In the middle, in the back Nevertheless, a survey by the American magazine Time which examined 35 years of data on plane crashes found that the middle rear seats of an airplane had the lowest fatality rate: 28 per cent, compared to 44 per cent for the seats from the central aisle. It is also logical.
Travelers unable to secure the safest seats may have better luck surviving in the middle and window seats of the middle part of the plane. However, the chances of dying in an aircraft accident have less to do with where you sit and more with the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Although some researchers have calculated that aisle seats may be safer than middle or window seats, the Time analysis found that at least in the middle of the plane, they were the least safe. And middle seats near the back appeared to be the safest. "This logically makes sense too.
Takeoff and landing are widely considered the most dangerous parts of a flight.
Turbulence. If you are a nervous flyer, the seats between the wings are best for you. There is less turbulence towards the front and especially between the wings of the plane, since this area is more stable. For the same reason, if you suffer from motion sickness, it would also be better to be seated close to the wings ...
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.
To avoid engine noise from the outside of the plane, keep clear of the back of the plane. Engine noise is deflected backwards, so sitting in front of the wing is your best chance of avoiding external noises, especially if you are seated on the window.
1. Lightning. Lightning is far more dangerous than flying with a 1 in 136,011 chance of death by lightning.
More than 25 percent of general aviation fatal accidents occur during the maneuvering phase of flight — turning, climbing, or descending close to the ground.
Flying is still considered to be the safest way to travel, but accidents can happen. Roughly, there are between 70-90 plane crashes per year worldwide, including both commercial planes and privately-owned ones.
Airplane accidents have a 95.7% survivability rate, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board.
Your odds of being in an accident during a flight is one in 1.2 million, and the chances of that accident being fatal are one in 11 million. Your chances of dying in a car crash, conversely, are one in 5,000.
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.
95.7% of people survive airplane crashes globally. Out of every 100 people involved in a plane crash, 95.7 people survive. This data is from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The country ranks 33 out of the 207 countries ordered based on the number of plane crashes between 1990 and 2023 (Chart 1) . With 1,578 plane crashes, the U.S. leads the list, followed by Russia (464) and Canada (369).
Accident statistics suggest that flying by night accounts for about 10% of the general aviation accidents, but 30% of the fatalities. That suggests night flying must be inherently more dangerous than aviating when the sun is up.
Commercial plane crashes are nowadays very rare, with approximately 45,000 flights typically completed each day in the US, all without fatality.
THE ANSWER: Yes, small planes are involved in more accidents than commercial plane.
Small plane crash rates are higher than those of commercial airlines, with general aviation accidents (which include small planes) showing around 1 accident per 100,000 flight hours, while commercial airlines have approximately 0.16 accidents per 100,000 flight hours.
So many travelers struggle with this fear, so the best way to cope is to find a seat with plenty of space. The least crowded section of the plane is first or business class. But if upgraded flying isn't in your budget there are still options. Try sitting in an aisle seat in an exit row towards the front of the plane.
Middle section
This section is stationed directly over the wings, the most stable area of the plane and center of lift, so sitting here makes for the smoothest ride should the plane hit turbulence.
Exit rows, aisle or window seats, and anywhere close to the front are typically considered the best seats on a plane. On a short business trip, you might want an aisle seat near the front of the plane so you can debark as quickly as possible on arrival.