WHILE some parts of a plane may look insignificant at first, they can still play a life-saving role in the event of a crash.
There are plenty of well-known safety features on a plane, including seat belts, oxygen masks, life jackets, and emergency exits.
In addition to the more obvious safety features, the cushions on plane seats can also help passengers in the event of a crash.
According to a European Technical Standard Order, which was published by the European Aviation Safety Agency, the cushions on plane seats act as a floatation device.
The order states: "Seat cushions, headrests, armrests, pillows, or similar aircraft equipment are eligible as flotation devices under this standard provided they fulfil minimum requirements for safety and performance.
"Compression through extended service use, perspiration, and periodic cleaning must not reduce the buoyancy characteristics of these devices below the minimum level prescribed in this standard."
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In addition to the life jackets provided, items like seat cushions, pillows, and headrests can also be used to stay afloat.
The seat cushions on planes are also fireproof too.
According to the South China Morning Post, the Federal Aviation Administration set out new regulations regarding the flammability of plane seats in 1984.
The new regulations were introduced after three astronauts (Virgil Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee) were killed in 1967 when the inside of the capsule caught on fire.
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The three astronauts were running a test for the first Apollo mission when the incident occurred.
An investigation found that the craft was filled with flammable items, including the foam found in seat cushions.
The measures that were introduced by the Federal Aviation Authority on airlines meant that more than 600,000 plane seats were refitted.
According to the Space Foundation, the fireproof seats are estimated to save between 20 to 25 lives each year.
And the seat cushions aren't the only unlikely safety feature found on planes, including tiny holes found in plane windows.
While it might sound alarming, the tiny holes allow the aircraft to withstand the changing air pressure outside.
There are also a couple of lesser-known safety features on the outside of the plane, such as speed tape.
While speed tape is often mistaken as duct tape, it isn't a sign that the plane is falling apart.
Instead, speed tape is used when the plane has sustained some superficial damage, like peeling paint, which will have no real technical problems for the plane.
In a video on TikTok, one person said: "Stopping corrosion with a piece of tape is cheaper than repainting it wholly. The wings and body flex and break/chip the paint".
The wings of the plane are also home to tiny yellow holes, which are where flight attendants can tether life rafts in the event of an evacuation.
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