Knowing what to do before, during, and after a train crash can significantly improve your chances of getting out alive

Adamuz survivors spoke of violent jolts, falling luggage, and a sudden plunge into darkness. One passenger recalled how the train swayed and vibrated intensely before the crash, suitcases raining down from overhead racks.

The aftermath was chaotic. Passengers climbed through shattered windows to escape. Emergency crews struggled to reach crushed carriages scattered down a slope. Some victims were found hundreds of meters from the crash site.

Before Spain’s three days of national mourning had even ended, tragedy struck again. On January 20, another train derailed in Gelida, Catalonia, after colliding with a fallen wall, taking one life.

A week earlier, in Sikhio, Thailand, a massive construction crane collapsed onto a moving train, killing 32 passengers. Inoperable automatic doors left them trapped in the wreckage on fire.

And this was only the beginning of the year, following 2025, which had already delivered deadly train crashes across India, Germany, Ethiopia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, and beyond.

When train accidents happen, they are sudden, violent, and frightening. Derailments, collisions, fires, and evacuations unfold in seconds.

Knowing what to do before, during, and after a train crash can significantly improve your chances of getting out alive.

If you want to learn how to survive a train crash, read this practical guide!

How many trains crash each year?

Every year, trains are involved in thousands of accidents worldwide.

In the United States, derailments average just over 1,000 per year (3-4 a day). In 2024, there were 954 railroad-related deaths, but only two of those victims were train passengers. The vast majority of fatalities involved trespassers and vehicles at highway-rail crossings.

The picture is similar in the European Union. In 2024, the EU recorded 1,507 significant railway accidents, resulting in 750 deaths. Out of those, just 16 were train passengers. Again, most fatalities involved unauthorized persons on tracks or level-crossing users, not travelers.

If you suffer from siderodromophobia, or the fear of trains, scrolling through headlines on the most recent train crashes can easily reinforce your anxiety. The human brain is excellent at remembering dramatic stories, and terrible at processing probabilities.

Luckily, the chances of a train crash are statistically low. Even more important, the odds of dying in a train crash are extremely low.

According to the European Commission‘s EU data, there are 0.09 fatalities per billion train kilometers traveled. In practical terms, this means that the risk of death is more probable when traveling by bus (3 times more likely) or by car (28 times more likely).

Train travel remains one of the safest ways to cover long distances, with a risk level comparable to air travel.

If you'd like to know how to survive if your plane crashes in snowy mountains, learn from those who went through such accident and then told the most extraordinary story - the Society of the Snow.

Best way to survive a train crash

When rare train crashes do happen, injuries usually come from sudden deceleration, flying luggage and unsecured objects, secondary impacts (cars piling up), fire, smoke, or electrical hazards after the crash, or disorientation and poor evacuation decisions.

Preparation is not about controlling fear or expecting disaster. It’s about reducing injury and making smart choices when stress hijacks your brain.

Knowing where to sit, how to position your body during impact, and what to do in the critical minutes afterward can dramatically improve your chances of survival.

How safe are outer space adventures? Here's what to keep in mind when considering personal space travel!

Before a Train Crash – Smart Habits That Improve Survival Odds

You normally don’t get a warning before a train accident. Which means that what you do before anything happens matters more than what you do during the chaos.

Survival, in many cases, is decided by seating choices, posture, and awareness – boring decisions that suddenly become very important.

1. Choose the Safest Seat on a Train

Safety begins before the train even leaves the station. No seat is 100% “crash-proof”, but decades of accident analysis suggest certain areas of the train offer better protection during a derailment or collision.

Is the front or back of a train safer?

The best place to be in a crash depends on where the impact occurs, which, inconveniently, is impossible to predict.

That’s why the best general advice is to avoid extremes – the very front and the very back of the train – where collisions and derailments often initiate.

