*If a new study is to be believed, Samuel Jackson had more to worry about that just a few snakes on his plane.
A recent study analyzed data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for every commercial plane crash since 1971 that had both survivors and fatalities, and for which a detailed seating chart was accessible. They’ve determined that some seats, or at least sections of the plane, are safer than others.
And from the looks of their findings, I will be changing my seat on my next flight.
Are you ready for this?
Passengers sitting near the rear of the plane are about 40 percent more likely to survive a crash than those in the front.
Seats from the back of the wing to the tail had a 69 percent survival rate (still not that high, so I’ll be taking Jesus with me to Detroit for Mother’s Day, thank you very much). Seats over the wing and in the coach section had a 56 percent survival rate.
And those expensive, comfortable first class seats up front? Only a 49 percent survival rate. The rich folks and business classers are basically flipping a coin each time they fly the friendly skies.
I typically like to fly the front of the plane, which allows me to get off first and not stand and wait for sometimes hundreds of people to get off of the plane ahead of me. In light of this study’s findings, I’ll be rethinking that.
As you’re headed for that back section, forgo the need to get a window or aisle seat, as the middle seats near the rear sport a 72 percent survival rate.
The least safe seats on the whole plane? Figures: they’re the ones from which I usually choose, the aisle seats in the middle third of a plane’s cabin.
Sooooo, since I want to actually arrive in Detroit in a couple of weeks for my annual Mother’s Day argument — I mean, visit — with Mom, I’ll be headed to the back of the plane. See you back there!
This blog was written by freelancer Michael P Coleman. Follow him on Twitter.
