The Safest Seats On A Plane To Survive A Deadly Accident

The Safest Seats On A Plane To Survive A Deadly Accident Traveling by air is known to be the safest mode of transportation, but when we hear about an air accident, it does make us consider the prospect of what we would do in such a case. However, as any pilot or flight attendant will tell you, the most dangerous part of your flight is the drive to the airport. According to the NTSB, 95.7% of all air accidents are survivable and another similar report states that the chance of being killed in a plane crash is just one in eleven million. We often hear that the rear of the aircraft is safest to sit, as far away from the cockpit as possible, and passengers often use this perception when booking their airline seat. This has been somewhat reinforced by accidents such as Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 on December 25, 2024, and Jeju Air flight 2216 on December 29, 2024. In the case of flight 8243, 29 people survived at the rear of the aircraft, where the aircraft split in two; the rear remained relatively intact. In the South Korean accident of flight 2216, the only two survivors were two flight attendants seated at the rear. When you look at the dynamics of such accidents, considering the angle of impact and speed of the aircraft, the rear of the aircraft received less impact. Indeed, research over the years has shown that sitting towards the rear increases the chance of survival. Every accident has its own unique aspects, but sometimes trends in accidents can be clearly seen. In a US FAA study between 1969 and 2013, aircraft accidents were analysed and seating arrangements were examined to see if there was any correlation with the outcome. Researchers discovered that there were some repeating trends, and this provided valuable insights into passenger safety. From this, safety protocols and design practices within the aviation industry were changed, improving safety. Examples of this are the Delta Air Lines flight 191 on August 2, 1985. The aircraft came down short of the runway during a microburst, broke apart on impact, and started a fire. There were 163 people on board, 136 people died and 26 passengers and three flight attendants survived. On the impact, the cockpit and the first 12 rows of seats were destroyed. The study also showed the survival rates by section. In the first class/business class cabin, it was 40%. In the mid-section over the wings, the survival rate was 57%, whilst at the rear fuselage it was 62%. In the last ten rows, the survival rate was 70%. A study by Time magazine in 2015 looked at aircraft accidents from the FAA Aircraft Accident Database between 1985 and 2000. They looked at the number of fatalities and survivors and where they were seated. The study concluded that 38% fatalities were seated at the front third of the aircraft, 39% at the middle and 32% at the rear of the aircraft. This again suggests that the rear of the aircraft is the safest place to sit. Other studies show that those seated in the aisle are more likely to survive an accident, especially at the rear of the aircraft. This was noted both on narrowbody and widebody aircraft; those seated on the aisle on twin aisle aircraft have more chance of evacuating the aircraft quickly and have better proximity to the emergency exits. Furthermore, research shows that those seated within five rows of an emergency exit are more likely to evacuate safely. Here, it is still important to put safety into context; although such statistics can guide us, they cannot guarantee survival. The outcome of accidents can depend on the speed at impact and the accident location. For example, a high-speed impact on water is unlikely to yield survivors. Aircraft accidents are incredibly rare and according to data from IATA in 2023, you would have to fly every day for 103,239 years to be involved in a fatal accident. The probability of surviving an aircraft accident is not solely based on the seat but on the circumstances. In simple terms, if the rear of the aircraft is impacted, those at the front are more likely to survive. In reality, there is no 'safest seat' on an aircraft. Each accident has its unique set of circumstances and outcomes and every accident is different. Most aviation accidents happen at the critical phases of flight, usually with three minutes of take-off and eight minutes to landing. During the certification process, all commercial aircraft manufacturers have to prove that their aircraft can be fully evacuated within 90 seconds and with half of the emergency exits inoperable. This is the maximum time for evacuation, as a post-crash fire flashover is less likely to occur in those 90 seconds. Although as a passenger you cannot control the circumstances of an aircraft accident, you can control your reaction to it and improve your chances of survival. This includes: Watching the safety demonstration Following the instructions of the crew Counting the number of rows to the nearest exit, which may be behind you Dress appropriately for an evacuation include loose clothing with natural fibers and sturdy shoes Stay alert during critical stages of flight and avoid distractions Do not wear headphones during take-off and landingIn case of evacuation, leave all belongings behind All in all, there is no guarantee that any specific seat will improve your chances of survival in an air accident. However, your actions as a passenger can improve your chance of survival as well as those of other passengers and the crew, who are always last to leave the aircraft.