Arizona man wants a refund after seeing what worker is doing to Spirit airplane before flight: ‘Tape cost more than your rent’
A man was shocked to see an airline worker applying tape to the wings of a plane he was boarding. He said he’d like a refund for the flight. However, viewers clued him in that the plane was both perfectly safe to board and covered in a very expensive adhesive.
TikToker Miguel Savage (@skeffreyactivity) is an Arizona local. He saw a person applying tape to the wing of a Spirit Airlines plane right before it took off. Concerned, he posted a video exposing the moment, which has since garnered 10.2 million views. But, commenters emphasized that he didn’t have anything to fear. They took the opportunity to explain what “speed tape” was. They added that the adhesive was just another part of the airline industry that many people don’t know about.
What is speed tape?
When Savage recorded a video of an airline worker applying a “duct-tape” like tape to the wings of an aircraft, he did have some reason to feel concerned. After all, if a worker truly was duct taping the plane together before a flight, the plane ride might feel unsafe.
But, commenters jumped in to explain that there was no reason to seek a refund for the flight. The tape that the airline worker was using was “speed tape.” Speed tape is a special, heavy aluminum tape that can assist with minor repairs on planes. It’s typically made of soft aluminum—not cloth and polyurethane, unlike duct tape. For that reason, it can withstand additional wear and tear as well as most water and solvents. Duct tape, by contrast, is sensitive to extreme temperatures due to its materials.
Speed tape is commonly used on the wings of aircraft to repair small damage from debris. Think chips and minor dents, not wings getting torn off entirely.
An ex mechanic who commented agreed, saying, “It’s called speed tape, it’s good for covering gaps or small holes till the next layover for a permanent repair, it’s good for 600 mph.”
How much does Speed Tape cost?
Commenters also added that speed tape comes with an incredibly hefty price. The certified version of the product, according to some online discussion threads, can cost upward of $400 per roll. Commenters reiterated that price, saying that sometimes, speed tape can cost up to $600 per roll.
Some commenters even claimed that it’s 50,000 per roll or 3.7 million. 3.7 million, based on most commenters and online sources, is a stretch. But, depending on how the speed tape is certified, it can increase in price.
For that reason, it’s safe to say that a little bit of “tape” on a wing doesn’t certify the plane as unsafe. Especially considering the certifications, cost, and materials required to get it in the first place.
@skeffreyactivity Just give me my money back ? #fyp #airplane ♬ Miguel Savage Came A Long Way – Miguel Savage
We’ve reached out to Savage via TikTok direct message and Spirit Airlines via email for more information. We’ll let you know if either party responds.
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