Could you survive on the wing of a plane?

“The air in their lungs… would expand so quickly they would explode.”To keep this simple, we'll talk about the scenario as though some people were somehow tossed out at 30,000 feet and landed on the wing of a 737–maybe “if someone didn't like them,” says Jason Kring, assistant professor of human factors and systems at ...



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For instance, some contend that sitting in line with the wing is the safest as there are overwing exits and that area is the strongest part of a plane's structure. However, you're also sitting near the plane's fuel tanks, which isn't ideal if there's a fire.

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The good news is that an airplane crash doesn't necessarily mean certain death. In fact, of the 568 U.S. plane crashes between 1980 and 2000, more than 90 percent of crash victims survived [source: BBC]. In the event of an air disaster, there are things you can do that can increase your odds of living.

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Airplane accidents are 95% survivable. Here are seven ways to increase those odds even more.

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Takeoff and landing are widely considered the most dangerous parts of a flight.

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However, statistically speaking, a seat close to an exit in the front or rear, or a middle seat in the back third of the plane offers the lowest fatality rate.

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Nonetheless, a TIME investigation that looked at 35 years of aircraft accident data found the middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared with 44% for the middle aisle seats. This logically makes sense too.

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From a practical point, no, a modern airliner will not lose a wing due to turbulence. Modern airlines are very tough and designed to withstand extreme turbulence. In theory, it might be possible. But to my knowledge, it has not happened to any jet airliner .

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The short answer is no, and rest assured that the pilots know how uncomfortable turbulence can make passengers feel. And know that no aircraft has ever crashed because of turbulence. Turbulence has not caused an airplane to crash, Biddle said. Airplanes are built very sturdily.

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Well it depends on the plane, but most planes can't fly without their wing, and basically they would spiral down into the ground. Many modern jet fighters have a lifting body and they can fly without a wing because the body provides a lot of the lift.

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In the US, there is an average of 1,662 plane crashes per year. Globally, there are 6,392 plane crashes per year, on average.

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Are small planes less safe than larger? It might seem that way, but there are other contributing factors. In a nutshell, the size of an airplane is not in any way linked to safety, explains Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StretegivAero Research.

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You might be wondering, is turbulence strong enough to cause a plane to crash? The answer is: it's extremely rare. Modern aircraft are designed to withstand turbulence and continue flying safely. In fact, planes undergo rigorous testing to ensure they can endure the forces of turbulence.

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When an aircraft experiences turbulence, the plane can drop or change altitude suddenly. This is why pilots always caution passengers to buckle up and stay seated when they are experiencing flight turbulence. The sudden movements put passengers at risk.

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Should you be scared of turbulence? The short answer is no, and rest assured that the pilots know how uncomfortable turbulence can make passengers feel. And know that no aircraft has ever crashed because of turbulence. Turbulence has not caused an airplane to crash, Biddle said.

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Stay in your seat until a member of the cabin crew says you can leave the aircraft. Always follow instructions from the stewardesses. Never open a door without being told to by a attendant either. If there is smoke, drop onto the floor immediately, you will be able to breathe better that way.

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