After exiting the plane, passengers should move as far away from the plane as possible. Although the thought of being involved in a plane crash is harrowing, the National Transportation Safety Board reports that more than 95 percent of passengers involved in a plane crash survive.
The average survival rate is 86.3%, casualty rate 20.1% and RSF 0.16. Survival rate increases to 95.6% when accidents with a 100% fatal rate are excluded. Accidents in approach phase, smaller or destroyed aircrafts decrease survivability.
National Transportation Safety Board analyzed all the airplane accidents between 1983 and 2000. Of the 53,487 people involved, 51,207 survived. That's a survival rate of 95.7 percent.
U.S. government data revealed that 95.7 percent of the passengers involved in airplane accidents between 1983 and 2000 survived. Even in the most serious crashes -- 26 in that period -- over half lived.
TIL The survival rate in serious aviation accidents is about as high as 95%. Serious accidents are events where the aircraft suffers significant damage, or where people on board are severely injured or killed.
In fact, based on this incredible safety record, if you did fly every day of your life, probability indicates that it would take you nineteen thousand years before you would succumb to a fatal accident.
At just 17 years old, Juliane Koepcke survived the impossible. On Christmas Eve 1971, her plane, LANSA Flight 508, was struck by lightning over the Amazon rainforest, breaking apart mid-air. Strapped to her seat, Juliane plummeted over 10,000 feet to the ground and 1/2.
The odds of a commercial airplane crashing are approximately 0.000001%. You have a 1 in 816,545,929 chance of being killed in a plane crash. To put it into perspective, you have a better chance of winning a Powerball jackpot.
1st safest: Air New Zealand
The carrier also ranked highest in 2024. Fastidiously high safety protocol and exhaustive pilot training were all contributing factors. It was a close contest, with just 1.5 points separating it from Qantas, but thanks to a newer fleet, the Kiwi airline clinched the number one slot.
Pilot error is the number one cause of aviation accidents. Piloting an aircraft requires lengthy training, a knowledge of the mechanical components of an aircraft, and hand-eye coordination skills to effectively and safely maneuver an aircraft. Pilots also have to think ahead.
The situations where no one survives, the reason is usually because the speeds involved are very very high, and the aircraft comes to a very abrupt stop when it hits the ground. But as others have said, these are ridiculously rare. Most aircraft accidents happen on landing, and are very survivable.
Yes, a few people survived from above the impact zones in the World Trade Center towers, particularly from the South Tower where an open stairwell allowed some to escape, though it was incredibly rare, with the North Tower proving almost impossible for those trapped above the hit floors. Notable survivors from the South Tower include Brian Clark, Ron DiFrancesco, and Stanley Praimnath, who navigated debris to reach the intact stairwell. In the North Tower, the situation was far worse, with very few, if any, surviving from the upper floors after the plane struck, though Pasquale Buzzeli miraculously survived the collapse from the 64th floor.
A 2017 National Transportation Safety Board study that investigated 20 plane crashes since 1971 found that those sitting in the back of the plane had a higher chance of staying alive than those in the front. Additionally, those placed nearby the wing also had a better chances of survival.
Brace for impact
“The best position to brace for a plane crash is to tuck your head down, and place your arms or hands on your head to protect it and your neck,” Bubb says.
But how common are plane crashes? The short answer is extremely rare, with a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study from 2024 putting the risk at 1 per every 13.7 million passenger boardings globally between 2018 and 2022. In 2008-2017, there was 1 fatality for every 7.9 million boardings.
"Plus Three / Minus Eight" -- In aviation lingo this refers to the first three minutes of your plane ride and the last eight. It's during these 11 in-flight minutes that 80 percent of all plane crashes occur. So this is the time to pay extra close attention and be alert.
Qantas: The Australian flag carrier consistently ranks among the safest airlines globally, boasting a long history of safety and operational excellence. Cathay Pacific / Qatar Airways / Emirates (Three-way tie): These three airlines were jointly recognized for their exceptional safety records.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Airlines
Australia's Qantas Airways is often regarded as the safest airline in the world and was even referenced in the 1988 film Rain Man as having never had an aircraft crash.
Tenzing–Hillary Airport has been referred to as the most dangerous airport in the world. Arriving and departing aircraft must use a single runway (06 for landing and 24 for takeoff). There is a low prospect of a successful go-around on a short final approach due to the terrain.
The fatality rate for US air travel is about 0.003 deaths per 100 million miles, compared to 0.57 for passenger vehicles. This means a person is 190 times more likely to die in a car accident than to experience a plane crash. So yeah, air travel remains safe, and that hasn't changed in 2025.
Nearly Half of All Aviation Crashes Happen During Landing or Takeoff.
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky: An extraordinary true story of resilience, courage, hope and finding lightness after the heaviest of landings.
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash. Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many.