Why is sitting in the middle of their aircraft the safest part of the plane if it crashes?
In: Engineering
It isn’t.
Statistically, the tail end has the highest survival chance.
This is because sometimes in some types of crashes, the tail section breaks off and is thrown clear of the inevitable fireball that engulfs most of the plane.
Sitting in the front of the plane most deaths tend to be from blunt force trauma while in the center fire/smoke is the leading cause due to the wings often holding the fuel tanks.
Or so I have been told.
Edit: spelling
The tail is statistically the safest place to be on an airplane, and the wing root (sitting on the wing) is #2.
When a plane crashes the nose typically hits first… which often kills the pilots instantly.
The wing root is structurally very strong and at the center of mass for the airplane. So the chances of it get crushed or broken is lower.
While the tail often breaks off the crash allowing those inside to survive and avoid a lot of the impact and fires.
Fire is one of the biggest killers in plane crashes as well. If the passengers aren’t killed by the impact, the ensuing fire often gets them. This is why evacuating the plane quickly and efficiently is important.
“Hopefully this hasn’t put you off flying, Statistically speaking, flying is still the safest way to travel” – Superman
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