A closer look
Fasten seatbelt signs on an airplane are frequently left on for long periods of smooth flight entirely as a liability shield, allowing the airline to avoid massive lawsuits if you happen to get thrown into the ceiling during sudden, unexpected turbulence. Pilots often forget to turn the switch off, or they intentionally leave it illuminated just to keep the cabin calm and restrict passengers from forming massive, annoying queues outside the microscopic lavatories. When the plane drops a hundred feet in a matter of seconds, the airline can point to that little illuminated sign and legally claim it was your own fault for breaking your collarbone while trying to stretch your legs in the aisle. It is less about ensuring your constant physical safety and much more about establishing a solid legal defense for a multibillion-dollar corporation, making sure their insurance premiums stay low while you sit rigidly in your seat holding your bladder for an hour
