The only passenger who miraculously survived the Air India plane crash was sitting in seat 11A near the emergency exit - Photo: brandsynario.com
A passenger miraculously survived the June 12 Air India plane crash by sitting in seat 11A near the emergency exit, sparking debate about whether this is the safest position on the plane.
However, aviation experts confirm: there is no "golden seat" that guarantees absolute survival if a plane crashes.
Director of the Aviation Safety Foundation (USA) Mitchell Fox emphasized: "Every accident is different. The ability to survive cannot be predicted simply based on the seat position."
The specific case of passenger Viswashkumar Ramesh, the only survivor of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad (India), was partly lucky that his seat 11A was right next to the working emergency exit, while the opposite side was blocked by the wall of a building after the collision.
Mr. Ron Bartsch - Chairman of aviation consulting firm AvLaw in Sydney (Australia) - affirmed: "That day, 11A was the safest seat, but not always. That seat was just near the emergency exit on the diagram of this particular Boeing 787".
A 2007 study published in Popular Mechanics magazine found that passengers sitting in the back of planes had a higher survival rate in crashes since 1971. The position near the wings is believed to be more structurally stable.
Meanwhile, aisle seats provide quick escape routes but are vulnerable to falling luggage - a situation much more common than plane crashes.
Experts agree that preparation and safety compliance are vital. Specifically, passengers need to listen carefully to the safety instructions at the beginning of the flight, remember the row number to the nearest emergency exit (to prevent smoke from blocking visibility), and absolutely follow the crew's instructions, including not taking luggage with them when evacuating - something that saved all 379 people on the Japan Airlines flight that crashed last year in Tokyo (Japan).
"Thanks to advances in cabin design such as underfloor navigation lights, fire-resistant materials, easily accessible emergency exits... the chances of surviving a plane crash - although rare - have increased dramatically," Mr Fox concluded.
India urgently inspects all Boeing 787 aircraft
The Indian government announced on June 14 that it is urgently conducting a comprehensive inspection of the country's entire Boeing 787 fleet, following the tragic crash of an Air India plane on June 12 that killed nearly 300 people.
This development comes just a day after India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asked Air India to carry out additional maintenance checks on two versions of the Boeing 787 aircraft, the Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 787-9, both powered by GEnx engines.
The inspections include evaluation of take-off parameters, electronic engine controls and engine fuel-related checks. Sources said the Indian government is considering the possibility of grounding the aircraft.
In connection with the investigation into the cause of the accident, the Government of India has constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by the Home Minister, with the participation of representatives from both the central government and the state of Gujarat. Accordingly, the committee will have a period of 3 months to announce its conclusion on the cause of the accident.
At a press conference on June 14, Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also said that the government would look into all possible theories that could have led to the incident. Currently, Air India and relevant authorities are looking into a number of technical factors, such as the thrust of the engines, the flaps and why the landing gear remained open during takeoff and landing. The investigation will be significantly aided by the recovery of both black boxes of the ill-fated aircraft on June 13.
On June 14, an Indian police source said 279 bodies had been found at the scene of the accident. However, this is not the official death toll, as identification of the victims is still pending.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ghe-11a-co-that-la-cho-ngoi-an-toan-nhat-tren-may-bay-20250614223341526.htm
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