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Surviving jet fires: Do funny or boring safety videos help most?

By Matt Kempner
Sept 9, 2015

Lots of airlines have turned their passenger safety videos from boring sleep-aids to productions full of sight gags and giggles. But when bad stuff happens, such as the recent fire and smoke that consumed part of a British Airways jet on a Las Vegas runway, is funny or straight-forward better in helping us remember how to get out alive?

All 159 passengers and 13 crew made it off the Boeing 777-200, which was slated for a flight to London when its engine caught fire Tuesday. CNN reported more than a dozen were taken to hospitals with what appeared to be minor injuries. Social media went wild with dramatic photos and video of the fire.

A British Airways passenger safety video shown online is animated, but it's otherwise a straight-forward affair with no attempt at humor. Compare that with several recent Delta Air Lines videos that use wackiness to catch passenger attention.

We asked experts for their take on what works. Check out what the AJC's Matt Kempner found in his recent Unofficial Business column on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.

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