In a head-on collision, the lead car absorbs most of the force. In a rear-end collision, the last car is the most vulnerable. So, during the derailment, cars at the ends are more likely to jackknife or leave the track first. As a result, the more stable middle carriages are statistically the safest place to be in a train crash. They experience less violent movement and are less likely to be crushed or torn open.

This is where trains and planes disagree. Aircraft crashes often favor rear seating – learn all the benefits of sitting at the back of a plane.

Is the top or the bottom of a train safer?

When it comes to double-decker trains, the answer cannot be universal either, as it depends on the kind of crash.

In most serious train accidents, the lower deck is generally safer than the upper deck.

When derailed, trains often tilt, slide sideways, or partially roll. Passengers on the upper deck experience greater lateral and vertical acceleration, essentially being thrown farther and harder. They could even fall down the stairs.

Lower deck passengers have fewer vertical fall risks, they are closer to the train’s center of gravity, and are subject to less violent side-to-side motion during a derailment. The lower deck is also more structurally reinforced, benefiting from underframe energy absorption. So statistically, it tends to deform less.

Which way should you sit on a train?

Coming from the same physics used in aviation (remember aircraft crew seats?) and child car seats, rear-facing seats are generally considered safer than forward-facing ones.

Most serious injuries in train accidents come from sudden forward deceleration, when bodies are thrown in the direction of travel, causing secondary impacts. Forward-facing passengers may slam into seatbacks, tables, or walls, causing head, neck, and chest injuries.

If you’re rear-facing and experience a sudden stop or impact, your back, shoulders, and head are supported by the seat. Your neck is less likely to whip forward violently, reducing injuries in a potential train crash.

So, if the train has seats that face backward, take them without hesitation.

Where is the safest to sit on a train?

Sitting away from windows and walls, a potential zone of impact, reduces exposure to shattered glass, external debris, and structural intrusion.

This is why aisle seats are considered to be the safest seats on a train. Sitting in an aisle seat provides a buffer between you and the glass, lowers the risks of being crushed by other passengers and luggage, and can make evacuation faster.

As for the position within a car, sitting in the middle of the train carriage, rather than near doors or connection points between cars, provides more buffer if the train buckles or telescopes.

What are the areas to avoid in a train crash?

If you want to minimize risks and can choose, these areas carry a higher risk in a crash:

• dining cars – sitting by the tables, whether in a cafeteria or in a passenger car, can be risky, as these rigid objects can become dangerous projectiles or tools for injury
• luggage stacks – sitting near or under heavy interior fixtures, such as unsecured luggage racks, increases the risk of injury if heavy objects become airborne
• glass partitions – shattering glass can cause lacerations and eye injuries
• stairs – falling hazards during sudden deceleration or derailment

All said, in any train crash, staying seated, bracing properly, and not panicking have a much larger impact on survival than obsessing over the safest part of a train.

2. Secure Yourself and Your Belongings

Unlike airplane seat belts, which are effective in preventing injuries caused by turbulence, the studies show that installing seat belts in trains, whose passengers expect the freedom of unrestricted movement, would not make train travel safer, but potentially more dangerous.

So, if seatbelts are not provided, how do you secure yourself? Sit with your back firmly against the seat, with both feet flat on the floor. When you stand up, hold the grab handles lightly. When moving through the train, use vertical poles and overhead bars. Avoid standing near or leaning on doors.

Place heavy bags on the floor, not on overhead racks. In crashes, as seen in the Adamuz collision, overhead luggage often becomes dangerous projectiles. Still, keep aisles clear, so you’re not tripping or blocked during potential evacuation.

Keep essentials (phone, documents) on your body, not in bags, so that in case of a train crash, you can evacuate more easily and avoid plane crash scenarios where panicking passengers get trapped by trying to retrieve belongings.

3. Be Aware of Your Environment

Without turning paranoid, whenever you board a train, take a few seconds to note where the nearest exits, emergency windows or roof hatches, fire extinguishers, emergency brakes, escape hammers, and SOS intercoms are.

This awareness can save crucial seconds later, especially if doors fail, as they did in Thailand’s Sikhio incident.

