How to Increase Your Chance of Survival in Plane Crashes?

Listening to crew instructions, wearing appropriate footwear, paying attention to emergency exits… These are among the recommendations from an aviation safety expert on what passengers should do to increase survival chances in case of airplane accidents.

Travel Experience: How to Survive Plane Crashes?

In an article on The Conversation, Professor Graham Braithwaite, an expert in safety and accident investigation from Cranfield University in the UK, analyzes the reasons why some people still manage to survive airplane accidents.

Is It Possible to Survive?

According to Professor Graham Braithwaite, airplane accidents, especially those involving jet aircraft, are becoming increasingly rare. According to the International Air Transport Association, in 2015, there was only 1 accident for every 3.1 million flights.

It's a remarkable achievement for an industry less than a century old and involving high-speed transportation of people in harsh environments.

“But when accidents happen, what determines why some passengers can survive while many others cannot?,” Mr. Graham Braithwaite asks.

The first factor is whether the accident is a case of “survivability” or not.

In 1989, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 of United Airlines suffered a complete hydraulic system failure.

This should have been a very tragic incident, but thanks to the courageous crew managing the aircraft solely with engine thrust, 185 people survived out of 296 on board.

Conversely, incidents deemed “non-survivable” often involve severe loss of control or accidents occurring at high speeds.

The 2009 Air France plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean was an uncontrollable event where no one could survive due to the severe impact upon hitting the water.

Furthermore, accidents occurring during straight flight and due to aircraft colliding with terrain often offer fewer chances of survival.

Those accidents happen when the crew fails to anticipate the issue, when the aircraft is flying at high speeds, and when passengers are unprepared for the accident.

In those incidents, very few people can survive, with causes ranging from randomness to being ejected and caught in trees.

In 1985, a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 crashed, hitting the mountainside, and only 4 people survived out of 520 others who perished.

90% of accidents are survivable

However, the European Transport Safety Council estimates that 90% of airplane accidents are survivable, Professor Graham Braithwaite writes.

This is attributed to advancements in aircraft structures to better withstand impact forces, along with changes in cabin environment and crew training.

Additionally, modern aircraft materials are more fire-resistant, and seats are designed to withstand impact forces better.

Moreover, emergency exits are clearly marked, coupled with effective fire suppression systems, while the surrounding space around exits is designed to allow for faster passenger evacuation.

There are various factors influencing survival chances.

In an accident, once the issue is identified, fastening seat belts and adopting the appropriate forward-leaning posture are known to be effective in aiding survival.

Passengers who attentively listen to safety announcements and focus on the nearest exit – for instance, by counting the rows of seats in front or behind them – also stand a better chance of escaping a burning or smoke-filled aircraft.

The survival chances of passengers are also boosted by the clear and decisive guidance of the flight crew.

Sitting near an exit is also advantageous, although those seated there need to be prepared to act swiftly to avoid being pushed by others as they attempt to exit.

External factors also play a role in assisting.

Airports enforce strict regulations in planning obstacle avoidance around the airport, ensuring that airport fire rescue services can reach any part of the airport within three minutes in the event of an accident.

This has significantly increased the number of survivors, preventing situations where they might survive the crash but be unable to evacuate from a burning aircraft.

Moreover, above all, passengers should remain vigilant.

According to Boeing, from 2006 to 2015, 66% of fatal airplane accidents occurred while the aircraft was still on the ground, during takeoff or during final approach and landing.

Therefore, passengers should always wear appropriate footwear and clothing, listen to the instructions of the flight crew, if there's nothing, that's fine, but if something happens, that could potentially save your life.

By Ngoc Dong/Tuoi Tre

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Reference: Travel Handbook Mytour