8 Lessons I Learned After Surviving My 3rd Plane Crash

I wasn’t always comfortable with flying. In fact, I used to be really scared of flying. I get into the plane and staring out the porthole while the other passengers get adjusted and the flight attendants give out pillows and instructions, I am fighting panic attacks. I would get out packs of gum and chew furiously all the while the plane taxis down the tarmac so my ears pop as soon the plane lifts and the pressure in the cabin builds up. I was always so scared of dying in a plane crash because I had heard stories that people always died in plane crashes and I was sure that if I was ever involved in one, I would die. I was wrong.

You see, the rate of survival in a plane crash is actually really high. In fact, according to the National Transportation Safety Board of the USA, who conducted a research of plane crashes between 1983 and 2000, the rate of survival of passengers on those plane crashes was at a steady 95.7%! Practically everyone who was on those flights survived the crash. So what was the secret? How were they able to survive those crashes? I decided to take a look at some of those reasons, and boy was it a good thing I did. These tips are the reasons I have been able to survive three crashes, and the end of my fear of flying too.

Have an action plan

The reason I survived all those plane crashes was because I always had an action plan. I knew what I was going to do the very instant a crash occurred. The biggest benefit this action plan gives you is that it helps you overcome the normalcy bias. On the first ever crash I was in, I noticed something really bizarre. After the crash, as I unbuckled my seatbelt and headed immediately for the exit, I spotted people still in their seats, fellow passengers who just seemed stunned by all that was going on. They just sat there doing nothing. This is the normalcy bias, people just assume that since the crash has already occurred, everything would go back to normal. Well, wrong. Have an action plan so you know what to do immediately a crash occurs. Some of the things to consider in your action plan include:

• How far away is the exit from me? After a crash, a plane can quickly become covered in smoke causing visibility to instantly become a thing of the distant, unremembered past. It is good if you remember where the exit is and how many rows away from you. You can make your way easily to it in that case.
• Who gets who? If you are travelling with your family, the crucial moments after a crash can be very confusing and it is not uncommon for parents to forget their kids on the plane. No, it’s not bad parenting; it is a simple mistake of assuming the other parent would have the kid. Always plan ahead of time so you know who goes with who.
• Dressing accordingly for the flight. A lot of people use flights to show off different outfits and their fashion styles. If you are not going directly for an event or a business meeting, avoid high heels, loose clothing, thick clothing – though woolen clothes are good, especially if you are flying over water, and polyester or nylon which is more likely to combust or burst into flames. Loose clothing snag on parts of the plane and can delay your deplaning. Cotton is not as insulating as wool when it gets wet and high heels would only delay you. Running with stilettos may end you with a broken ankle before you even deplane and hamper other passengers trying to make it out behind you. Wearing sandals can also be dangerous as your toes could get cut off easily or burnt. The best option is wearing flats. On one occasion, the flight attendant refused to let a lady who wore heels from deplaning as it could damage the rubber matting of the slide.

There is a 5 row rule for surviving plane crashes

Wherever you sit in a plane you should realize that the higher probability of surviving a plane crash depends on how close to you sit to the exit. Those who sit within 5 rows of the exit have the highest probability of surviving a plane crash. This is also true for those who sit on the aisle. So for safety sake, sometimes ignore the window seat and stay on the aisle, you can get to the exit faster that way. Plus it makes the bathroom breaks less conspicuous no?

Be fit

It’s really hilarious but being fit and slender(your choice of lifestyle matters here) is a big plus in surviving a plane crash. While I have nothing against people on the big side, on one particular crash landing at the airport, I was able to deplane ahead of most of the passengers before the plane went up in smoke, simply because I was fast enough to get to the exit on time and able to dodge around people who were a lot bigger due to my slender nature.

You have only 90 seconds to deplane after a crash

A lot of people think that deplaning after a plane crash can take a long time especially if it seems like the plane has settled and all the tremor have ceased, but this is far from the truth. According to research surveys, the plane crash hardly ever hurts anyone, where the real danger comes in is when the passengers fail to disembark and the plane goes up in flames or gets filled with water. Always remind yourself that you have only 90 seconds to get out of the plane and ensure you get to the exit as fast as possible after the crash landing. Another reason to be really fit. And once you have deplaned, make sure you get at least 500ft away from the plane. Even after surviving the crash, you could still get injured in the explosion, which is why you should stay as far away from the crash as possible while staying close enough to be rescued by the emergency services.

The bigger the plane, the safer

Big planes have a lot of cushion effect during a crash over smaller planes. In other words, you have a greater chance of survival from a crash in a big plane over a crash in a really small puddle jumper or private aircraft. So wherever you are going, look for the 737s.

Beware of the Plus 3/Minus 8 rule

Plus 3/minus 8 is an aircraft term that deals with the 3 minutes into take off and the 8 minutes as the plane lands. These are the crucial times in a flight and the period when a crash is more likely to occur. You should be completely aware in these times because anything can happen. This is not the time for you to be dozing or busy doing something else. You should be aware and watchful at this time. This does not mean you should be paranoid and glancing every second at all the exits and passengers in wide-eyed anxiety, you should just be vigilant.

Fly economy

It is surprising but in all the three crashes I have survived, I have realized that flying economy is actually the safest place to be in during a crash. The front ends and middle of a plane often receive more impact during the crash than the back end. In many crashes the front ends are snapped off but the economy section is still whole. So when flying, make sure you fly economy. Plus it’s cheaper anyway.

Most importantly, listen to the flight attendant’s safety spiel

You may have travelled a hundred dozen times and probably heard that particular spiel more times than you can count, but believing you know it all would only lure you to complacency. On every occasion listen very carefully to the pre-flight safety warning, read the cardboard before you and observe where the exit is. Many planes have different exits and it would be wise for you to note where each one is on the particular plane you are on. Just before a crash ensure you get into the correct brace position. It looks silly but believe me, it would save your life and ensure you have no broken bones at the end of the crash. Also, as soon as the oxygen masks drop during an emergency, grab them and wear them. you have probably 10 -15 seconds to wear the masks before you pass out from oxygen deprivation. And even if you do not die, oxygen deprivation for only a few seconds can actually lead to brain damage. You should be very mindful of that. So as soon as you see the oxygen masks, put them on, before you hel anyone else do the same. This is a great time to be selfish. You would not be any help to your children, aging mother or baby sister if you are passed out yourself. Wear your oxygen mask, then help others.

Okay, so there it is, the secrets behind my survival of three plane crashes. Following all these tips would ensure you have a very high survival rate on any crash you may be on. You should know however, that it is highly unlikely that you would be the victim of a plane crash in your lifetime, but better safe than sorry right?