The Safest Airplane Seat

IS AIR TRAVEL SAFE?

To begin with, let me emphasize that air travel is the safest means of transportation. In 2019, there were almost 70 million flights worldwide, resulting in only 287 fatalities.

Based on the US National Safety Council's analysis of census data, the likelihood of perishing in an airplane is approximately 1 in 205,552, as opposed to 1 in 102 in a car. Nevertheless, fatal road accidents receive little attention from us, whereas news of an ATR72 crashing in Nepal dominates all news headlines.

Our fascination with plane crashes may stem from our desire to comprehend why they occur or the chances of them reoccurring. This concern may not be entirely negative, as it ensures that these tragic incidents are extensively investigated, which ultimately helps to maintain air travel safety.

WORST EMERGENCIES:

Survivability during an emergency depends on the type of situation that occurs. For instance, crashing into a mountain or landing nose-first in the ocean can greatly reduce the chances of survival. One tragic example of this is the 1979 disaster in New Zealand when Air New Zealand Flight TE901 crashed into the slopes of Mt Erebus in Antarctica, resulting in the deaths of 257 passengers and crew. Similarly, in 2009, all 228 passengers and crew on Air France Flight 447 lost their lives when the plane landed nose-first in the ocean.

Pilots receive extensive training to minimize the risk of such incidents during an emergency. They will attempt to avoid obstacles like mountains and seek level surfaces, such as open fields, for landing. Landing on water requires evaluating surface conditions and aiming for a normal landing angle, between waves.

In an emergency, aircraft are built to be highly robust. The cabin crew frequently remind passengers to fasten their seat belts not primarily due to crash risk, but due to "clear air turbulence," which can occur at any time at high altitudes and cause significant damage to passengers and the aircraft.

Manufacturers are incorporating more composite materials into new planes to make them capable of handling in-flight stress. These designs have flexible wings that can bend to absorb extreme loading and prevent structural failure.

SAFETY vs PLANE TYPE:

While some variables, like the impact of airspeed, may differ slightly between various airplane types, the fundamental principles of flight remain the same across all planes.

Typically, larger planes possess more structural material, which enables them to handle pressurization at high altitudes more robustly. Therefore, in the event of an emergency, they may offer some extra protection, though this would be highly reliant on the nature of the emergency.

THE SAFEST SEAT:

Most people book flights for comfort or convenience, not with thoughts of emergency protection. However, according to a TIME investigation, statistically the middle rear seats of a plane have the lowest fatality rate in accidents, with a 28% fatality rate compared to the 44% fatality rate for middle aisle seats. While accidents do not conform to standards, it is worth noting that air travel is the safest mode of transport. In 2019, there were just under 70 million flights globally, with only 287 fatalities. Our concern for safety ensures that tragic incidents are thoroughly investigated, which helps keep air travel safe.

An aviation expert has provided insights into which seat on an airplane is the safest, based on their knowledge and experience.

According to the expert, sitting in the rear of the plane has statistically been shown to be safer than sitting in the front. This is because the majority of accidents happen during takeoff and landing, and the rear of the plane tends to be more protected during these phases of the flight. Additionally, sitting in the rear of the plane may increase the likelihood of surviving a crash, as there is often more time to evacuate from the rear exits.

However, the expert also noted that the chance of being involved in an airplane accident is already extremely low, so the difference in safety between seats is minimal. Passengers should instead focus on following safety procedures, such as wearing their seatbelt properly and paying attention to the safety briefing.

It's also worth noting that some types of seats may offer specific benefits. For example, exit row seats provide extra legroom and may be easier to evacuate from in an emergency, but they also come with additional responsibilities, such as assisting with opening the emergency exits.

Ultimately, the most important thing for passengers is to remain calm and follow the instructions of the flight crew in the unlikely event of an emergency.