A viral video of a Spirit Airlines flight crew taping an engine went viral for all the wrong reasons, but the official explanation changed the game

Imagine you compete in a sudden breakdance competition at the airport to achieve first class treatment, become seated near a window, and look outside waiting for the flight to take off. But, apparently, there’s a crew member putting duct tape on your plane’s wing. Well, that would be absolutely horrific for anyone, and it looks like Spirit Airlines passengers have already encountered a similar situation.

This terrifying moment has recently come to light through a viral TikTok video. As reported by Barstool Sports, one of the Spirit employees was seen applying duct tape on the plane’s wing, right where it joins the body. The TikToker watching all of this couldn’t stay silent at that moment and quickly recorded the scene in a panic.

Without cracking the real code behind the duct-taping act, the TikToker and the viewers believed it was being done to keep the wing in place during flight. Since duct tape is usually used for basic purposes, putting it on the plane and expecting it to hold together during a flight was indeed horrific. But in reality, of course, it wasn’t how it looked.

No one’s taping the airplane’s wing for a successful flight

To an average person who is not into aviation, this scene will indeed look like something from Final Destination. However, the reality is quite different. That duct tape-looking thing wasn’t something that sits in your kitchen, as it serves a crucial purpose in the field of aviation. It is called “speed tape” and is used on aircraft to maintain their aerodynamics.

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​When there are small dents, loose panels, or gaps in fairings, where the underlying structure is still intact, the engineers apply these tapes to safeguard the vulnerable areas until a permanent fix is made. For those who are still concerned, the tape is significantly stronger than a normal one. It’s made out of aluminium foil with a strong pressure-sensitive adhesive and can withstand temperatures between -40 and 177 degrees centigrade and speeds over 600 MPH.

With impressive durability, it looks like the tape’s not going anywhere during your average flight. The TikToker panicking, on the other hand, also seems fair, since the crew was doing it right in front of passengers who were about to travel. Regardless, this is the second drama in a while involving Spirit Airlines to put it under public scrutiny, following the free drink chaos.