Six practical habits
Secure the situation
Complete immediate safety, medical, aircraft and operational actions.
Notify correctly
Use the operator’s emergency, technical and occurrence-reporting chain.
Preserve facts
Record times, clearances, indications and actions without interpretation.
Protect evidence
Do not alter records, devices or aircraft state outside authorised actions.
Use support
Contact representation, peer support and suitable professional help.
Stay factual
Avoid public comment, blame and coordinated recollection with other witnesses.
Safety actions remain first
Complete the applicable checklists, secure the aircraft or operation and ensure medical or emergency assistance is requested where needed. The exact sequence depends on the event and local procedures.
Once the immediate situation is stable, notify the required operator functions and authorities through approved channels. Do not assume that another person has completed a report unless the process confirms it.
Preserve independent memory
Write a factual personal account when authorised and while memory is fresh. Separate what you directly saw or heard from what others later told you. Include time references, clearances, system indications and actions.
Do not edit electronic records, remove aircraft items or share cockpit material. Investigators and operators have formal processes for evidence handling.
Protect the integrity of the process
Avoid social-media posts, group speculation and attempts to align recollections. Safety investigations seek reliable evidence; premature narratives can harm both the investigation and those involved.
Use a union, professional association, legal representative, peer-support programme or health professional as appropriate. Seeking support is compatible with cooperating fully and factually.
- 01Safepeople, aircraft and immediate operational risk
- 02Notifyoperator, emergency and reporting channels
- 03Preserveindependent facts, records and evidence
- 04Supportrepresentation, wellbeing and disciplined communication
Operational summary only. Apply the current approved procedure and see references below.
Final flight-deck prompt
Final flight-deck promptWhat must be made safe now, who must be notified, and which facts or records could be lost if we do not preserve them?
