In a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 179 people, two flight attendants were the only survivors. The Jeju Air Boeing 737 skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport, crashing into a wall. The tail section of the plane, where the two attendants were seated, was the only part of the aircraft that remained somewhat intact, according to Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun.
The survival of the two attendants aligns with statistical data indicating that the rear of an aircraft is the safest place to be during a crash. A 2015 analysis of 35 years of Federal Aviation Administration data by Time magazine found that the fatality rate for passengers seated in the back third of an aircraft was 32%, compared to 39% in the middle third and 38% in the front third.
One of the survivors, Lee Mo, recounted fastening his seatbelt just before the plane landed. His next memory was waking up in a hospital bed, disoriented and unsure of what had transpired. The two survivors were likely seated at the back of the plane due to their roles as flight attendants.
Survival in a plane crash can also be influenced by other factors. For instance, sitting in an exit row can facilitate a quicker escape from the aircraft, according to Doug Drury, Professor of Aviation at Australia’s Central Queensland University. However, he cautioned that sitting in an exit row near the wings can be more dangerous due to the potential for fuel fires or explosions.
Drury also suggested that choosing a middle seat over a window or aisle seat can be safer due to the buffer provided by passengers on either side. Despite these factors, the overall likelihood of dying in a plane crash is extremely low. The International Air Transport Association reported no deaths from commercial aviation accidents in 2023, with only 30 total incidents. This equates to an average of one accident for every 880,293 flights, making flying the safest mode of travel.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash. The pilot, a seasoned professional with nearly 7,000 hours of flight experience, reported a bird strike on at least one engine minutes before the crash. It is speculated that an engine failure may have disabled the automated hydraulic systems for the landing gear and brakes, although manual overrides for these systems exist. Aviation safety expert David Learmount criticized the presence of the concrete wall at the end of the runway, calling it “verging on criminal.”