A Seat for Every Passenger: Honor Evan Tsao
September 22, 2023 - Today, there is no requirement to protect our smallest passengers in their own seat with a proper restraint device. Children under the age of two can fly as a “lap child” in the same seat as their parent or guardian. The FAA, the National Transportation Board (NTSB), American Academy of Pediatrics, independent researchers, and Flight Attendants have all concluded this is dangerous.
America's aviation system is the safest and most secure in the world, but there are still many dangers for unsecured children. Simple accidents like falling from a parents lap pose real risk. Our aviation system is also seeing a steep rise in extreme turbulence, which can lead to tragedy for any passenger who isn't properly secured, but is especially dangerous for infants and toddlers.
Flight attendants are critical to passenger safety, especially in the event of an emergency. At no time was this more evident than the crash landing of United Flight 232, when a brave flight crew jumped into action and saved more than 100 lives. We will continue to fight to make our system even safer.
We can't continue to put our youngest and most vulnerable passengers in unnecessary danger. It's time to require a seat for every passenger and protect our youngest travelers.
