An airline passenger is going viral after a flight attendant asked her to stop knitting during a flight. The crewmember suggested that having needles during an emergency could be risky.
The woman shows the moment she had to stow her knitting project after the flight attendant urged her to consider whether she’d really want to grip sharp objects if trouble struck at cruising altitude. She couldn’t finish the sock. She was frustrated.
@brittstitches this was a first, was hoping to finish knitting my sock on this flight but guess it will have to wait #knitting #knittok #knittersoftiktok #knittingtiktok #knittingprojects #knittingwip #sockknitting #crazysocklady #vanillasocks #vanillasockson9incirculars #knittingonthego #knittingonaplane #travelknitting ♬ original sound – estwne
She says her airline’s policies don’t ban these needles. Generally, that is correct! The flight attendant was wrong, but coming from the correct place.
According to TSA, knitting needles are expressly permitted inflight.
However it does seem to me that – for reasons similar to a requirement to stow laptops and other bulky items during takeoff and landing – having needles out during crucial times during flight presents a risk. In truth, there’s potential risk at all times (laptops or needles could both become projectiles in severe turbulence) however we weigh the likelihood of that risk against inconvenience. passengers aren’t strapped in with hardcover books stowed throughout the flight.
Here’s a classic, a woman cross-stitching on a plane. It wasn’t so much the needlework that went viral, but what she was knitting:
And if you’re going to make the most of your time inflight, making clothing or blankets or other keepsakes, why crochet or cross stitch when you can just bring a sewing machine on your flight?
Mira que he visto cosas raras en un avión. Pero sacar tu máquina del equipaje de mano y coserte unas cortinas es otro nivel#ConMisManitasYMiTricotosa pic.twitter.com/lWcQ260dmX
— Glo✈️ (@glointhesky) June 17, 2021
Ultimately we don’t ban everyday items simply because they have nonzero potential for harm. Sewing machines I think would be greater risk than sewing needles. Make sure to stow those for takeoff and landing!