Travelers standing near the Spirit Airlines terminal at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, were shocked when a raccoon fell through the ceiling after clinging tightly to wires. With the holiday season in full swing, many are traveling by air to spend special days with their loved ones. While many Americans are comfortable flying, some might get nervous, which is why some passengers tap a plane's exterior prior to boarding.
Gary Leff, a Virginia-based travel industry expert and author of the blog "View From the Wing," told Fox News Digital he has seen this common ritual. TRAVELERS AT AIRPORTS ARE PLAYING 'CHECK-IN CHICKEN' IN LATEST FLIGHT-BOOKING TREND "They tap the logo of the airline on the side of the plane as they board the aircraft. In one variation, people might kiss their fingers and then, by touching the logo, they are kissing the plane," said Leff.
Many flight passengers have a ritual of touching an airplane before boarding. (iStock) Leff says it helps people to feel like they have some control over the aircraft rather than leaving fate in the hands of the plane and pilots. "It also anthropomorphizes the aircraft, the way you might greet a pet , and you're connecting in a small way to the feat that's about to be performed by moving you through the sky at speeds over 500 mph," said Leff.
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