A flight attendant has disclosed a three-letter code that passengers hope never to hear during a flight. The code, 'ABP', stands for 'Able Bodied Passengers' and is used by cabin crew to discreetly identify individuals who could assist in an emergency situation.
The revelation comes from an anonymous Qatar Airways crew member, who explained that the code alerts staff to look for strong, able-bodied passengers capable of following instructions and helping if needed. Hearing 'ABP' could mean a situation requiring passenger assistance is unfolding.
Other codes used by flight attendants include 'Code 300' and 'Angel' for a passenger death, 'PILP' for 'Passenger I'd Like to Punch', and 'Squawk 7500' or 'Hotel' for a hijacking. Medical emergencies are signalled with 'Code Red' or 'Code Blue' for severe cases, and 'Code Yellow' for minor ones.
Less serious codes include 'Babe on Board' or 'Best on Board' for an attractive passenger, 'Code Mermaid' for someone spreading across multiple seats, and 'Runner' for a late passenger dashing to the gate. A TikTok user also claimed that flight attendants play a game called 'see you later', where saying that phrase to a passenger indicates a desire for a romantic encounter.
