Delta Crash Renews Debate on Flying With Lap Infants \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The crash landing of a Delta flight in Toronto has renewed concerns about the safety of flying with infants on laps, as experts warn that parents may not be able to hold onto their child in an emergency. While authorities have not confirmed whether an 18-month-old injured in the crash was seated on a lap, past aviation accidents have resulted in infant deaths. The NTSB, FAA, and pediatric experts recommend that all children under 2 should have their own seat in an FAA-approved car seat, but U.S. regulations still allow lap infants, citing cost concerns. The debate continues as families weigh safety against affordability.
Flying With Lap Infants: Safety Debate Quick Looks
- Delta Crash Raises Concerns: The plane flipped over during landing, highlighting the dangers of holding an infant on a lap.
- Experts Warn of Risks: Flight attendants and aviation safety experts say lap infants are at high risk in crashes and turbulence.
- History of Infant Fatalities: Past crashes have resulted in infant deaths, including a United Flight 232 crash in 1989 and a Canada runway overrun in 2012.
- FAA Recommends But Doesn’t Require Car Seats: The agency advises parents to buy a seat for infants but doesn’t mandate it due to outdated safety studies.
- NTSB Urges Policy Change: The National Transportation Safety Board has long pushed for mandatory child restraints, but the FAA hasn’t acted.
- Parents Are Divided: Some parents say buying an extra ticket is too expensive, while others insist car seats make flying safer and easier.
- Advocates Push for Stricter Rules: The American Academy of Pediatrics and airline unions support requiring car seats for all children under 2.
- Will the FAA Revisit the Policy? The recent crash could renew pressure on regulators to end the lap infant policy and require proper restraints.
Deep Look
The crash landing of a Delta Air Lines flight in Toronto this week has once again raised serious safety concerns about allowing infants to fly on a parent’s lap. The plane flipped over upon landing, an event that would make it nearly impossible for a parent to securely hold onto a child, experts say.
Authorities have not confirmed whether an 18-month-old child injured in the crash was sitting on a parent’s lap at the time. However, history has shown that lap infants face an increased risk of injury or death in aviation accidents, particularly in crash landings or severe turbulence.
While airline disasters remain rare, child safety advocates have long pushed for federal regulators to require infants under 2 to have their own seat in an FAA-approved car seat. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to allow lap infants, a policy that has remained unchanged for decades, despite expert recommendations to the contrary.
The Risks of Flying With a Lap Infant
Many parents assume that because airlines allow infants to fly on laps, it must be safe. However, experts say this is a dangerous misconception.
Former flight attendant Jan Brown has spent decades advocating for mandatory child restraints on planes after witnessing firsthand the devastating consequences of the current policy.
In 1989, Brown was working on United Flight 232, which crash-landed in Sioux City, Iowa, breaking apart upon impact. She recalls a mother desperately searching for her 22-month-old son in the wreckage.
“She just looked up at me and said, ‘You told me to put my baby on the floor. And I did. And he’s gone.’”
Of the four lap infants on board that flight, three were injured, and one died. The tragedy changed Brown’s life, leading her to become a leading voice for banning lap infants on flights.
Similar incidents have occurred since then:
- In 2012, a 6-month-old lap infant was killed when a plane overran the runway upon landing in Nunavut, Canada.
- In 2023, during the Alaska Airlines mid-flight door plug blowout, three lap infants could have been sucked out of the aircraft had they been seated closer to the opening.
These cases highlight the unpredictability of aviation emergencies, reinforcing the argument that infants deserve the same safety protections as other passengers.
What Do Experts Recommend?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Canada’s Transportation Safety Board, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that infants fly in an FAA-approved car seat, just as they would in a car.
However, the FAA does not require it, instead leaving the decision to parents and airlines.
Why? The FAA argues that if families were forced to buy an extra seat for their child, some might choose to drive instead of fly, increasing the overall risk of fatalities since car accidents are far more common than plane crashes.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman says that logic needs to be reevaluated, especially in today’s era of cheaper flights and increased safety awareness.
“People don’t understand the risk they are subjecting their child to by not buying that seat and properly restraining them,” Chapman said.
Beyond safety, experts also emphasize the convenience factor—car seats help babies sleep better, reduce stress for parents, and eliminate the discomfort of holding a child for hours in flight.
Michelle Pratt, founder of Safe in the Seat, encourages parents to see an extra ticket as a small price to pay for peace of mind.
“Your baby could cost less than your checked suitcase,” Pratt said. “Why not take advantage?”
Parents Are Divided on the Issue
Despite safety concerns, some parents remain unconvinced.
Clare Ronning, who recently flew with her 5-month-old lap infant, believes car seats on planes are unnecessary.
“I don’t really see the difference, personally,” Ronning said. “It just seems like another money grab.”
On the other hand, parents like Meredith Tobitsch insist on using car seats for their children.
“If there was turbulence, your natural reflex would be to let go of your child,” said Tobitsch, who refuses to fly without a car seat for her 14-month-old and 3-year-old daughters.
Tobitsch also pointed out that her children sleep much better in their car seats, making flights more enjoyable for the entire family.
“Yes, it adds to the cost, but it’s a safety thing,” she said.
Why Hasn’t the FAA Changed Its Rules?
The FAA continues to cite a study from the 1990s, which suggests that mandatory child seating could lead to more families choosing to drive instead of fly, ultimately increasing child fatalities from car crashes.
NTSB member Tom Chapman believes that logic is outdated, pointing out that airfare is more affordable today than it was in the 1990s.
Parent Andrea Arredondo agrees, saying she might fly less if required to buy a ticket and bring a car seat for her 4-month-old.
“I would be more likely to decrease our plane travel than bring a car seat,” Arredondo said, citing the difficulty of managing three kids, three car seats, a stroller, and a play set while traveling.
What’s Next? The Future of Lap Infant Policies
With the Delta crash bringing new attention to lap infant safety, the FAA may face renewed pressure to update its policies.
- The NTSB has repeatedly called for stricter child restraint rules but has no authority to enforce them—only the FAA can make the change.
- Some airlines offer discounted infant fares, encouraging parents to buy a seat for their child, but most families still opt for lap seating due to cost concerns.
- Consumer advocacy groups are pushing for clearer safety warnings for parents who choose to fly with lap infants.
For now, the decision remains with parents, but experts urge families to prioritize safety over cost, as a ticket for an infant is an investment in their well-being.
Delta Crash Renews
