What To Do If Something Breaks On Your Plane Mid-Flight

Megan is a Senior Editor, SEO for SmarterTravel Media.

Megan started with SmarterTravel Media’s Airfarewatchdog way back in 2008, moved over to FamilyVacationCritic, and finally SmarterTravel in 2021. Originally from Massachusetts, she has lived in Nova Scotia, London, and New York City. She has spent nearly every summer (or at least part of it) on Prince Edward Island. She has started to go out of her comfort zone while traveling- most recently exploring caves and boogie boarding on a FlowRider.

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Imagine this: you are sitting on an airplane, and minutes into your flight, there is a noise, and you see part of the ceiling fall out, leaving a gaping hole and pieces of the plane hanging out of the hole. You look around, and no one else seems concerned. No passenger presses the call button. When you reach 10,000 feet, the flight attendants leave their seats and notice it. One takes a photo to show the pilot, and he says it’s fine. The flight continues as if nothing is wrong. This happened to Kristin O’Malley on her flight from Ottawa to Boston on Porter Airlines.

She said that about five minutes into the flight, there was a “loud bang noise,” and she looked “to the side and [saw] the ceiling hanging down over two passengers. The flight attendants did not notice, and nobody rang the call buttons.” After a few minutes, the flight attendant took a picture and showed it to the pilot, who said it “wasn’t a big deal and they could keep going.”

O’Malley said it looked like the little air vents fell, but there were “little plastic tubings that definitely looked like they might be part of the oxygen system, too,” hanging down. No announcement was made, and the crew “seemed to not really care.” O’Malley, however, was unsettled and anxious the whole flight. She was surprised they did not turn back to fix it and just took the chance that it “knocked out the emergency oxygen to those seats or that side of the plane.”

Ceiling Panel Falls During Porter Airlines Flight

O’Malley stated she typically avoids Porter, as the plane interiors “leave a bit to be desired” and remind her of “an old school bus or public transit and are very cramped.” However, she finds Toronto International a tricky airport to navigate, so she chose instead to fly out of Billy Bishop in Toronto, connecting in Ottawa on Porter. She now will take her chances with Toronto International to avoid Porter Air at all costs.

We contacted Porter Airlines about the incident and were told that the “overhead panel cover needed to be re-secured. This is a minor requirement and not safety-related, so the Captain chose not to make an announcement. When the aircraft landed, the panel was secured, and the aircraft returned to service.”

What To Do When Part Of the Plane Breaks Mid-Flight

So, what should happen when parts of the plane appear to break mid-flight? We’ve created a step-by-step guide for what to do when something breaks on an airplane.

Don’t Panic

This may seem easier said than done, but try not to panic and worry other passengers. Remain calm and inform those who need to know first, which brings us to number two.

Tell A Flight Attendant

This may seem obvious, but apparently, it isn’t, as no one pressed the call button when part of the ceiling fell. However, flight attendants can quickly assess the situation and determine whether it is an emergency. They can ask the pilot if it is more unusual (like the ceiling falling).

Follow Instructions

The crew will know if something is an emergency or an inconvenience. If they tell you not to worry, don’t. If they ask you to return to your seat, do so. In this situation, the crew will definitely know more than you do, so listen to what they tell you to do.

If Oxygen Masks Deploy, Use Them

Like the crew’s instructions, the oxygen masks deploy for a reason. If something happens on your plane that causes them to drop, utilize them, even if it seems unnecessary. (And, of course, put yours on first before helping others.)

Don’t Try to Fix Whatever Broke

If it’s a mechanical issue with your seat (like a broken tray table or recline mechanism):

Return seat to upright position if possible
Avoid forcing broken components, which could cause further damage
Ask to be re-seated if the issue affects safety or comfort

For issues with overhead bins or storage compartments:

Don’t try to force them closed
Allow crew to secure items properly
Accept alternative storage solutions offered by the crew.

Remember that modern aircraft are designed with multiple redundant systems for safety. Most mechanical issues that might occur during flight are not safety-critical, and the crew is well-prepared to handle them.

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