Experts Explain Why Seat 11A Is Not Always the Best on a Plane

• Experts emphasize that the best seat on a plane varies depending on the configuration.
• Seats near the exit can increase survival chances, but they are not universally safe.
• Attention to safety instructions is key for survival during an emergency.

This is reported by The Independent, Asharq Al-Awsat.

The survival of a passenger who escaped through an evacuation door after the crash of an Air India plane has sparked discussions about whether his seat 11A is the best on board. However, aviation experts note that determining the best seat is not so simple, as aircraft configurations vary significantly, and each accident has its unique circumstances.

Mitchell Fox, director of the Flight Safety Foundation in the U.S., stated, "Every accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survival based on seat location." Ramesh Vishwakumar, who sat in 11A, recounted that his proximity to the exit on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad allowed him to escape to safety.

While sitting next to the exit may enhance survival chances in an emergency, experts point out that a specific seat number, such as 11A, is not universally safe, as planes can have many different configurations.

Ron Bartsch, head of the Australian consulting firm AvLaw, noted, "In this case, since the passenger was sitting next to the exit, it was certainly the best seat that day. But it’s not always 11A; it’s only 11A in this configuration of the Boeing 787."

A 2007 study by Popular Mechanics, covering accidents since 1971, showed that passengers sitting at the back of the plane had better survival odds. Some experts argue that the area near the wings offers more stability.

Sitting next to the exit, as in Vishwakumar's case, allows one to be among the first to exit the aircraft, although some exits may not function after an accident. He noted that the opposite side of the plane was blocked by a building wall into which it crashed.

In January of last year, a panel that lost several bolts tore off the side of a Boeing 737 MAX during flight, creating a massive hole and damaging the adjacent seat. Fortunately, there was no one in that seat at the time, and the incident did not result in any casualties.

Sitting by the aisle can provide a quicker exit but increases the likelihood of head injuries from luggage falling from overhead bins—a far more common occurrence than serious accidents.

The Importance of Safety Instructions

Experts assert that paying attention to safety instructions at the beginning of a flight, often perceived as routine, is the best way to enhance survival chances.

Following crew recommendations for evacuation, including leaving belongings behind, was a key factor in the survival of all 379 passengers and crew members on a Japan Airlines flight last January.

The Airbus A350 collided with a coast guard aircraft at Tokyo Haneda Airport, resulting in the deaths of five out of six crew members on the smaller plane.

Safety instructions typically cover critical guidelines, such as how to properly fasten a seatbelt, assume the correct brace position, and plan an evacuation route.

A common piece of advice is to count the number of rows between your seat and the nearest exit—important information if the cabin fills with smoke and visibility decreases.

Despite accidents like the Air India crash, aircraft designs have evolved to improve the likelihood that passengers can survive rare accidents, Fox noted.

Such improvements include floor lighting, fire detection and suppression systems, less flammable materials in the cabin, and improved access to emergency exits.

"Significant advancements have been made in aircraft cabin design that have increased the chances of survival during accidents on or near the ground," Fox added.

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