Air India plane crash raises questions: Is 11A the miracle seat? Here's what experts say

Time of India

2 days ago

When the
Air India flight AI171
, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday, killing everyone on board but one, survivor
Viswashkumar Ramesh
, who stepped out of the wreckage through an emergency exit, which led to speculation about whether his seat 11A was the secret to his survival, as per Reuters.
Ramesh, who was seated beside an exit door on the London-bound flight, managed to walk out of the shattered plane moments after it crashed, according to the report. The entire opposite side of the aircraft was crushed against a building, he told investigators, as per Reuters.
His miraculous escape has stirred intense public interest if his seat, 11A, is the safest, but aviation experts have highlighted that it is not so easy to jump to conclusions because aircraft vary widely in seat configurations, crashes are unique and survival often hinges on a complex interplay of factors, reported Reuters.
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There's no universal 'safest' seat
A director at the US-based Flight Safety Foundation, Mitchell Fox said, "Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location," quoted Reuters.
While the chairman of AvLaw Aviation Consulting, Ron Bartsch, pointed out that, "In this particular instance, because the passenger was sitting adjacent to the emergency exit, this was obviously the safest seat on the day," adding, "But it's not always 11A, it's just 11A on this configuration of the Boeing 787," as quoted in the report.
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Proximity to exits matters, but not always
Being close to an exit door can increase your odds of escaping after a crash, but it's no guarantee, according to the report. Some exit doors are blocked or damaged after a crash, and depending on the crash dynamics, the safe side of the plane can vary.
In Ramesh's case, his seat location gave him immediate access to the only exit that wasn't obstructed, but aviation history is full of unpredictable outcomes, as a 2007 Popular Mechanics study found that passengers seated toward the rear of planes had slightly better survival odds, as per Reuters. Some experts suggest the wing section offers more stability, reported Reuters.
Plane safety is more than seat choice
While many passengers might try to secure a seat near an exit or on the aisle, but experts caution that the most effective ways to survive a crash are less about seat number and more about preparedness, according to the report.
Experts say, "Safety briefings typically cover critical instructions such as how to fasten your seatbelt securely, adopt the correct brace position and plan your evacuation route," as per Reuters.
Another tip the experts shared with Reuters is to count the number of rows between your seat and the nearest exit, which is important knowledge if the cabin fills with smoke and visibility is low, according to the report.
FAQs
Is seat 11A always the safest spot on a plane?
Not at all. In this specific crash, it helped. But in another situation, it might not. Safety depends on the plane model and the nature of the accident.
Are rear seats safer than front ones?
Some studies suggest higher survival rates toward the back, but it's not a hard rule.