In 1989 Jan and one hundred and eighty three passengers miraculously escaped after the crash of Flight 232 due to the expert handling of the damaged plane by the pilot Captain Haynes. Standing in the field they could smell burning jet fuel.She saw the mother of a twenty two months old boy heading back to the wreckage to search for her toddler.
It was later discovered that he had died. Jan had given the four mothers instructions to place the toddlers on the floor and hold them. An instruction which was ludicrous but that was the rules of the airways. Imagine that little has changed since the beginning of aviation for toddler's safety. Australia seems to be leading the world with safety for babies and toddlers on planes. Australia Airlines currently require children two years and older to have a separate seat, while younger children are normally seated on parents lap with a loop belt in a bassinet or on an approved seat.