17 secret emergency codes used in different transport systems

Published on April 23, 2019, 8:36 pm

Written by Straker Julia in Unusual

Planes, trains, automobiles... Whatever the form of transport, the crews are well familiar with emergency codes! They're secret codes that nobody is supposed to understand. Codes are used to prevent panic, particularly when the "problem" proves to be a false alarm.

Illustration : "17 secret emergency codes used in different transport systems" — Photo d'illustration

However, workers from several industries have been gradually divulging this secret language. A language that's used in all sorts of situations. Here are some of the most important (and worrying!) ones...

1. 5 days in Denmark!

Flight attendants are not talking about a vacation, but a passenger. The number refers to the row and the first letter refers to the seat number. Useful when secretly talking about tricky passengers!

2. "Blue juice" refers to a problem with the restroom on a plane - no need to panic if you hear this one!

3. "Mayday"

Most of us have heard of this one, which is repeated 3 times

4. "Pan-pan"

From the French word "panne", which means "breakdown". But don't worry, it's only used for non-life threatening glitches.

5. "Code red"

Another one often seen in movies... This is serious and means disaster may be imminent

6. The number of sounds is also used as a code

In planes, bells are use to call a flight attendant, but also to give us instructions (fasten seat belts etc). If there are 3 in a row, it means all attendants must return to their seat and await further instructions. If there are 5 bells then the plane needs to be immediately evacuated.

7. Numbers are also important

Aside from letters and sounds, numbers are also used:

7,500 means an aircraft has been hijacked

7,600 indicates a radio failure.

7,700 is a more general emergency code.

Apparently one extra code is given to flight attendants just before each flight so they can warn the pilot of a potentially dangerous situation.

8. "Ditch"... For when a plane is going to land in water!

9. "Last-minute paperwork"

The captain will say this if a flight has a late take-off due to an unexpected delay such as last-minute maintenance.

10. "Cabin Crew, arm doors and cross check"

This is to remind the crew members that they have to turn on and off the automatic inflation of the slides.

Emergency slides must always be ready while the engines are working, in order to start an evacuation if necessary. The "arm doors" and "cross check" refer to the handles that activate/deactivate the slides

11. "Purell, Purell, Purell"

If you hear this 3 times, it means a passenger is ill

12. "Red Parties"

Used in boats, it means there's a fire on board

13. "Priority 1" or "Priority 2"

Again in boats, "Priority 1" is a fire and "Priority 2" is a leak

14. "Operation Bright Star"

Used for a medical emergency on a boat. "Operation Rising Star" means someone has died!

15. "Mr. Mob" means someone has fallen overboard

16. "Code one"

"Code One" is often used on trains or boats when someone is injured

17. "Mr. Sands"

Famously used on the London Underground and UK train network when there's a fire or risk of an explosion

By Straker Julia
Writer

Passionate about writing, I write articles on the subjects that I love. Creativity and Animals themes are my favorites!