The National Transportation Safety Board recommended Wednesday that airlines develop more realistic training programs to prepare pilots for dealing with smoke filling aircraft cockpits.

The recommendation comes in response to a 2023 incident involving a Southwest Airlines flight that experienced cockpit smoke following a bird strike. Safety experts cited the need for pilots to be better prepared for such emergency scenarios.

The NTSB's guidance focuses on creating training that more accurately simulates the conditions pilots would face when smoke enters the cockpit during flight operations. Current training protocols may not adequately prepare flight crews for the visibility and operational challenges that smoke presents in the confined cockpit environment.

Cockpit smoke emergencies can pose significant safety risks as they can impair pilot vision and decision-making capabilities during critical flight phases. The Southwest incident highlighted gaps in current training methodologies that the safety board believes need to be addressed industry-wide.

The recommendation represents part of the NTSB's ongoing efforts to enhance aviation safety through improved pilot training standards and emergency preparedness protocols.