pan-pan

[ pahn-pahn ]

noun

1. an international distress signal used by shore stations to inform a ship, aircraft, etc., of something vital to its safety or to the safety of one of its passengers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pan-pan¹

Reduplication and alteration of French panne “breakdown, failure”

Example Sentences

Brussels Airlines flight 102 was en route from Brussels to New York on Friday when pilots issued a "pan-pan" message, which indicates an urgent but manageable problem, less serious than a "mayday," when flying west at 37,000 feet over the Celtic Sea, aviation media and tracking websites said.

From Reuters

The captain formally declared a condition of urgency by making a “pan-pan” call to air-traffic control.

From New York Times

A "PAN-PAN" call was made to Hong Kong air traffic control, informing them that an urgent, but not life-threatening, situation had occurred.

From Fox News

“Because of the Pan-Pan call we were told to hold off, circling the airport in the air,” said the pilot, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

From The Guardian

Pilots use Pan-Pan calls to flag urgent situations.

From The Guardian