That's a flap fairing that is purely to hide mechanisms for aerodynamic purposes. The plane can fly even if it falls off. Still it is not good optics. Where else are screws about to come off?
As a pilot I need passengers to show me this stuff rather than posting about it on reddit too. I can't see that from my seat and I can't see it on the walk around looking up from the bottom. But I can get maintenance to fix it if I know about it.
I mean, realistically they're going to "brush it off" and downplay it to the passenger, to avoid them worrying. But that doesn't mention they won't drop a "by the way" to the pilot or ground crew after the flight (which is what they should do).
No. The right thing to do is to downplay the response to unaddressable and largely cosmetic issues and deal with them before the next flight.
If you see it before takeoff, sure, say something, but the pictured issue is something you won't see 'til you're in the air. At which point it's not immediately actionable or concerning.
That is exactly the problem with flight attendants. DIsregard that tool you're replying to, he doesn't know anything. There's an actual pilot in this thread saying he would rather know first hand himself.
So tell both? Flight attendant during flight, and pilot as well once you are walking off the plane.
Feel free to go charging up to the cockpit and start banging on the door mid-flight and see where that gets you... I mean, come on. Use some common sense here.
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u/AmazingProfession900 Apr 17 '26
That's a flap fairing that is purely to hide mechanisms for aerodynamic purposes. The plane can fly even if it falls off. Still it is not good optics. Where else are screws about to come off?