Spotted in: NBC News headline + interview
Topic: Air traffic control system failures
Frame Used: Metaphor Frame + Implied Danger
“It’s like driving your car knowing the brakes will go out at any time.”
— Veteran air traffic controller, NBC News
This quote appeared in a May 2025 NBC News report on air traffic control system failures.
What This Frame Does
This isn’t a technical explanation—it’s a visceral metaphor that reframes system instability as personal, physical danger.
Rather than say, “the system is unreliable,” the speaker gives you a metaphor you feel:
- You’re in motion
- You’re not in control
- You’re waiting for failure
It taps into loss of agency, inevitable harm, and constant anxiety—all in one sentence.
Why It Works
- No aviation expertise required
- Emotion first, logic second
- Implies urgency without shouting
This metaphor frames the issue as urgent and unacceptable, without ever saying those words directly.
Takeaway for Communicators
If you want your audience to feel urgency, don’t describe the risk—embody it in a metaphor they already fear. Compare it to something they’d never tolerate in real life.
Not: “This system is unstable.”
Instead: “It’s like driving a car with failing brakes.”