A flight attendant has shared her advice for those nervous about flying.
Ria Kerr, 23, has been working for Irish airlines group Ryanair for the past five months.
She has recently Posted a TikTok videowhich has been viewed over 2.5 million times, explains how to keep yourself calm if you experience turbulence on an airplane.
In the footage, Kerr is seen sitting on a plane, explaining the definition of turbulence.
“Turbulence is a sudden change in air flow and can be felt as a jolt or vibration inside the aircraft,” the video says.
“When we experience turbulence, our brain naturally cannot comprehend being out of control, and the sensation of falling can cause our brain’s fear response center to send distress signals to our brain.”
He said airplanes are designed to withstand severe turbulence, and there's no reason to panic.
He shared some tips with Fox News Digital on how to deal with the fear of turbulence — one of them being to use noise-canceling headphones to block out distractions.
“If you suffer from anxiety due to turbulence, I would recommend wearing noise-cancelling headphones as some of the sounds emanating from the plane can be disturbing,” she added.
Kerr also said she recommends nervous passengers write a list of things to do or exciting moments to look forward to once they get off the plane. She said this will serve as a distraction from the turbulence.
He also added, “Try finding breathing exercises on YouTube or TikTok beforehand [and] Put these into practice during times of turmoil.”
Kerr said it's not uncommon for a panicked passenger to let the flight crew know his or her state of mind so they can keep an eye on the passenger if turbulence occurs.
“Turbulence can be predicted, so it's appropriate to ask the crew before departure if you expect any turbulence, as they will have been briefed on this prior to the flight,” Kerr said.
Kerr said his first priority in his role is “ensuring the safety of passengers and aircraft” and that he had undergone “extensive and lengthy training to qualify”.
“Planes can't fall out of the sky because of turbulence — the laws of physics keep them suspended in the air,” Kerr said in his video.
“You are in very safe hands,” he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that 20 people were seriously injured due to turbulence in 2023 — including passengers and crew members.
The FAA also reported that approximately 2,900,000 passengers travel to and from the United States on approximately 45,000 flights each day.
The FAA recommends keeping your seat belt fastened at all times and listening to pilots and flight attendants during unexpected turbulence.
Fox News Digital has contacted Ryanair for comment.