4. Dress appropriately

Wear what you can escape in – sturdy shoes (no flip-flops) and fire-resistant clothing (avoid synthetic fabrics like nylon, which melt when exposed to heat).

Choose clothing that allows you to move, crouch, and climb if needed.

During a Train Crash – What to Do in the Critical Seconds

If a train crashes or derails, events unfold very fast. Your goal in those seconds is injury reduction, not escape, heroics, or grabbing belongings.

Survival begins by resisting instinct.

5. Brace for Impact

In real crashes, people rarely have time to brace properly. But if you feel sudden hard braking, violent shaking, or hear the sound of screeching metal, you may have only moments to act.

Do what aviation safety videos have taught for decades – assume the brace position! Lean forward, place your head against the seat in front of you (or as close as possible to the bulkhead), or tuck your head down toward your knees, using your arms to protect the back of your head and neck from flying debris and luggage. Press your feet firmly against the floor.

If you are standing in the aisle, drop to the floor immediately, and stay low. Grip a sturdy object if possible, to avoid being tossed around the cabin.

Fight the “flight” instinct. Standing up too early or running toward the exit while the train is still moving can lead to severe injuries from falls and secondary impacts.

Jumping from a train during a crash also increases the risk of severe injury or death. Staying seated and bracing properly is almost always safer.

Trains can bounce, roll, and collide multiple times. Wait until all motion has fully stopped.

After the Crash – How to Get Out Safely

Surviving the impact is only half the train crash challenge. Many serious injuries happen after the crash, during poorly judged evacuations.

Once the train comes to a complete stop, danger may still be present. Fire, smoke, unstable carriages, and oncoming traffic on parallel tracks present secondary risks.

This is where calm thinking saves lives.

6. Assess Before You Move

Before doing anything else, take a moment to check yourself for bleeding or fractures. Stay calm and control your breathing. If you are seriously injured, do not move unless there is an immediate threat such as fire, smoke, or flooding.

If there is smoke, stay low to the ground where the air is clearer. Cover your mouth and nose with a piece of clothing. Move away from the fire source quickly but calmly. Never open doors blindly – check for heat with the back of your hand before touching handles.

7. Evacuate Only When Necessary

Leave the train only if there is fire or heavy smoke, if carriages are unstable, tilted, or at risk of collapsing, and if train staff instructs evacuation.

Otherwise, staying put may be safer until emergency services arrive.

If doors are blocked, use emergency window releases. Be mindful of the height or drop outside.

When exiting, don’t panic, rush, or push others in front of you.

Beware of broken glass, sharp metal, and fuel spills.

Be extremely cautious of downed power lines as they can be lethal. If you see wires touching the train or the ground, stay inside until emergency responders confirm the power is cut, unless there is an immediate threat like a fire.

Avoid walking on tracks unless told to do so. If unavoidable, remain alert: Another train may be approaching on an adjacent track, threatening a secondary collision.

8. Help Others – But Only If It’s Safe

Once you are out and reach a safe area, console those in shock and assist the injured ones. Do not attempt to move anyone with suspected neck or spinal injuries unless they face immediate danger from fire or collapse.

Also, help others only if you can do so without risking your own safety.

If you use your phone, use it for calling emergency services, not filming. Even if others are calling, make sure that 911 (in the USA) or 112 (in Europe) or other local emergency responders have been notified of the exact location of the train crash, its nature, and the number of injured.

That video can wait. People can’t.

9. Seek Help – Even If You “Feel Fine”

Adrenaline lies.

Go to the hospital even if you think you’re uninjured. Internal injuries, concussions, and shock often reveal themselves later.

Once medical needs are addressed, consider legal help. Consulting a personal injury lawyer can clarify liability, compensation, and next steps, especially in large-scale rail accidents.

Surviving a Train Crash – Conclusion

Despite the gut-twisting headlines, train travel is incredibly safe, far safer than most other ways of getting around. You’re far more likely to be involved in a car accident than a train derailment.

