Alarming reason pilots are ordered to break wind in front of each other
It's one of those taboo habits that most travellers would agree is just not on.
Farting on a plane is simply wrong for the same reason car wind and lift trumps are 'illegal' - the victim is trapped and cannot escape. Sitting next to another passenger with wind is indeed a very unfortunate event and a rotten start to your holiday or trip. You either have to keep getting up out of your seat to let them go to the toilet every time they need to privately pop off, or you suffer the revolting indignation of breathing the foul air that has blasted out directly from their intestines into your lungs.
However, if you're a pilot rather than a passenger, you will have been told you MUST toot freely while in the cockpit, according to an one Argentine flight attendant. Barbara Bacilieri, also known as Barbie Bac to her almost 2.65milion YouTube million followers, claims pilots are "prohibited" from holding in their gas because the discomfort it causes can distract them from their crucially important role.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
To make matters worse, flatulence is heightened when the plane reaches an altitude of 30,000 feet. "At high altitudes, atmospheric pressure is lower, which increases the volume of internal gases," she explained. "This can cause discomfort and distraction in the cockpit when the pilots should be focused on doing their job, not in pain from being full of gas. That's why it's always recommended that pilots, if they have to, just release them."
Her wild assessment is even backed up by a 2013 study by Danish and British gastroenterologists. Hans Christian Pommergaard, Jakob Burcharth, Anders Fischer, William Thomas and Professor Rosenberg told the New Zealand Medical Journal that holding your farts in may seem preferential but they suggested that for the sake of their health and comfort, passengers and crew should set them free. Not doing so could lead to pain, bloating, indigestion, stress and even nausea, they said. According to the Sydney Morning Herald they concluded: "There is actually only one reasonable solution - just let it go." The medics did recognise that air cabin quality may be diminished for other passengers though.
The gassy dilemma also applied to the cockpit and pilots, the specialists found. "If the pilot restrains a fart, all the drawbacks previously mentioned, including diminished concentration, may affect his abilities to control the airplane. If he lets go of the fart his co-pilot may be affected by its odour, which again reduces safety on board the flight." Barbie Bac also claims the pilots eat different meals - not to see who can produce the biggest back draft but so they don't both suffer another unfortunate bowel incident. "The commander and the copilot choose different meal options. One will choose chicken and the other will choose pasta," she says.
This apparently is to lessen the chances of them both getting food poisoning, which would mean no one would be able to fly the plane - not ideal. "It's almost always the captain who makes the choice, and the copilot is the one who has to accept the alternative," explained Bacilieri, who works for a Spanish budget carrier.
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Beaches at holiday hotspot visited by 7.9 million Brits per year at risk of disappearing
BEACHES in the popular Spanish city of Barcelona are at risk of disappearing. The swathes of sand are actually man-made, created some 30 years ago when 5 The beaches at Barcelona are eroding quickly Credit: Alamy 5 The man-made beaches are affected by storms, climate change and climbing sea levels Credit: Alamy Around 7.9 million British tourists visited Barcelona in 2024 to explore the But severe winter storms and rising sea levels have seen heavy coastal erosion and there are now fears these In February 2025, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) warned that the beaches north of Barcelona have lost about 30,100 square meters of sand in the last five years, according to One of the worst cases is Montgat, a 30minute drive up the coast from Barcelona, which has lost 70 per cent of its beach surface in four years. Read More on Beaches After major storms last year, parts of Montgat were left almost without a beach completely. Lines of rocks were then installed to serve as a breakwater, but there are fears this still won't be enough to protect the beach. One local, Ana García, told One reason for the faster Most read in News Travel Before their creation, the shoreline along Barcelona was gravelly, rocky and not very accessible. For the Olympics in 1992, city authorities used thousands of tonnes of sand to expand its beach front because it thought sandy beaches would appeal to tourists - and they would be proven right. The little-known Spanish beach town that's easy to get to 5 The beaches look completely different