Where is safest to sit on a plane?

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. That said, flying is still the safest form of transport.



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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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The middle seat in the final seat is your safest bet The middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared to 44% for the middle aisle seats, according to a TIME investigation that examined 35 years' worth of aircraft accident data. This also makes logical sense.

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It turns out that the aisle seats at the back of the plane are the safest, with an average 28% fatality rate if the plane crashes. Things get more dangerous the closer you get to the front of the plane. Aisle seats over the wings have a 44% fatality rate, while all seats near the front have a 39% fatality rate.

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The wings are the point of lift vs gravity so sitting above them ensures a smoother lift off, flight, and landing. Avoid the rear of the plane. Turbulence is much more pronounced at the back of the plane – the further back the worse it can be.

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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. A panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro from the plane window.

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Seats at the back of the plane tend to be bumpier, and sitting towards the back also means you're one of the last passengers to get off the plane after landing. Similarly, the bulkheads at the front of the cabin are where families with babies and young children sit.

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“The smoothest place to sit is over the wings,” commercial pilot Patrick Smith, host of AskThePilot.com said. These seats are close to the plane's center of lift and gravity. “The roughest spot is usually the far aft. In the rearmost rows, closest to the tail, the knocking and swaying is more pronounced,” Smith added.

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The seat you choose can actually reduce the amount of turbulence you feel! Grab a seat near the center of the plane, over the wings, or toward the front of the aircraft. These areas are more stable, and you'll notice less turbulence than at the back of the plane.

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Logically, the safety of these seats makes sense. Seats at the back of an airplane are close to exit rows while providing more cushion from any collisions that may impact the front of the plane first.

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Lastly, though air travel is one of the safest forms of travel, studies show that the back of the plane is actually the safest in the event of a crash, with a 40% increase in the likelihood of survival, compared to those sitting closest to the front.

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We found that survival was random in several accidents — those who perished were scattered irregularly between survivors. It's for this reason that the FAA and other airline safety experts say there is no safest seat on the plane.

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“Rows 13 and 17 are missing because these are considered unlucky numbers #bettersafethansorry,” Lufthansa said in a 2017 tweet, accompanied by a wink emoji. United Airlines doesn't have a row 13 or 14 either, with row 14 considered unlucky as it sounds like “will die” in Chinese.

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The best seat on the plane to avoid turbulence is either over the wings or towards the front of the aircraft. The wings of the plane keep it balanced and smooth, whereas the tail of the aircraft can bounce up and down more. The closer a passenger is to the front of the plane the less turbulence they would usually feel.

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The best seats on a plane Best seat for peace and quiet: A seat near the front. Best seat for legroom: A bulkhead or exit-row seat. Best seat for sleeping: A window seat in a bulkhead row. Best seat for extra space without a seatmate: A seat towards the back.

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Because the wings provide the plane's stability, the seats closest to them will offer a smoother ride. If those seats are not available, the next best place is towards the front of the plane. It is best to avoid the back if turbulence will cause you distress, as it is the most susceptible to bumpiness.

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Summer and winter are the worst seasons for turbulence. Winter has strong winds and blizzards, and summer's hot heat can create unstable air, thunderstorms, and tropical storms. That means flying during the holidays often means more turbulence than other times of the year.

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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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Delta Air Lines claims it has less turbulence than the competition. In 2016, Delta Air Lines launched a Flight Weather Viewer app that gives its pilots a greater understanding of the weather they encounter around the world.

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How to Deal With Turbulence Anxiety
  1. Trust the Flight Crew. ...
  2. Choose the Right Seat. ...
  3. Stay Informed with Turbulence Forecast Tools. ...
  4. Practice Relaxation Techniques. ...
  5. Distract Yourself. ...
  6. Seek Professional Help If Necessary. ...
  7. Understand the Nature of Turbulence.


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The bigger the plane, the better! Any plane can experience turbulence, but larger planes weigh more and don't feel the impact of wind changes as much as a smaller plane. Specifically, the Airbus A380 handles turbulence very well! The A380 is a large plane mainly used for international flights.

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Driving vs. Flying By the Numbers The overall fatality risk is 0.23% — you would need to fly every day for more than 10,000 years to be in a fatal plane crash. On the other hand, the chances of dying in a car collision are about 1 in 101, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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Most of the survivors were sitting behind first class, towards the front of the plane. 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.

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