BA to offer passengers £125 course to beat fear of flying

BA is set to offer nervous fliers a £125 course to convince them they can survive a plane crash.

The four-hour course, initially run for BP and its widely-travelled employees, will now be offered to all passengers.

Andy Clubb, who runs the course for BA, said: "It makes passengers safer when travelling by giving additional skills.

"It dispels all those internet theories about the 'brace position' and it gives people so much more confidence in flying."

The airline hopes those who go on the course would then be able to lead others by example if a plane got into trouble and help people who panic or "freeze".

"With other passengers around them reacting in a positive manner to the instructions being given by the crew, the few passengers who might have frozen might follow those who demonstrate that they know what they are doing," Mr Clubb said.

Civil Aviation Authority experts say most people die in the aftermath of a crash because they panic and are unable to undo their seatbelts, preventing a quick evacuation in the event of fire spreading.

People taking part in the course will practise removing seatbelts, using oxygen masks, finding life jackets under the seat and using the inflatable escape slides.