now as they used to be gravel rather than sand Credit: Alamy 5 The region of Catalonia is prone to damaging storms Credit: Alamy The beaches are thought to bring in around £52million each year in tourist income. Over the last 20 years, the rate of erosion along the east coast of Spain has done nothing but speed up. In an effort to maintain the coastline, the beaches have been topped up with fresh sand every spring imported from other areas. But due to the rate of erosion, enhancing beaches by replacing the sand in this way is not having a long-term impact. It is completely possible that without major intervention, the beaches in Barcelona and beyond could disappear. Solutions proposed include creating sand dunes to protect the precious beaches. But it's not just Spain that is facing a beach erosion crisis, it's happening right here in the UK. The Holderness Coast, where the Barmston Beach sits, is the Last year, the Between Barmston and Fraisthorpe, erosion reached up to five meters in some parts of the coast last year. Barmston Beach has been directly affected and has lost its Here are the And one of 5 The beaches at Barcelona are at risk of disappearing Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Holidaying in Spain this summer? The locals have a name for British tourists… and it's not flattering
AS Brits head to Spain's buzzing beaches and captivating cities this summer, it's worth knowing the one phrase locals have for tourists. While the majority will enjoy a holiday without problems, some tourists can embarrass themselves - and the Advertisement 3 British tourists are sometimes named a 'guiri' by locals when in Spain Credit: Lee Bell - Supplied A 'guiri' - pronounced 'guee-ree' - is used by the Spanish to describe these types of tourists. According to Lee Bell, a Brit who regularly travels to Barcelona , the name is believed to come from the Basque word 'giri', which means 'blond' or 'fair-skinned'. Lee explains: "Spanish locals now use 'guiri' to refer to all types of foreign tourists, especially those from English-speaking countries. "While it can be used to refer to any foreigner, it's most commonly used to refer to British visitors specifically. Advertisement Read more on Spain "This is especially the case for the stereotypical 'Brit abroad' - a term for an embarrassing tourist who Even though the nickname has negative connotations, the term is also often used by locals playfully to poke at tourists. Lee added: "If you get called a guiri, don't fret, it's playful - I often refer to myself as a guiri when I visit Lee also explained that the term is not usually meant in a derogatory way. Advertisement Most read in News Travel But if you do want to avoid being called a guiri, the best thing to do is avoid any of the embarrassing behaviour that can see Brits hit the headlines. Showing lots of skin even though you're not on the beach or excessively drinking will both earn you the nickname guiri from disappointed locals. The Spanish region undiscovered by Brits despite seaside views and ancient Roman cities According to Lee, shouting in English rather than speaking Spanish can be another clear sign of being a 'guiri', as well as not wearing sunscreen. The Brit added: "[Guiris will] also order cliche Spanish menu items like Sangria and paella in very touristy restaurants , or worse still, insist on ordering typical British food items, or looking for a kebab shop after a night out. Advertisement "The Spanish don't really drink Sangria, it's seen more of a tourist thing as locals opt for 'tinto de verano' (meaning summer red wine) with gaseosa (a sweet soda water) in the warmer months." Another Brit, who lives in Spain, shared three common mistakes Brits make when visiting the country. Megan Owens told the Sun Online Travel: "If the menu is written in several languages, or has pictures of the food, then it's most likely a tourist trap. 3 The term often refers to the typical behaviour traits of Brits in Spain Credit: Lee Bell - Supplied Advertisement "These menus are often laminated or covered in plastic film - Brits should stay away from them." She added that holidaymakers should also use the public transport available more than taxis, as it is cheap and reliable. The English teaching assistant continued that there are a lot of locals selling things on the streets. She said: "Sometimes you just have to firmly say no." Advertisement From sea pools to hidden caves, Plus, the 3 Brits can be named a 'guiri' for things including drinking Sangria or not wearing enough sunscreen Credit: Lee Bell - Supplied
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I've found an incredible cheap UK holiday park that brings the best bits of Center Parcs, Butlin's and Haven to ONE site
