Kids & Family

How to Survive a Plane Crash

A plane crash is not a death sentence. Find out all the things you can do to walk away from the wreckage.





Written by Jacob Bourne


Most people would rather be flipping through Sky Mall than listening to pre-flight safety instructions. 

There are a couple reasons no one pays attention when the video screens or flight attendants remind us to secure our own masks before helping others. 

1. Most people believe the plane won't crash.

2. Even if it does, no one survives a plane crash right? Wrong.
In reality, plane crashes are very rare. Only one in 1.2 million flights ends up in an accident. However, there were 25 commercial plane crashes in 2011, 14 in 2012 and seven so far in 2013, including Asiana 214, which killed two people at SFO earlier this month.

On top of just crashes, a 2005 study showed that an aircraft was being evacuated every 12 days at U.S. airports, according to theConde Naste Traveler.

These events, although wickedly terrifying, are also surprisingly survivable. HowStuffWorks.com cited a BBC study showing that more than 90 percent of plane crash victims between 1980 and 2000 survived. 

But making it out of a doomed plane alive is not merely a matter of chance. There are many things passengers can do to up the odds of surviving a plane crash.

Where to Sit:

  • In the back, close to an exit, in an aisle seat
Although the FAA's official statement is that no seat is safer or more dangerous than another, a Popular Mechanics study showed that passengers behind the wing are 40 percent more likely to survive than passengers in the front. You're also in good shape if you're within five rows of an exit. According to the Weather Channel, aisle seats are somewhat safer than window or center seats.

What to Wear
  • Cotton, long sleeves and pants. No sandals, no pantyhose
You'll realize fashion doesn't matter when you're in a plane headed for a crash landing. You want to wear long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes to protect yourself from flames, heat, flying shrapnel, etc. Cotton is a great material because it doesn't melt. Also, avoid pantyhose because they can burn you on the emergency slide.

How to Brace Yourself for Impact
  • Arms out, head forward, legs tucked
The safest position for impact is to extend your arms to the seat in front of you, cross your hands and put your head on the back of your hands. If there is no seat in front of you, bend over with your head between your knees and your arms wrapped around your legs, which should be tucked far beneath your seat.

When, Where and How to Get Out
  • Stay low, count rows, jump out, inflate your vest
If you can get out of the plane in the first 90 seconds after impact, you have a great chance of survival. The key is finding an exit, so count the rows between your seat and an exit when you first sit down. When planes crash, they often fill with smoke and visibility disappears, so if you know how many rows to count, you can feel your way to the exit. On your way out, jump on the slide. Do not sit, that will slow the process. Lastly, do not inflate your vest until you are on the slide. It will only slow you down inside the plane. 

What to do with Your Stuff
  • Avoid overhead bins, leave everything behind
Even irreplaceable stuff isn't worth dying for. Leave everything behind as you evacuate a plane. It is actually safest to put your carry-on luggage under the seat in front of you rather than in an overhead bin, because during crashes, legs often snap forward and break under the seat in front of you. Putting carry-on luggage there creates a barrier making it harder for legs to barge in and crack on impact.

What to do when You Get Out
  • Inflate, run and hide
Inflate your vest as soon as you're on the slide (in a water landing). Once you're off the plane, get as far away as you can and find a large object to hide behind. Many people have been injured in plane explosions even after escaping.

What to Absolutely Never do During a Plane Crash
  • Panic
The biggest enemy of a plane crash is panic. Many people are thrust into such a state of panic during a crash that they cannot even remember how to take off their seat belt. Remaining calm is the biggest key to surviving a plane crash.

See the video above for even more statistics on plane crashes and tips for survival.

Do you have more ideas for surviving plane crashes? Tell us in the comments!


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here