Think of this guide as a mental seatbelt – something you carry quietly, hoping you’ll never need it

If you do, against all odds, experience a train crash in your lifetime, surviving doesn’t require superhero strength or courage. You just need to stay grounded and aware, and willing to follow the instructions of the authorities.

Most passengers who walk away from serious rail accidents do so because they avoid panic, brace correctly, and make smart decisions when it matters most.

Think of this guide not as a reason to worry, but as a mental seatbelt – something you carry quietly, hoping you’ll never need it.

Safe travels.

If you know people who ride trains regularly, consider sharing this article. You may never need these tips yourself, but someone else just might.
Pin this guide on how to survive a train crash for future reference!

The post How to Survive a Train Crash: A Passenger’s Guide to Railroad Accidents appeared first on Pipeaway.

This selection of dangers of traveling reveals situations where I thoughtlessly stepped into preventable troubles

I already debunked some illusions of travel coming from the perception of a blogger’s life. You don’t get to read about travelers’ stomach problems and diarrhea disasters often, simply because that’s not sexy. Journey reports in blogs and social media may paint experiences in rosy hues, just because it’s embarrassing to admit one’s travel mishaps.

We can also feel ashamed to share that we became victims of scams, assaults, thefts, and other crimes. In this collection of anecdotes, I won’t be writing about that time when my friend Timon and I walked into an Istanbul brothel thinking we were just invited for a beer, but were then pressured to choose between all Tatianas paraded in front of us as if they were a treat on a sushi conveyor belt. I’ll skip a series of pickpocket attempts in Addis Ababa or even that transfer-kidnap story in Manila I hinted about in the selection of the greatest WTF moments of my travels.

Today’s selection of dangers of traveling is all about risking injuries, situations where I thoughtlessly stepped into preventable troubles. Hopefully, you’ll find safety tips that should help you avoid similar mistakes on your travels!

WARNING: This article contains graphic images of exposed wounds that some viewers might find disturbing.

7 Dangers of Travel

1. Burning my soles in the Vietnamese desert

On my first extended Asian adventure, seven years ago, I stopped in Mui Ne, a resort town on the southern part of Vietnam‘s coast. This unusual place had over a hundred resorts claiming parts of the beach, securing direct sea approach and unobstructed views to their guests. But there was plenty of sand north of the town, in Mui Ne’s famous Red Sand Dunes.

To avoid the crowds who visit the enormous desert attraction with jeep tours, I decided to avoid their favorite “golden hours” of early morning and late afternoon. With a local bus, I arrived just before noon, thinking how I outsmarted everyone.

It was hot, as one would expect from a midday, but nothing unbearable. I coated myself in sunscreen and walked barefoot over the dunes. The warmth of the sand was pleasant, but another of my senses was more occupied – the views were fantastic.

The temperature of the sand is not equal across the dunes, you know. As the sun moves, so do the dune shadows. But it never occurred to me that some sections were constantly exposed to the sun. Well, not until my bare feet stepped into an area that felt like a roof of hell. I literally screamed in agony.

It took me some time to untangle the Gordian Knot I used to safely attach my flip-flops to the backpack. At the same time, I was trying to do a little Irish dance, jumping from one foot to another. It wasn’t helping; I was being grilled alive.

With sand in my mouth, hair, and everywhere else you can imagine it sneaking in, I returned to the civilization. The tingling sensation in my blistered feet continued reminding me that the dangers of travel lurk when you least expect them.

2. Dehydration drama in Cambodian outback

While traveling through Cambodia, I stopped in Kampong Chhnang, a sleepy port town with a floating village on the Tonle Sap River.

Just after Songkran, the Cambodian New Year, many businesses took additional days off, and life slowed down. Finding even a working restaurant or a shop that would sell me a hand of bananas was challenging.

