If you are interrupted while performing a checklist, what should you do next?

When performing a checklist, if you are interrupted, it is critical to maintain safety and standardization in the cockpit environment. Restarting from the beginning ensures that all items on the checklist are thoroughly addressed, minimizing the possibility of overlooking critical items. This is especially important in aviation, where missed items can lead to safety risks during flight operations.

By starting from the beginning of the checklist, you ensure that no steps are skipped and that all actions necessary to ensure the aircraft's safety and operational readiness are completed. This method is often considered best practice as it helps maintain consistency and thoroughness in following operational procedures.

Choosing to resume from the point of interruption or simply waiting for the interruption to end may lead to incomplete procedures, potentially jeopardizing safety. Keeping the checklist in hand but not restarting could create an inconsistency in the workflow, which could be particularly detrimental in high-stakes environments like aviation.