Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
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Posts: 31,618
I can't say that much of the findings are really eye opening.
Sit in the exit row, you have a good chance.
Sit 2-5 rows from the exit, an average chance.
Sit further away, a worse chance.
Sit in the aisle, with easy access to move the exit, have a better chance than the middle seat, which has a better chance than the window - because they have to follow the aisle sitter out.
Bottom line - easier/faster access to the exit gives you a better chance of survivability.
The higher probability of safety in the front is the only other variable - I suspect it's because the fuel/fire will start mid-plane and given that the plane is probably in motion, will be blown towards the back.
1A bulkhead next to the door exit is probably the safest of all.
From a purely statistical standpoint, I would think that elderly and small children in the exit/aisle/front would create an impediment and lower the overall average number of survivors.