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Research Reveals that Seat Location Has Bearing on Survival in Event of Crash

Academic findings show that those seated in aisles, near emergency exit rows and at the rear of a plane have a statistically better chance of surviving a crash.

It’s a scenario that no one wants to consider, but in the event of a plane crash, researchers believe that a passenger’s chance of survival could be improved by the location of their particular seat.

Ed Galea, a professor at the University of Greenwich, London, has studied seating chart data from over 100 crashes in order to ascertain what bearing, if any, the location of a passenger’s seat has on their chances of survival.

Unsurprisingly, his work has revealed that those closest to the emergency exit rows, including aisle seats, have a better chance of surviving. The ability to get out of the plane, he explained to Yahoo! Travel, is what gives passengers within a five-row radius of a plane’s emergency exits a higher likelihood of escaping a crash.

Galea explained his results to the website, saying, “Many people survive the initial impact but don’t get off the plane quickly enough. The first ninety seconds after a crash are considered the most important by safety experts.”

He also added that many lose precious seconds attempting to release their safety belts.

Aviation accident investigator Don Knutson confirmed that, “The closer you are to an emergency exit row, the faster you can get off the plane.”

However, Knutson added a caveat to this, saying, “It is very difficult to say how well anyone would survive an accident. It all depends on how a plane crashes.”

But based on Galea’s work, it seems that those seated toward the rear of a plane also have an improved chance of survival. Those in the last rows of a craft are 40 percent more likely to survive than passengers seated closer to the front.

“If the plane crashes nose first, the front takes all the impact of the collision,” Knutson explained.  “We regularly see the tail end of a plane still intact following a crash.”

However, the likelihood of being involved in a fatal air incident is still extremely slim. While it may be small comfort to nervous travelers, Knutson concluded, “You are safer flying than in any other mode of transport.”

[Photo: Getty]

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4 Comments
K
KRSW March 22, 2016

Maybe we can convince all of the professional, entitlement-mentality mommies to keep their spawn in the back, far away from F.

I
ioto1902 March 21, 2016

I'll lobby carriers to put first class at the rear !

B
burbanite March 21, 2016

@brocklee9000 No kidding....

B
brocklee9000 March 21, 2016

I can't wait to see how airlines monetize this.