Commercial airline pilots and co-pilots are strictly forbidden from eating the same meal while on duty in order to prevent a terrifying scenario where both succumb to severe food poisoning simultaneously.

A closer look

Commercial airline pilots and co-pilots are strictly forbidden from eating the same meal while on duty in order to prevent a terrifying scenario where both succumb to severe food poisoning simultaneously. If the captain orders the mystery beef, the first officer is legally obligated to roll the dice on the rubbery chicken, ensuring that at least one person in the cockpit is not fighting for their life in the lavatory. It is a brilliant safety protocol that accidentally highlights just how little faith the aviation industry actually has in the quality of its own catering services. Knowing that the highly trained people flying your metal tube at thirty thousand feet are actively strategizing around gastrointestinal warfare should really add a fun layer of anxiety to your next cross-country trip!