It's not so much what they say but it's what they do. In addition to informing the passengers well before an emergency landing (crash) the pilot(s) will brief the senior flight attendant on the signal to be used just prior to impact. The senior flight attendant will then brief the remaining flight attendants.

In an extreme emergency where a crash is imminent, pilots follow a rigid hierarchy of actions summarized by the phrase: "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate." Their first and most critical task is to Aviate—maintaining control of the aircraft's airspeed and attitude to ensure it remains flyable as long as possible. They will troubleshoot the failure (such as an engine fire or hydraulic loss) using "Memory Items" (emergency checklists performed from heart) while looking for the best possible "landing" spot, whether it's a runway, a field, or water. Once the plane is stable, they Navigate by steering toward that spot and finally Communicate by declaring a "Mayday" to Air Traffic Control and informing the cabin crew to "brace for impact." In 2026, flight decks are equipped with advanced "Synthetic Vision" and emergency guidance systems that help pilots find the safest path even in total darkness or heavy clouds. Their training focuses on "Crew Resource Management," ensuring that both pilots work in perfect sync to manage the workload. Ultimately, a pilot's goal is to turn a "crash" into a "controlled emergency landing," maximizing the chances of survival for everyone on board through calm, methodical execution of safety protocols.