KLM draws flak again for tweet discussing plane seats with highest fatality rate

KLM is making headlines once again. This time, KLM India has come under fire after it tweeted the fatality rates for different seats on a plane, drawing much flak from netizens. After many users questioned the rationale for the tweet, the airline has since taken it down and apologised.

This came shortly after KLM gained backlash earlier in the week for requesting mothers to cover up when breastfeeding in a tweet on its global account. According to screenshots by various news outlets such as Washington Post, the tweet quoted a study by TIME, which revealed that the fatality rate for seats in the middle of the plane is the highest, and those at the back is the safest. Featuring a plane seat on in the midst of clouds, the tweet was accompanied by hashtags #TuesdayTrivia and #Facts.

Apologising for the move, KLM India explained that the post was based on a "publically available aviation fact", and is not an opinion of the airline. "It was never our intention to hurt anyone's sentiments," it said in a tweet. Marketing has reached out to the airline for further comments.

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Responding to an user who called out the airline for being distasteful and misleading, KLM said it will be reviewing its "Twitter protocol to better ensure appropriate content. The apology has gotten mixed reviews since its posting, with some stating that there is no need to apologise for sharing "the truth".

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Earlier in the week, KLM requested breastfeeding mothers to cover up to prevent "passengers of all backgrounds" from getting offended. It also explained in its replies that the request is to "keep the peace on board" and out of "respect for everyone's comfort and personal space." KLM's original tweet has seen 4,100 comments and 154 retweets since.

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