It kicked off World War ZZZ.
Flight experts are raising alarm bells over a controversial seatbelt sleep hack, which they deemed each dumb and dangerous, circulating TikTok.
Within the inflammatory tutorial, which currently boasts over 20 million views, TikTok user @Lexi demonstrates how travelers can catch ZZZs within the infamously cramped economy section by curling their legs up onto the seat.
The passenger then fastens the seatbelt around their legs like manacles, to presumably prevent them from slipping off the seat once they fall asleep.
“To whoever it was that said to place the plane belt around your ankles, I owe you my life,” she gushed within the caption.
On its face, this might look like the proper way for flyers to sleep on a plane sans assistance from a fully-reclinable business-class seat.
Nevertheless, flight experts were quick to tear her approach to snooze control, which they deemed potentially hazardous should the aircraft encounter any turbulence or other inflight mishaps.
“If it’s attached to your ankles, this might put you in a life-threatening situation as you’re taking additional time to first unbuckle and rebuckle your seatbelt,” Michael Wallace, travel expert and CEO of Greenback Expat Tax Services, told Thrillist. “If the plane hits turbulence that causes you to lean forward at an increased rate, colliding with the seat in front of you and your knees can result in two very different outcomes.”
He added that a sudden jolt could even cause the passenger to knee themself within the face, potentially causing a concussion.
Commenters appeared to agree that the sleep-belt technique was ludicrous.
“My knees can be like grenades once I unbuckled it,” scoffed one incredulous commenter, while one other wrote, “No way that’s protected.”
A 3rd wrote, “As a flight attendant… please don’t.”
Others identified they even got yelled at by air hostesses for assuming this inflight fetal position.
