Secret airline crew codes for emergencies they want to keep quiet - including dead passenger

If you hear these whispered by the crew there could be a deceased traveller - or even a hijacking Experts have revealed the discrete codes used by flight crews on aircraft to indicate emergency situations are breaking out on board. The pilot and stewards use the phrases in the plane and in communications with the ground air controllers - and passengers in many cases don’t have a clue what’s going on. Numbers of travellers are on the up - in figures released by the government in December, 240.

9 million passengers travelled internationally to or from UK airports in 2023. Heathrow Airport handled 83.9 million passengers in 2024, which was a record for the airport.



This was 3 million more than the previous record in 2019. The third quarter of 2024 saw UK airports handle over 80 million passengers, which was a record for the number of passengers handled in a single quarter. The busiest day for air travel in the UK in 2024 was September 6, while the quietest was December 25.

The biggest international destinations for UK departures in 2024 were Amsterdam, Dublin, Dubai, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Tenerife-South, Barcelona, Paris CDG, and New York JFK. But if problems occur on flights - which are thankfully rare - the crews need ways to communicate what is going on without causing panic. One phrase to listen for is “Code 300” or “Angel”, which signals a deceased passenger on board.

These discreet codes allow the crew to handle the situation without alarming other passengers or drawing attention to the tragic event. The travel experts at Wander have put together a list of in-flight codes and phrases you might encounter on your next flight: Squawk 7500 or Hotel - What It Means: A hijacking in progress. If you ever hear this code mentioned by the flight crew or air traffic control, it signals a potential security threat on the flight.

The aircraft’s transponder will send a signal with this code to alert authorities that the plane is in danger. Code Yellow - What It Means: This code indicates a minor medical situation, such as a passenger feeling lightheaded or nauseous. While not an emergency, this term lets crew members discreetly monitor the situation and prepare any necessary assistance.

Pan-Pan - What It Means: A serious, non-life-threatening emergency. While not as critical as a “MAYDAY,” a “Pan-Pan” call indicates that something is wrong on board, whether it’s mechanical trouble or a medical emergency, but the flight is not in imminent danger. Mermaid - What It Means: A playful yet passive-aggressive nickname for a passenger who deliberately sprawls out across empty seats to deter others from sitting in their row.

This behaviour is particularly common on flights with spare seats, where a passenger may stretch out or scatter belongings to claim extra space. Code Adam - What It Means: Used in airports to indicate a missing child. If an announcement is made for a “Code Adam,” staff will begin searching for the child while securing exits to prevent abduction scenarios.

This term is derived from the Adam Walsh Child Safety Act. VIP - What It Means: It is mostly known to refer to a ‘Very Important Person,’ but in the airline industry, it sometimes stands for ‘Very Irritating Passenger.’ Crew use this term to subtly refer to a traveler who is making excessive demands, complaining frequently, or generally being difficult without necessarily violating any rules.

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