Aviation experts share the safest seats on a plane
According to aviation statistics, seats in the back third of the plane, especially middle seats, are considered the safest during a plane crash, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
A 2015 Time analysis of 35 years of FAA data found back-third seats had a 32% fatality rate, compared to 39% in the middle third and 38% in the front third. Middle seats in the back were the safest overall, with just a 28% fatality rate. However, survival often depends on the unique circumstances of an incident, and air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation.
“There’s a safer place to sit on a plane, and that is in the rear,” says Dan Bubb, Ph.D., an aviation expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, according to Time+Leasure. Still, there are trade-offs. The rear of the plane tends to feel the most turbulence, which can make the experience less comfortable. “Turbulence is more common than accidents, so it’s better to choose seats near the middle of the plane to avoid rough air,” advises David Rimmer, CEO of AB Aviation Group and a survivor of a mid-air collision.
Proximity to an exit is another key factor. According to research by the University of Greenwich, passengers seated within five rows of a functional exit are more likely to evacuate safely. The FAA requires planes to be fully evacuated within 90 seconds, making exit access critical. If safety is your priority, consider seats near an exit row.
Despite these statistics, the odds of being in a plane crash are incredibly low—just 1 in 8,000—compared to 1 in 112 for car accidents. Additionally, a 2020 National Transportation Safety Board study showed that 98.2% of passengers in aviation accidents from 2001 to 2017 survived with minor or no injuries.
Rather than focusing solely on seat selection, the passenger must pay attention to safety measures.
“Pay attention to flight attendant instructions, including the safety demonstration,” says Bubb. Pick up that safety card in the seatback pocket and give it a good read. Count how many rows away the nearest exit is so that you’d be able to locate it in low visibility. And never, ever waste time by grabbing your belongings before evacuating a plane in an emergency — get out as fast as possible.
As earlier reported, the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan this week. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his heartfelt condolences to Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash.
