What’s the deal with that weird black triangle in a plane?

Friday, 22 March 2024

It is one of those quirks of aviation which most people probably don’t notice. Something so small and random that it barely registers.

Above certain windows on one particular plane manufacturer’s aircraft sit tiny black triangles. And they are there for a very specific reason - safety.

That little triangle is making news again after a flight attendant went viral for pointing it out on TikTok.

The ‘mystery’ isn’t really mysterious at all. Air New Zealand Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer, Captain David Morgan told Stuff Travel you will only see them on Airbus aircraft.

“The black triangles are located next to windows that give our crew the best vantage points of the outside of the aircraft,” said Morgan.

“Crew onboard can easily spot these windows and will use them to visually inspect the wings, flaps, and engines.”

So it’s the best seat in the house to make sure all is looking OK on the wing.

Another aviation quirk is the nickname given to the seat under the triangle - the 'William Shatner seat'.

It’s got nothing to do with his time in Star Trek, but is from one of his earliest acting roles. He appeared in an infamous 1963 Twilight Zone episode entitled Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, where he spots a gremlin outside the window.

Let us know if you have any other aviation queries by commenting below.