How to survive a plane crash

[Guest Darren Masters]

Source: news.com.au

 

ALL 155 passengers and crew survived the New York plane crash thanks to some incredible flying and a lot of luck.

 

But is surviving an air disaster really all down to luck, or is there something passengers can do to increase the odds of survival?

 

In the highly unlikely event of an emergency, does it really matter where you sit?

 

QUICK EXIT

 

According to Australian aviation safety expert, Professor Ed Galea, sitting near an emergency exit not only soothes sore limbs but can also save your life.

 

Having studied over 105 plane crashes and 2,000 survivor reports as Director of Fire Safety Engineering at London's University of Greenwich, Mr Galea found those who survived were within seven seat rows of a serviceable exit.

 

"What we've found is that the average distance a survivor will travel in an evacuation is seven seat rows," said Prof Galea.

 

"So sit within seven rows of an exit and count exactly how many rows you are from the nearest two exits, so that you can find an exit in the dark."

 

A study commissioned by Britain's Civil Aviation Authority also agrees, saying passengers should choose an aisle seat near the front within five rows of an emergency exit.

 

After researching105 accidents and personal accounts from almost 2000 survivors of how they managed to escape from crash-landings and onboard fires, the study found the seats with the best survival rate were in the emergency exit row and the row in front or behind it.

 

Between two and five rows from the exit, passengers still have a better than even chance of escaping in a fire but "the difference between surviving and perishing is greatly reduced".

 

Plane crash survivor Mercedes Johnson believes sitting near an exit saved her life, when the American Airlines Flight she was on crashed into a Colombian mountain in 1995.

 

Speaking on the BBC programme The Survivor's Guide to Plane Crashes Ms Johnson said she was one of only four survivors of the crash, which claimed 159 lives, because of where she sat.

 

"The location where we were sitting was over the wing which was near the exit row. I've heard on numerous occasions that those rows are one of the safest areas to sit in, because it's the most reinforced with metal," said Ms Johnson.

 

GET BACK

 

After extensive research into every US commercial jet crash in the last 37 years, Popular Mechanics magazine revealed the further you sit at the back of the aircraft, the higher your chance of survival.

 

Studying crash data from 20 accidents, the magazine found that passengers in the rear of the plane are 40 per cent more likely to survive than those in the first few rows.

 

Comparing survival rates in four sections of an aircraft, results proved in 11 of the 20 crashes, rear passengers fared better, with only five accidents favouring those sitting forward.

 

But according to passenger physiologist Professor Helen Muir, England, it doesn't really matter where you sit.

 

"They're unpredictable events, so you never know whether it's going to be a crash landing or whether you're going to have a fire in one of the engines. And this means you can't say where's the best place to sit," Prof Muir told the BBC.

 

However, when it comes to a heart-stopping, mid-air emergency situation, Prof Muir believes there are seven rules that might just save your life:

 

1. Sit within seven rows of an exit, and hope a plane crash does not disable it. People who sit there have more chance of surviving.

 

2. Count the rows you pass when taking your seat. Plan your exit

 

3. Practise undoing your seat belt. Even pilots can have brainstorms and treat it like a car seat belt.

 

4. Study the safety card so you can brace yourself properly. It could save your life.

 

5. Don't take a sleeping tablet or drink too much. You have only 90 seconds to get out.

 

6. Don't try to find all your friends or family. Leave the plane with those nearest to you.

 

7. If you land in water do not inflate your lifejacket before leaving the plane. It can trap you inside.

 

 

[Wombat]

Thanx Darren,

 

I'll try to remember all of that on my flight tomorrow over to Tassie!

 

Cheers

 

Wombie

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Thanx Darren, I'll try to remember all of that on my flight tomorrow over to Tassie!

 

Cheers

 

Wombie

Glad I could be of assistance :biggrin: You'll be fine mate. Waiting for the trip report

 

 

[sixtiesrelic]

And wait till it's nearly hitting the ground and then jump upwards, hard!

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

And wait till it's nearly hitting the ground and then jump upwards, hard!

LOL :biggrin: Don't think that one will help you