In a separate filing cited by the Journal, attorneys for the families wrote that the 157 people onboard undeniably suffered horrific emotional distress, pain and suffering, and physical impact/injury while they endured extreme G-forces, braced for impact, knew the airplane was malfunctioning, and ultimately plummeted ...

This is a profoundly difficult and sensitive question, and the answer is complex and depends heavily on the specific circumstances of the crash.

The short, direct answer is: It is possible, but in many catastrophic crashes, loss of consciousness likely occurs very quickly, potentially limiting or eliminating conscious pain.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the factors involved:

Scenarios Where Pain Might Be Felt (Typically in Survivable Crashes)

• Survivable Impacts: In crashes with a survivable deceleration (like many runway accidents or emergency landings), passengers are absolutely at risk of injury and will feel the pain from those injuries—broken bones, burns, lacerations, etc. The focus in these events is on rescue and medical treatment.
• Pre-Impact Terror: The most significant psychological suffering for many is the minutes of terror and anticipation during an uncontrolled descent or emergency, knowing what is likely to happen. This acute psychological distress is a form of profound suffering.

Scenarios in Catastrophic, Non-Survivable Crashes

In high-impact, disintegrating crashes, several physiological factors suggest that conscious pain may be brief or absent:

1. Rapid Loss of Consciousness: A severe, sudden deceleration (a massive, instantaneous change in speed) can cause immediate traumatic brain injury or render a person unconscious in milliseconds. The brain is slammed inside the skull, disrupting its function instantly.
2. Hypoxia (Lack of Oxygen): If the cabin depressurizes at high altitude or breaks apart, consciousness is lost in 15-30 seconds due to a lack of oxygen. This is not painful; it feels like light