Arming yourself with water is essential, especially if you intend to ride a bicycle out in the sticks, through a tropical countryside. It was so dry that you could easily count ribs on cows searching for a green blade of grass.

I love exploring the countryside on a bicycle, but that takes energy away. One can easily miscalculate the appropriate intake of fluids, so I try to be conservative when dispersing the content of a water bottle I have.

I decided to pedal toward a restaurant completely out of route, hoping it would provide sustenance, but met another closed door. To eat something, I went further away from town, and practically drained what little energy I had left.

My mouth felt so dry that even sipping the remaining water felt insufficient to quench the thirst. One of the scariest dangers of travel in tropical zones crept in. I pondered about waiting for the sunset under a tree before moving on. It was extremely hot, and finding any shop on the way home didn’t look promising.

But standing on the side of the road didn’t sound like the best choice either. Eventually, I concluded I would faint in any case. I summoned the last shreds of my strength and rode toward a pottery shop, in whose shade I took a little break, before eventually successfully getting home, hungry, thirsty, and utterly exhausted.

3. Falling down the stairs in Bulgaria

It was raining cats and dogs when I arrived in Plovdiv, the oldest city in Europe. The clouds opened up, and a massive quantity of water poured down the streets of the Bulgarian cultural capital.

I was staying in a hostel, and Max, a young German ornithologist returning from a bird mapping expedition in Azerbaijan, joined me at the supermarket to get some food.

After returning home, we descended to the kitchen, and my shoes just glided off the slippery wooden stairs. I flew through the air and crash-landed with the finesse of a sack of potatoes. I hit my back, buttocks, and mostly the left arm, peeling off the skin as I met the floor.

A swelling in the left elbow was hurting for days. There was another female guest in the hostel, whose name I forgot, probably because anger overtook me. She approached me, and squeezed my bruised elbow as hard as she could, to make sure “if it hurt”. I erased your identity from my memory, lady, but you are a very bizarre person! These were not health and safety protocols I would expect from a roommate.

Somehow, I healed on my own, reluctant to seek medical attention. I guess the danger of travel that doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. But there are better things than getting stronger in an unconventional way! For instance, I would’ve preferred to hold the handrail while descending instead of making this unplanned acrobatic venture that wouldn’t bring me any points in figure skating competitions.

Anything can happen on a trip in a foreign country, from fractures to food poisoning. Prevent worries and protect yourself against costly bills by taking EKTA insurance with a worldwide coverage. Buy your policy now!

4. Fracturing my ribs in a bathtub in Finland

In Helsinki, the capital of Finland, I experienced one of the most painful travel moments. At the hotel I stayed in, I took an evening shower. After finishing, I reached out for a towel hanging on the bathroom door. In the next second, I slipped and fell, my back loudly kissing the ceramic surface.

The impact knocked the air out of my lungs. It took me a second to be able to produce a painful moan. I wasn’t sure if I could move. The first thought that rushed through my head was: “Shoot, I locked the door, and even put the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign out! It will take days for them to find me.”

Immediately, I was aware of how helpless I was. My mobile phone was in the bedroom. There was no emergency string to pull. So I just lied there.

In Japan, seven-times more people die in bathtubs than in car accidents

As I recovered from the initial shock, I managed to drag my sorry self out of the bathtub somehow, and slowly got to bed, making sure that the phone would be within my reach. The pain was excruciating, and yet, I wanted to believe that I would be fine by morning.

I wasn’t fine. The doctor arrived at the hotel and quickly diagnosed mini-fractures of my ribs. Even his bill was painful; 200 euros for advising me to rest.

In the following days, I managed to get out, but navigating the city was hard. I couldn’t cross two-lane streets during a green light. I limped my way through Helsinki, extremely slowly. The recovery would be long.

To this day, I wonder: what diabolical cleaning products do they use in hotel bathrooms? Those bathtubs must be coated in a layer of slippery devilry, contributing to the scary slip-and-fall statistics.

