A frightening simulation recently explored how to survive a plane crash and identified six key actions that can save your life if disaster strikes mid-flight. Last month’s Air India crash, which killed 241 passengers and 19 on the ground, had only one survivor—British passenger Vishwashkumar Ramesh in seat 11A.
Though 2025 has seen many tragic aviation accidents, your chance of being in a crash is still about one in 11 million, according to the YouTube channel “How To Survive,” which studied crash survival science.
One of the first tips is to dress appropriately. Avoid sandals or heels and wear long pants and long sleeves with lace-up shoes. The National Transportation Safety Board says most fatalities happen due to fires after a crash, so protective clothing helps.
Choosing your seat carefully is also important. While some survivors have been in seat 11A, research shows seats toward the back of the plane offer better odds of survival, unless the crash is tail-first.
Stay alert during takeoff and landing—the riskiest parts of a flight. Keep your seatbelt fastened, shoes on, tray table stowed, and listen to safety briefings, even if you’re familiar with them.
Keeping calm is vital. The first 90 seconds after a crash alert are critical. Panic can cause mistakes like forgetting to unbuckle. Prepare for impact by bending over, holding your knees, and lowering your head.
If oxygen masks fall, put yours on immediately—you have only seconds before losing consciousness. Help others only after securing your own mask.
Don’t waste time grabbing luggage during evacuation. Leave quickly and move at least 150 meters away from the plane, preferably upwind, to avoid danger from possible explosions. Then wait for help.
By following these science-based steps, you can increase your chances of surviving an otherwise terrifying event.
