If you find yourself going into a freefall inside a metal tube, hurtling through the clouds at hundreds of kilometers per hour, and an oxygen mask drops down right in front of you — try not to panic.
How often do planes crash?
Airplane crashes are highly survivable. And here’s what you can do to increase your chances of survival… Taking a flight on a commercial airplane is about as risky as riding an escalator. The odds of being killed in a plane crash are 1 in 11 million. You’re more likely to drown in a bubble bath, choke on your breakfast, or… die in a car accident on your way to the airport. Yet, we can all feel a little nervous when stepping on a plane. Here are 6 things you can do to survive a plane crash.
Your flip-flops may be comfy, but they’re not going to perform well in case of an emergency. And neither will your high-heeled shoes. The National Transportation Safety Board reports that 68% of passengers in plane accidents die from injuries in post-crash fires. So go for long pants and long-sleeved shirts — they’ll protect you from flames and sharp objects. And put on lace-up shoes, in case you need to run.
Where is the safest place to sit, anyway? According to an analysis of airplane crashes by Popular Mechanics, your best bet is to sit as far back in the airplane as possible. Unless the plane goes down tail-first. You see, there is no such thing as the safest seat on a plane. It all really depends on the situation.
Regardless of what section you’re sitting in, know where the emergency exits are. When you get on the plane, count the rows to the closest one so that you can find it even if the cabin is filled with smoke. The first three minutes after takeoff and the eight minutes before landing are the most accident-prone times of the entire flight.
Make sure to keep your shoes on, your seatbelt fastened, and your tray table up. Put your carry-on items under the seat in front of you. You know why?
To keep your legs from going under the seat and getting broken. And pay attention to the emergency instructions, even if you’ve been on a plane many times before — not all planes are the same.
Don't panic!
The first 90 seconds of a plane crash are the most important. Many people get so nervous they forget how to unbuckle their seatbelt. Listen carefully to the instructions. But don’t just sit through the disaster waiting for orders if they are not coming.
The first thing you should do is to prepare for impact. Bend over, grab your legs behind your knees and keep your head down. In the worst-case scenario, the cabin will experience sudden pressure loss and oxygen deficiency. You’ll only have about 10 seconds before you go unconscious.
So if you see the oxygen masks drop down, put one on yourself first. Only then should you try to help someone else. If you get to evacuate from the plane, do it as quickly as possible. Don’t try to get your carry-on to take with you — in the time you waste, you might end up getting stuck with it on a burning plane.
What to do after the crash
If your plane hits the ground, there’s a high chance of it exploding. Run — at least 150 meters (500 feet) away from it in the direction against the wind, and wait for the rescuers to find you.
It’s good to be prepared for anything. But don’t be afraid of flying. In the history of aviation, it’s never been a safer time to fly. Commercial aviation averages less than 500 fatalities per year worldwide. Among planes that do get into accidents, over 95% of the passengers get out of them alive. Personally, I try to think of turbulence like bumps on the road. Helps with my flying anxiety.
That’s a little tip from me to you. And if you ever happen to find yourself outside a crashing plane 10000 feet above the ground, we have just the right guide for you here
