Human vision requires time to adapt to darkness, and beginning this process before takeoff or landing allows passengers to see more clearly if electrical power is lost during an emergency evacuation.
Takeoff
Flight attendants ask passengers to keep window shades open during takeoff and landing for safety reasons as these two flight phases account for 90% of aircraft accidents.
A serious aviation incident occurred at Brussels Airport (BRU) when a SAS or Scandinavian Airlines (SK) aircraft mistakenly attempted to take off from a taxiway instead of a runway.
Why airlines dim cabin lights before takeoff and landing: safety science, emergency readiness, and passenger evacuation explained.
Air India flight AI504 from Kochi to Delhi aborted takeoff on August 17, 2025, due to a technical snag, ensuring passenger safety.
A Japan Airlines (JAL) flight departing from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) bound for Kitakyushu (KKJ) aborts takeoff after veering significantly off the runway’s centerline on April 7, 2025.
A QantasLink (QF) aircraft mistakenly lined up with runway edge lights instead of the centre line during take-off at Mildura Airport (MQL), damaging multiple lights over a 400-metre stretch.