What happens if the cabin loses pressure?
Oxygen masks drop from above your seat. Put yours on first, then help others. The pilots will descend to an altitude where you can breathe normally, usually within minutes. Masks provide oxygen even if the bag doesn't visibly inflate. In the Alaska Airlines 1282 door-plug event, the crew followed exactly these procedures and landed safely. Read the explainer.
Sources
Keep reading
- Turbulence: uncomfortable, but not dangerous to the airplane
- That noise! A guide to normal sounds on a flight
- Go-arounds: why pilots sometimes abort a landing (and why that's good)