In Japan, 19,000 people die in a bathtub every year. That’s seven-times more fatalities than in car accidents. In the United States, it is three-times likelier one would die in a bathtub than in a terrorist attack.

5. Falling off a motorbike in Laos

Luang Prabang is protected by UNESCO, but on the road, you are on your own. If you don’t take all travel safety precautions when navigating Laos, nobody will do it for you.

In the afterglow of a day spent chasing the enchanting Kuang Si Falls, I was returning to the town on a rented scooter. On my way to the waterfall, I already learned I should steer clear of potholes. But potholes would not be my problem.

On this scorching hot day, a tree was shading the road, right at the spot that would make me lose balance. Hidden by the shadow, there was a sneaky little bump. I saw it too late.

Me and my motorbike fell, gliding across the asphalt road as if it were butter. It wasn’t butter. My bleeding hands, scratched arms (that poor left elbow taking another hit), and ripped trousers that would only later expose wounds on my knees too.

Kind-hearted girls behind me stopped when they saw me lying down, removed the scooter from the road, and rushed to the nearby village to get a disinfectant for my wounds.

I was lucky that nobody and nothing else participated in my accident. It was only a collision with a hard floor. Otherwise, it might have ended up differently for me. As I was driving back to the town, the faces of people who mean the most to me, rushed before my eyes.

They say that medical care in Laos is not of a high standard, so even if you need to go to a hospital, many advise you to head to the neighboring Thailand instead. I nursed my wounds myself, with supplies from the pharmacy. But I knew that my days of exploring dusty Laos roads with open wounds had to come to an earlier end.

6. Descending the Gheralta Moutain without a rope

There’s a lot I could tell you about the dangers of travel through Ethiopia, a country I visited during the state of emergency. I have already written about my conflict with fraudsters in an Ethiopian bus, my encounter with hyenas in Harar, a swim in Doho Lake with crocodiles, a police-alarming incident with Chinese tourists at Bete Giyorgis, as well as climbing Erta Ale volcano with armed escort. It’s a country that offers travelers many opportunities for danger, from pickpocketing scams to natural challenges.

It may not look like I have any issues with heights (remember those daring hikes in Norway?). But every encounter with a cliff is not just exciting for me, it’s also quite terrifying. Even with my circus background, I’m still aware I am conquering fears, and not being fearless. I’m not one of those daredevils who run on skyscraper edges; those videos make my stomach churn.

But I do love culture, especially one that has a rich history. So I couldn’t skip Tigray Churches, nestled high in the Gheralta Mountains. Religious sanctuaries carved in the rock, at some truly special sites, were calling my name.

The routes through these hardly accessible mountains are not signposted, so you cannot visit them without a guide. In the town of Megab, I booked Amaze, my trusty expert for the day. I took the package that included him, a motorbike to take us to and back from the mountain, and – a rope, supposedly for easier climbing.

The plan was to visit the churches of Daniel Korkor and Mariam Korkor, and then a somewhat dislocated Abuna Yemata Guh.

The initial ascend between the rocks that were “separated by God” (similar to what Moses did with the Red Sea) was quite strenuous. However, the real challenge happened when Amaze took me for a shortcut way to Abuna Yemata Guh, but forgot that rope I rented out. Instead of taking it with us, he mistakenly sent it directly to our final church.

Now, this descent without a rope was quite… How to describe it? In several instances, I had to say “Are you sure? Maybe we should head back?” Even for a person of reasonable fitness, there were some scarily steep parts. I still wonder how the two of us survived this heart-stopping trek.

The exhausting hike through pure wilderness between the two sites took its toll. When we arrived beneath the third church (and finally used the rope to ascend the rocks), I was already deadbeat from the sun. On the top rock, a vertigo got me. The views of a 2.5-kilometer drop beneath us and a petrifying walk on the cliffside didn’t help. It all felt messed up now, as I tried to make my weary body not lose balance on a narrow ledge.

I survived, like many before us, but I wouldn’t recommend the warm-up we had to anyone planning this hazardous visit.

