Dallas, Texas – Southwest Airlines flight attendants are facing a new challenge amid the scorching summer heat and the airline’s beverage management practices. The safety issue revolves around exploding soda cans mid-flight, posing a serious threat to attendants and passengers alike.
In June alone, there were over 100 reports of soda cans detonating on Southwest Airlines flights, with some incidents resulting in injuries to flight attendants. The airline has been tight-lipped about the extent of these incidents, but they have acknowledged the problem.
The unique hazard faced by Southwest Airlines stems from the airline’s lack of refrigerated storage facilities due to not serving perishable items. This absence of proper cooling measures exposes the soda cans to extreme high temperatures at airports located in hot regions like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas.
Chemistry professor Kate Biberdorf from the University of Texas at Austin explained that the high heat causes the carbonated beverages in the cans to build up immense pressure, turning them into “little bombs” waiting to explode even without being opened.
Southwest Airlines and the flight attendants’ union are collaborating on solutions to mitigate this dangerous issue. These measures include using refrigerated transport trucks for beverages and implementing temperature checks to ensure cans are safe to be loaded onto aircraft.
While efforts are being made to address the problem at Southwest Airlines, experts warn that the interaction between extreme heat and carbonation could lead to similar incidents elsewhere. The chemistry behind carbonated beverages exposed to heat can cause cans to rupture if pressure levels exceed the cans’ designed limits.
As summer temperatures continue to rise across the country, it is essential for airlines and passengers to be aware of the risks associated with storing carbonated beverages in hot environments. Proper measures and precautions can help prevent potential hazards both on the ground and in the air.