Which is the Safest Seat on a Plane?
How To Survive an Air Crash by Choosing the Safest Seat
Aug 16, 2009
Where should travellers sit if they want the best chance of surviving a plane crash? Which are the safest seats in a plane? Until recently, most people would have replied: “Near an emergency exit”. This is still true, but a recent study shows that there is more to it than that.
The Research into Surviving a Plane Crash
Most deaths in air accidents are caused by fire. It is usually the toxic fumes caused by burning materials in a plane which actually kill people. Therefore it is essential to get out of the plane as quickly as possible, should disaster strike. Researchers from the University of Greenwich, UK, looked at plane crash reports to find out which seats were safest in that passengers could get out of them most quickly. They also checked the accounts of 2,000 survivors in 105 air accidents around the world. The research was commissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority, and published in 2008.
The Results of the Safest Seats Research
A seat up to five rows from an emergency exit offers a good chance of escaping from a fire on board. When seated six or more rows from an exit, however, the chances of perishing outweigh those of surviving. An aisle seat is safer than any other, but the difference is not great. However, if safety is the passenger’s prime concern, he or she should forget about looking at the view and choose a seat next to the aisle. Passengers at the front of the aircraft have a higher chance of survival than those at the rear.
What About Seats by Emergency Exits?
Seats close to an emergency exit are still the safest, as many people have always believed. These findings have prompted concern about the trend for airlines to charge extra for exit row seats, which they do because these seats offer more leg room.
Passenger Behaviour in a Plane Crash
All planes have to pass tests to show that they can be completely emptied within 90 seconds. However, experimental situations do not take into account the reality of an accident situation. In a real emergency, passengers may fight to get to an exit, or parents may try to help children, and this can slow down everyone’s escape. Panicking passengers may ignore crew commands, causing further chaos.
Air disasters are thankfully extremely rare. But for those who still want to give themselves the best chance by choosing the safest seat, they would be advices to pick an aisle seat near the front and with a row of an emergency exit.
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