In 2012, an ambitious experiment was conducted to answer a critical question: where should passengers sit on a plane to increase their chances of surviving a crash? A team of scientists, safety experts, and elite pilots collaborated on this unique project, crashing a Boeing 727 into the desert to study survival outcomes based on seat location.
The plane, fully loaded with crash test dummies, scientific instruments, and cameras, was remotely crashed into a dry lake bed in Mexico after the human crew parachuted to safety just minutes before impact. The purpose of this controlled crash was to gather data that could help improve aviation safety and answer the age-old question: which seats offer the best chance of survival?
The Setup: A Controlled Crash
The Boeing 727 took off from an airport in Mexicali on April 27, 2012, with Captain Jim Bob Slocum at the controls. Due to the flight passing over populated areas, a human pilot was required in the cockpit until it reached the designated crash zone. Once in position, Slocum safely ejected, and the plane was remotely guided to its crash site, hitting the ground at a speed of 140 miles per hour (225 kilometers per hour).
The plane’s landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft split into several pieces upon impact. The crash was meticulously recorded, providing scientists with valuable data for analyzing the mechanics of plane crashes and the survivability of passengers depending on where they were seated.
Key Findings: Rear of the Plane Is Safest
The experiment revealed that passengers seated at the front of the plane—specifically in first class and up to row seven—would have had the least chance of survival. The impact was so severe in this section that the dummies positioned here were projected to suffer fatal injuries. Seat 7A, for instance, was found 150 meters from the wreckage, a distance that would have been unsurvivable for a real passenger.
Passengers seated in the middle of the plane, particularly over the wings, would likely have sustained serious injuries, such as broken bones. However, these injuries were deemed survivable. One of the key observations was that passengers seated toward the back of the plane had the highest chance of walking away with minimal or no injuries. In fact, scientists concluded that many passengers at the rear could have walked away from the wreckage unharmed.However, it’s important to note that these findings were specific to this type of crash, where the front of the plane impacted the ground first. If the plane had crashed tail-first, the outcomes could have been reversed, leaving rear passengers in more danger.
The Importance of the Brace Position
Another critical finding from the experiment was the effectiveness of the brace position during a crash. Crash test dummies that were positioned in the brace position fared better, with reduced stress on their spines and fewer serious injuries, compared to those seated upright. Cindy Bir, a professor of biomedical engineering at Wayne State University, emphasized the importance of the brace position, stating, “Between the lower-spine issue and the vulnerability of sitting upright and having debris flying around, I think the brace position is still the way to go to prevent injuries.”
However, while the brace position helps minimize head and spinal injuries, it may increase pressure on the legs, potentially leading to broken bones.
Controversy and Challenges
The 2012 experiment faced its share of challenges. Initially, the team had hoped to conduct the crash test in the United States, but government officials denied the necessary permissions. Eventually, Mexico granted permission to use a remote desert area, allowing the team to proceed. The experiment, titled The Plane Crash, was documented for television and became part of a TV series called Curiosity.
Although the experiment provided valuable insights into plane crash survivability, it also sparked controversy. Critics questioned the ethics and necessity of crashing a fully functional aircraft, even though no lives were at risk. Despite these concerns, the data gathered from the crash has contributed to the ongoing improvement of aviation safety standards.
A Reminder of Air Travel Safety
Despite the dramatic nature of the experiment, scientists and aviation experts continue to stress that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation. Statistically, flying is much safer than driving, with accidents occurring rarely. Anne Evans, a former flight crash investigator from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, noted that while the front of the plane is more vulnerable in crashes, the middle and rear sections provide a better chance of survival. “My favored location would be the middle, over the wing, or the rear of the fuselage,” Evans shared.
The experiment’s findings are a fascinating glimpse into what could happen in a worst-case scenario, but they also serve as a reminder that modern aircraft are designed with a myriad of safety features to protect passengers.
Ultimately, the 2012 Boeing 727 crash test confirmed that, in the event of a crash, passengers seated at the back of the plane have a better chance of survival. The middle section, especially near the wings, also offers relatively better chances, while the front section is the most dangerous.
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