Why did the emergency exit lights go on?

Question

I was on a British Airways flight from London to Düsseldorf on Monday morning, and when they gave the usual pre-landing speech (fasten your seat belts, etc.), they also added "take a moment to make noté of your nearest emergency exits" or something like that. I asked a flight attendant if anything was wrong, and he said everything was fine. However, during the announcement for the flight attendants to sit down, the pilot (?) thanked them for "all your hard work" - I never heard that before - and as we were landing, the emergency exit lights came on and stayed on through the landing until we left the plane. Were we in danger? Please answer, I'm now afraid to fly back to London in two weeks!

Answer 1

It's normal, if there was an incident during landing or take-off the lighting would already be on to guide you to safety.

Would you prefer to worry about whether anyone would remember to switch them on in an emergency?

As for the pilot's comments he was just being a bit more considerate than most to his cabin crew.

Answer 2

that's abit strange.

Answer 3

"Fasten Safety Belts", and Pointing out Emergency Exits, is normally part of the Pre-takeoff Brief.  Take a moment to notice, normally refers to the Safety Placard in the seat pocket, also in pre-takeoff briefing.

Actually I thought the 'Exit lights were always on.  There's usually lighting on the floor to guide you to the exits in the event of an emergency, also mentioned in the pre-takeoff briefing.

It's also normal for the Captain to thank the Crew prior to landing because they seldom get recognition from the passengers.

I think you might have gotten a case of nervous and got confused.  If there was actual concern you would have been briefed on the 'Brace Position'.

Answer 4

Its a precautionary measure. It depends on the airline/aircraft type but exit signs are commonly turned on for takeoff and landing so people can see how to get out if it was necessary to evacuate the plane. Its kind of like how in a building exit signs are always lit even though there is no emergency.

Answer 5

could be a little precaution if like a little thing went wrong, that they deteched, don't be afraid because even if you do travel back on the same plane, im sure they will fix it, if anything at all is wrong/damaged or broken

Answer 6

The lights was on in order to be visible to people in case of emergency.

Answer 7

This I am sure that whenever in flight the emergency lites are always at armed. It is a 3 position switch, off- arm-on. Placing the switch in the cockpit at arm it goes automatic illumination in case of emergency, ex. loss of elect.power. At arm position the cabin crew can switch it on on the switch at the forward attendant's panel. The logic is at arm position the cabin crew being at the cabin can see what's happening at the cabin and need not bother to bother the pilot in case of emergency.

I think the cabin crew just switches the emer. lites on.