Flight attendant-turned-author reveals her top emergency safety tips — as she releases plane crash thriller

What would you do in the event of a plane crash?

To prepare passengers for the worst, a flight attendant turned author TJ Newman has shared some safety tips from her flying days with DailyMail.com.

Her latest novel, Worst Case Scenario, is about exactly that: a plane crashes into a nuclear power plant.

However, the Phoenix writer stresses that this is the most extreme series of events that can occur in the air and that travelers are more likely to encounter mild turbulence.

First, the pilot says that the first safety precaution anyone can take is to wear a seat belt.

TJ Newman was a flight attendant for 10 years before turning to writing aviation novels

Her latest novel, Worst Case Scenario, is about a catastrophic plane crash

She explains: ‘When you are sitting in your seat, you must always have your seat belt on.

Just look at the incredible videos of severe turbulence that have been in the news recently.

‘In such situations, most injuries would have been prevented if passengers had worn their seat belts.’

While they may come across as whiny, TJ says it’s always “absolutely imperative to follow the crew’s instructions” and that they’re on board “for one reason: safety.”

In addition to fastening your seat belt, the writer notes that the crew may also give you other instructions before departure, such as properly stowing your bag, uprighting your seat, and securing your tray table.

While all planes look the same, TJ points out that the layouts can vary greatly, with emergency exits in different places and rows with different layouts.

That’s why, she says, it’s important to check the “safety information card” in each aircraft every time you fly.

The globetrotter says: ‘I flew as a flight attendant for ten years and even now that I am a passenger, I still look at the map before every flight.’

While they may come across as whiny, TJ says it is always “necessary to follow the crew members’ instructions” and that they are on board “for one reason: safety.”

TJ Newman’s latest book, Worst Case Scenario: A Novel, published by Little, Brown and Company, is available now

TJ continues in the same vein, adding: ‘Familiarize yourself with the aircraft’s exits and emergency equipment, then in the unlikely event of an evacuation, you will not hesitate.

You already know which way to go.

‘The difference in those seconds could easily save your life.’

Finally, if there is a true emergency, TJ’s most important advice is to “leave it all behind.”

The New York Times bestselling author, who worked as a flight attendant for 10 years, concludes: “When you have to evacuate a plane, time is everything.

“Don’t stop to grab a bag. Nothing is more important than your life and the lives of your fellow passengers. Leave everything behind and get off the plane.”

TJ Newman’s latest book, Worst Case Scenario: A Novel, published by Little, Brown and Company, is available noww