7. Breathless experience of scuba diving in Greece

For us humans (we are not fish, right?), the ability to breathe is what keeps us alive. Even if I can apply for a trip to the Moon, or readily visit the most toxic place on Earth – Kawah Ijen volcano in Indonesia – I don’t take breathing in environments that are not built for our lungs for granted.

My possibly closest brush with death happened during my first scuba diving attempt in Naxos, Greece. Maybe it’s not fair to call it a near-death experience. The reason why I’m able to tell this story today is that I actually had skilled professionals taking care of me along the way. However, this doesn’t annul the panic attack I experienced that day below the surface.

Everything went fine on my initial scuba diving training. I felt confident with instructions on dry land, the shallow-water drill went great, and then there were also three people taking care of me, my Greek instructor, and two diving volunteers from Bulgaria. Sure, let’s go deeper!

Maybe I was exuding too much confidence. I was able to both dive and film the experience; my instructors later told me they were impressed. Another student canceled just before the dive, while I seemed fearless.

But at one moment, the first moment my instructor Panos looked away (I guess I was radiating confidence), something happened. I wasn’t able to inhale through my scuba gear. Panic mode: activated. I tried pinching and blowing my nose, but it didn’t help. Maybe because that’s a method for equalizing ear pressure.

Indeed, I was taught about the inflator hose, and that the inflate button would allow me to ascend gracefully to the surface. But at my first dive ever, I couldn’t think of that. My initial reaction was to draw attention and ask for help. As I watched the back of my instructor diving away, my hands were waving like a frantic Lucky Cat doll on speed, hoping that somebody would notice my distress signal. Nobody hears you scream down there.

Thankfully for beginners, there’s always a person behind you. Aleksandra, my dear Bulgarian guardian, noticed my struggles the first, rushed to me, and inflated my vest, so I could quickly breathe in on the surface.

The entire breathless ordeal lasted for about 30 seconds, that’s what my GoPro images suggest (set to time-lapse, with shots taken every second). For someone who cannot breathe, and is surrounded by water, those 30 seconds can feel like an eternity.

After a minute on the surface of getting my heartbeat down, I was okay with diving back in. The experience did teach me a lesson of approaching foreign environments with respect, and the importance of learning how to handle them when things go wrong.

Knocking on wood, I was lucky enough not to experience natural catastrophes on the road. Against that reckless power, we are quite defenseless. If you wish to help those whose lives were shattered into pieces, consider these areas as the best places to travel in 2024. 

Navigating dangers of travel – conclusion

There you have it, seven years of wild adventures, close calls, and enough adrenaline to fuel a theme park.

Traveling, as I’ve come to learn, is not always easy, especially if we tend to challenge ourselves with experiences that may be out of our comfort zone. They test our resilience and our ability to keep our cool when the going gets tough.

The safety of travel doesn’t always come with an instruction manual

After seven years of working on the Pipeaway project, I am still attracted by the beauty of challenges, even if they come with risks. It’s a constant learning process that reminds me of the importance of – learning.

As individuals, we’re fragile, easily broken by elements and accidents. But we also learn by doing. I do.

Experiencing travel problems is an ongoing education in travel safety, a process that makes us resilient and better prepared for future challenges. It helps us survive travel emergencies that we can’t always imagine beforehand.

When I look at these experiences that expose how thoughtlessly I approached some of my adventures, I wonder what makes me eligible to give safety tips or any advice for traveling.

But you know, it doesn’t take an expert to understand that the safety of travel and the health risks we challenge abroad don’t always come with an instruction manual.

The dangers of travel should not deter you from adventurous travel. Don’t let the fear of the unknown hold you back from pushing your boundaries. Learn from your mistakes, but also from those of others. Stumbling is a part of the adventure. We get better with experience.

As I raise a metaphorical toast to the next seven years of Pipeaway adventures, I offer my safe travel wishes to all wanderers. May good luck accompany your willingness to adopt new skills, and take you far. Stay safe, and pipe away!