IF you want the style of Center Parcs, the buzz of Butlin's and the hype of Haven, I've found one holiday park that has it all and it won;t cost a fortune. When one child loves spending hours in the pool , another enjoys a boogie on the dance floor and the third wants to swing through the trees on the high ropes, it's hard to know which 7 I took my three sons for a holiday at a Haven park in North Wales Credit: Catherine Lofthouse 7 There's a climbing wall and plenty of other activities too Credit: Haven My family and I recently took a trip to Haven's Hafan y Mor park near Pwllheli in North Wales. We loved it so much I had booked to return next summer before we'd even made it home. The park is set on a little slice of the British coastline that's like stepping back in time to the holidays of your childhood. The site's staycation secret is that it used to be a Butlin's before being turned into a Haven 25 years ago. So it's still got all the best bits of Butlin's - from the flumes and slides of the I even did a double take when I saw the stripy blue tops of the entertainment crew, instead of the Redcoats of Butlin's from days gone by. Now one of the largest Haven parks, there's a stunning choice of outdoor activities you'd usually see at an upscale Center Parc resort. It's the first Haven I've been to where the high ropes take you through the trees, just like at Most read in Family The Dragon Lakes Adventure Park even sees thrill-seekers zipping over the waters where fellow guests can take to pedalos. The adrenaline-charged activities also include The Jump - a terrifying free-fall leap onto a huge inflatable cushion - as well as climbing wall, mini 4x4 off-roaders and even Segways. There's all sorts of accommodation at Hafan y Mor, including Center-Parcs-style pine lodges surrounded by trees. The perfect Haven holiday park for a kid-friendly break - with direct beach access, indoor waterpark and neighbouring seaside theme park 7 You can jump off the free-fall platform Credit: Haven 7 One of my sons was a big fan of the giant trampolines Credit: Catherine Lofthouse There are even old-fashioned chalet blocks from back in the Butlin's days and mod-con caravans you'll see at all Haven resorts, so you can pick whatever works for you and your budget. It's not often that my three boys all get their own bedroom when we go away on holiday, but our recently refurbished four-bed chalet was huge. I loved the village vibe of everyone hanging out on their decking or balcony, so reminiscent of childhood holidays when the kids played together on the grass by your block. I even spotted one family stringing up a badminton net. The chalet accommodation is also one of the cheapest options - we paid less than £300 for our June weekend away and it's only £275 for four nights in the summer holidays next year, which is incredible value for money if you're bringing eight people. We were just a stone's throw from Dragon Lakes Activity Village, which also offers up sports courts , a sandpit playground and even a bark park for furry family members. Like Center Parcs, most of the activities aren't included in the price of your break, and you'll need to factor that in, but the cost is far less at Haven. We paid £12 for Aquajets in the pool, £8 for the mini 4x4 off roaders and £7 for a go on the bungee trampoline. 7 We rented out aquajets which were cheaper than those at Center Parcs Credit: Catherine Lofthouse 7 The holiday park is surrounded by beaches where you can relax or paddle Credit: Haven Aquajets at Center Parcs would set you back £18.50 to £22.50, while children's 4x4 off-road explorers are £24, so there's a hefty saving to be made here. And you could easily just stick to the freebie fun if you prefer. The pool was enough to keep everyone busy for hours and although you pre-book an entry time, there wasn't anyone asking us to leave at the end of our hour time slot on the weekend we were there. The free shows and entertainment were great - my littlest loved the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime and won a prize for his enthusiastic dancing at the kids' disco. And no This is quite a spread-out site with a railway track splitting it in two, but there's a land train that takes you on a turn around the park if your little ones are worn out with all the activities and don't fancy walking. This tucked-away spot is surrounded by dramatic mountains, picturesque beaches and unassuming tourist towns that only add to the magic of a trip here. It's like going back in time to the heyday of the great British staycation. Catching sight of It's a bit of a trek to get there, but the direct train from Birmingham takes less than five hours, around the same time as travelling by train from London to Cornwall. And Penychain station is on the edge of the park within walking distance of its entrance. This haven by the sea could well become our new holiday hotspot as it ticks all the boxes for my boys. Read more on the Irish Sun Here's more about the Plus, the beachfront 7 The Haven holiday park has the best bits of Butlin's and Center Parcs Credit: Haven
