What does the term 'souls on board' mean on an airplane? A pilot explains.

The world of aviation can be a great mystery to those who don't work in the sector, so it's common for many passengers taking flights from Spain to be unfamiliar with the meaning of certain terms or how aircraft components, such as the autopilot, work. For this reason, it's common to see pilots explaining aeronautical concepts to users on social media.

The latest to do so is Savina Paul, an airline pilot who posted a video on her TikTok account in which she tells her followers what "souls on board" means. Almost no passenger is familiar with this term, but it 's very important when boarding a plane, as she explains: "In aviation, we don't count passengers," she begins the post.

Not only the passengers on a plane are counted

Contrary to what many may think, the truth is that in the sector, not only the passengers on board a plane are counted, but also the 'souls on board'. The reason is explained by the pilot herself in the video description: "We don't just count passengers with seats, but all living people inside the plane," which includes the passengers themselves, all crew members, and even babies who don't have seats.

Savina Paul also emphasizes that this concept of "souls on board" is of great importance in the event of a mishap during a flight, as it allows emergency services responding to the rescue to know "exactly how many people they need to search for and assist." This is the reason why this term, which is so unfamiliar and curious to those outside the industry, is used.

This expression is one of the key elements in an airplane emergency. The pilot also states that other information must be provided immediately in the event of a problem on board: the amount of fuel remaining in the aircraft and whether it is carrying dangerous goods. This information is invaluable for a smooth landing.

Although some people may seem to overlook it when they board a plane, the truth is that not only the passengers who have purchased a ticket are traveling on the aircraft, but many more people as well. Therefore, the concept of "souls on board" is much more accurate than simply counting the passengers who are flying.