What does Ditching refer to?

Ditching specifically refers to an emergency landing on water. It is a critical maneuver performed when an aircraft must land on a body of water, often due to engine failure or other emergencies that prevent a traditional landing on a runway. This term emphasizes the urgency and the challenges associated with landing an aircraft in such conditions, including potential risks to passengers and crew safety. Understanding ditching is essential for flight attendants, as they need to be prepared for water evacuations and help ensure the safety protocols are followed during such emergencies.

The other options pertain to different aviation concepts and do not capture the essence of ditching as an emergency procedure. For instance, landing on a runway is a normal part of flight operations, and cargo offloading relates to the logistics of airline operations. Diversifying airline routes does not involve emergency situations, making it unrelated to the context of ditching.