“Unraveling the Mystery: Why Are Passengers Called ‘Souls’ on Airplanes and Ships?”
Have you ever paused to wonder why we call travelers “souls” instead of just passengers? It’s a quirky term that carries a weighty history! From the ill-fated RMS Titanic, where the number of “souls on board” became a somber focal point in the wake of tragedy, to the chilling exchanges in the cockpit when disaster strikes, such as during United Airlines Flight 232. The phrase has transcended mere language—it evokes a sense of humanity amid peril. Why do pilots and air traffic controllers continuously use the term? Is it mere tradition or something deeper? This article delves into the origin and significance of referring to people in transit as “souls,” unearthing fascinating insights that might just change the way you think about your next flight! LEARN MORE.
When news of the Titanic disaster first broke in 1912, the International Herald Tribune reported that “of the…souls on board the great ship, only 675, mostly women and children, have been saved.” (The actual number of survivors was 705.) When United Airlines Flight 232 suffered a loss of hydraulic fluid in 1989, the pilot and an air traffic controller exchanged information about the number of “souls on board”—296 in all, 111 of them perishing.
When commercial travel casualties are either imminent or being reported, spokespeople and media members will often call the deceased “souls,” or “souls on board.” So will air traffic controllers and pilots when inquiring about those present on a plane encountering a high-risk situation. It can even be heard in relation to space travel. When the Columbia exploded in 2003, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that “The loss of the space shuttle Columbia and the seven souls on board is a startling reminder of the perils of space travel and the bravery and courage of our astronauts.”
