According to the BBC’s Horizon science TV show, there were 568 plane crashes in the US alone between 1983 and 2000. That was a total of 53,487 people onboard.

51,207 survived.

Or, put it another way, that’s 24 out of every 25 passengers.

So, those airplane disaster movies were obviously wrong.

According to the show, surviving an aircrash is not a matter of fate and there are several things you can do to make sure you’re not among the 1 in 25…

• Remember an airplane seatbelt is a latch not a button, just pull it up, don’t try to press it open like the belt in your car

• Take note of the Brace! command and get your torso as flat to your lap as you can, this reduces jacknifing on impact
• When you get on the plane count the number of rows to the nearest exit so you can find a way out if the plane is full of smoke and the emergency lights fail
• Familiarise yourself with the cabin crew too, they’re the ones who know the emergency drill best and can help you
• Choose a seat over the wing. You may not get the best mountain and coastal views, but there’s more metal in that area to cushion the impact
• Make sure you don’t inflate your life jacket until you get out of the plane and only bother if you’ve landed in water.

  Adapted from Horizon

  Further reading:

  • A New Space Plane by 2008?
  • A New Space Plane by 2008?
  • Why Do The Planets Orbit On The Same Ecliptic Plane?
  • Why Do The Planets Orbit On The Same Ecliptic Plane?
  • The Most Environmentally Friendly Mid-size Airplane: A UFO