The six steps you can follow to help you survive if you ever find yourself in disaster while flying 35,000 feet in the air
A terrifying simulation has explored the science behind plane crashes, and exactly how you could survive one if you ever find yourself barrelling towards the Earth.
The sixth-most deadly aviation accident took place last month in Air India, which claiming the lives of 241 people onboard, with a further 19 dying on the ground and only one passenger survived – British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, who was sat in seat 11A.
The US knows only too well what the families of the victims in India, Britain, Canada and Portuguese are going through, with 55 fatal plane crashes having already taken place this year – up to June 6.
While 2025 has been a tragic year in terms of planes and helicopters falling out of the sky, the odds of you being involved in a plane crash are one in 11 million – according to the YouTube channel, ‘How To Survive’, which dived into the science behind them.
Dress appropriately
“Dress as if you’ll have to run away from a fire,” it explains. It goes without saying, if you’re in an emergency the last thing you want to be wearing on your feet are flip-flops or high heels.
The channel adds: “The National Transportation Safety Board reports that 68% of passengers in plane accidents die from injuries in post crash fires. So go for long pants and long sleeved shirts. They’ll protect you from flames and sharp objects, and put on lace up shoes in case you need to run.”
Choose safer seats
When it comes to choosing your seat, many will speculate that 11A would be the safest seat to sit in – that’s because Ramesh sat their when he survived Air India’s crash, and so too did James Ruangsak Loychusak, who was in a fatal commercial plane that came down in Thailand, back in 1998.
“Where is the safest place to sit anyway, according to an analysis of airplane crashes by Popular Mechanics, your best bet is to sit as far back in the airplane as possible, unless the plane goes down tail first,” the channel notes.
Know when to stay alert
This is a key step, but it’s likely one that the majority of us are guilty of dismissing.
How To Survive explains: “The first three minutes after takeoff and the eight minutes before landing are the most accident prone times of the entire flight.
“Make sure to keep your shoes on, your seat belt fastened, and your tray table up, put your carry on items under the seat in front of you.
“You know why? To keep your legs from going under the seat and getting broken, and pay attention to the emergency instructions, even if you’ve been on a plane many times before, not all planes are the same.”
Keep calm
This one is essential, from when you find out your plane is going down, the first 90 seconds is the most important. Try and remain calm, panic will only worsen your chances of survival.
“Many people get so nervous they forget how to unbuckle their seat belt. Listen carefully to the instructions,” it warns.
“But don’t just sit through the disaster waiting for orders if they’re not coming, the first thing you should do is to prepare for impact Bend over, grab your legs behind your knees, and keep your head down.
“In the worst case scenario, the cabin will experience sudden pressure loss and oxygen deficiency. You’ll only have about 10 seconds before you go unconscious. So if you see the oxygen masks drop down, put one on yourself first – only then should you try to help someone else.”
Leave your luggage behind
This should be an obvious one… forget about your luggage, if you survive a plane crash are you really going to be worried that you didn’t take your luggage with you from the doomed jet.
“If you get to evacuate from the plane, do it as quickly as possible. Don’t try to get your carry on to take with you in the time you waste, you might end up getting stuck with it on a burning plane,” the channel explains.
Get away from the plane
Finally, if you do make it to the ground safely try and get away from the plane as quickly as possible as chances are it’s a ticking time bomb.
The YouTuber notes: “If your plane hits the ground, there’s a high chance of it exploding. Run at least 150 meters away from it in the direction against the wind, and wait for the rescuers to find you.”
Source: unilad.com