on the water, you’ll be grateful for these little yellow hooks. The number and placement of hooks on each wing vary from plane to plane, but they all do the same thing: help passengers to safety.

They’re an anchor for ropes, which passengers use to steady and pull themselves across the wing especially during a water landing. The ropes and hooks can also be used to tether rafts to the plane so they don’t float away as passengers board.

2. No oxygen tanks

Let’s say your plane does depressurise. You know the drill – pull down on the mask to extend the tube, cover your nose and mouth with the yellow cup, and always put your own mask on first. But wait, why do you have to pull down on the mask? It’s not to reach your face. It’s actually to start a chemical reaction.