What are the riskiest phases of flight?
Approach and landing is the highest risk phase of flight, accounting for over 50 percent of all accidents at every level of aviation. Many types of accidents can happen during the approach and landing phase of flight.
Seats in the middle of the cabin had a 39% fatality rate, while the front third had 38% and the rear third 32%. When looking at what seats gave you the best chance of surviving a crash, the middle seats in the plane's rear came out the best with a 28% fatality rate.
According to their stats, the back third of the plane had the lowest fatality rate whilst the highest fatality rate was found at the aisles in the middle section. A separate study of 105 air crashes by British experts concluded that the most dangerous seats are those by the window, especially in the back.
Boeing research shows that takeoff and landing are statistically more dangerous than any other part of a flight. 49% of all fatal accidents happen during the final descent and landing phases of the average flight, while 14% of all fatal accidents happen during takeoff and initial climb.
During the landing phase, there are 36% of the accidents (14% during the final approach and 22% during landing), accounting for 24% of the fatalities. This means that there is a greater chance of being in an accident during the landing phase but the likelihood of being a fatality is approximately the same.
Landing is generally considered quite a bit more hazardous (and requires a bit more exacting handling) than taking off, but both takeoffs and landings can have their challenges.
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.
Seats towards the back of the plane tend to experience more turbulence than those towards the front. Those who experience motion sickness should avoid seats in the back at all costs. Additionally, those seated in the back are the last passengers to get off the plane.
According to the report, the middle seat in the back of the aircraft (the rear of the aircraft) had the best position with just 28% fatality rate. In fact, the worst part to sit in is actually on the aisle of the middle third of the cabin as it comes at a 44% fatality rate.
Choose the safest seat
Arguably, whether seated at the front, middle or back, if the speed at which a passenger exits a crashed plane dictates their chance of survival, the closer they are to an exit the better their chances are.
Is it better to sit on the wing or behind it?
We can thank physics and the wonders of aeronautical engineering. “The smoothest place to sit is over the wings, nearest to the plane's centers of lift and gravity,” explained Patrick Smith on the Ask the Pilot site.
“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. The impact of turbulence is also felt less at the front of the plane because it's beyond the centre of gravity on the aircraft.
What is the Most Dangerous Plane? Looking at just the numbers, the most dangerous plane is the Boeing 737 with 149 accidents and 4,360 fatalities. Additionally, the Boeing 747 has been involved in 49 accidents and 3,713 fatalities, and the Airbus A300 has been involved in 33 accidents with 1,416 fatalities.
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 27 March 1977 |
| Summary | Runway collision in fog |
| Site | Los Rodeos Airport (now Tenerife North Ciudad de La Laguna Airport) Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain 28°28′53.94″N 16°20′18.24″W |
| Total fatalities | 583 |
KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, March 27, 1977
This crash remains the deadliest ever, claiming the lives of 583 people when two 747s collided on a foggy runway on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Many aviation accidents are caused when pilots misread flight equipment, misjudge weather conditions or fail to properly address mechanical errors. Pilot error is considered the number one reason why planes crash.
8 plane crashes in year 2022
The Airbus A330-300 operated by Korean Airlines took off from Seoul, South Korea, for a passenger flight to Cebu City, Philippines. 162 passengers and 11 crewmembers were onboard.
It's estimated that 80 percent of all plane crashes happen within the first three minutes of takeoff or in the last eight minutes prior to landing. This is because during these phases the airplane is close to the ground.
By planning for the worst-case scenario, should the unexpected happen, we know that the safety of the aircraft and its occupants will not be jeopardised. As a result, flying over water really is no riskier than flying over land.
According to a study published by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, nearly half of all aviation accidents occur during the final approach or landing and 14 percent occur during takeoff or initial climb.
Why do pilots do hard landing?
In these instances, the pilots want to put down the plane firmly. A firm landing allows for the ground spoilers to deploy more quickly, the wheels to spin up and the brakes to be applied. All of this helps with the braking action of the aircraft.
Many people are afraid of flying in airplanes, but they shouldn't be. Flying is actually one of the safest ways to travel. In fact, when measured per mile, flying is actually farsafer than driving, or travelling by train. Not only is flying the safest mode of transport, but it is also the fastest.
Before every flight, pilots will study the forecast of the flight route and, when possible, change their course to avoid areas with extreme turbulence.
Winter and summer are the most turbulent months to fly. During winter, there are strong winds and blizzards. During the peak of summer when it is very hot, convection turbulence occurs, especially when flying over cities and mountains during midday.
Occupants of the airplane will be forced violently against their seat belts. In extreme turbulence, the airplane is tossed violently about and is impossible to control. It may cause structural damage. Aircraft is violently tossed about and practically impossible to control.