Have you experienced the dangers of travel?
Share your riskiest adventures in the comments, and pin this article for later!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post 7 Times I Risked Too Much: Navigating Dangers of Travel appeared first on Pipeaway.

Filmed in Spanish, the original language of the survivors of the Society of the Snow (or “La sociedad de la nieve”), with a talented young cast from Uruguay and Argentina, J.A. Bayona‘s movie manages to bring a relatable authenticity. With convincing visual effects, the viewers are drawn into a raw struggle to stay alive (“Alive” was also the title of the 1993 harrowing drama, starring Ethan Hawke).

“Society of the Snow” is an intense and gripping movie, but also a repository of invaluable survival lessons

The Andes mountain plane crash of 1972 was not an ordinary accident if we can even speak about accidents in that way. Out of 45 passengers aboard Uruguayan Flight 571, 16 managed to survive. To do that, they had to endure more challenges than just the bone-chilling cold of the hostile snow-covered mountain or abandonment by the rescue teams. They were fighting for their lives, confronting extreme threats, and devising extreme solutions.

“Society of the Snow” is an intense and gripping movie, but also a repository of invaluable survival lessons. While I sincerely hope you never find yourself in a situation where you need to apply them, some of the strategies are worth reading about, just in case.

Learn the survival tactics employed by the Society of the Snow!

This article may contain spoilers. If you have a Netflix subscription, I suggest you first watch "Society of the Snow", the full movie, and then come back to reflect on these survival strategies.

Society of the Snow – survival guide in 9 lessons

1. Freezing temperatures

Threat

The high-altitude Andes region subjected the Society of the Snow survivors to freezing temperatures, increasing the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

The plane crash that happened on Friday 13, of October 1972, occurred at an altitude of 3,500 meters.

How cold was it in the Andes when the plane crashed? The Society of the Snow had to endure a frigid nightmare, battling temperatures that plummeted to a teeth-chattering 35°C below zero. With frost in their hair and ice clinging to their clothes, the survivors would shiver, sometimes so much that it was impossible to even talk.

With no coats and blankets, frigid temperatures were the most dangerous aspect of the Andes plane crash. Exposed to this extreme cold, some of those who survived the initial impact succumbed to frostbite.

What was supposed to be a light spring weekend escapade turned into a 72-day struggle for survival in the harshest weather conditions of the highest mountain in South America.

Solution

The survivors used the plane wreckage and available materials to create a makeshift shelter. They did everything in their power to conserve body heat, even if it meant urinating on one’s hands to defrost them.

To avoid direct exposure to the ruthless elements, they constructed a temporary home out of the fuselage, fortifying it with an improvised wall crafted from suitcases, seats, and aircraft debris. They patched the holes with snow and pieces of clothes. Still, the shield against the biting cold was far from perfect.

Seat covers and clothing salvaged from suitcases became their “bedspread”. Yet, it was their close huddling as they shared body heat, or even relying on the warmth of another’s breath, that served as a strategy against the relentless freeze.

Moving is the body’s first line of defense against extreme cold (hence shivering). When the weather permitted, Andes plane crash survivors would keep active outside, which would generate body heat, a crucial protection against purple limbs. But when stuck in the shelter, they would punch each other’s arms, hoping to stimulate circulation and defy numbness.

If you ever end up in a situation where you need to evacuate after a plane crash, remember that you should always leave your baggage behind!

2. Sun exposure

Threat

Intense sunlight at high altitudes increased the risk of sunburn. The blistering force of the sun was reflecting off the pristine white landscape, posing a dual threat. Not only did it scorch their skin, but it also had the potential to damage survivors’ eyesight. Prolonged exposure to such sunlight could lead to snow blindness.

Solution

As we can see in the movie, but also in the Society of the Snow actual pictures, survivors improvised protective eyewear as their own version of sunglasses. They tried to limit exposure during peak sunlight hours.

3. Avalanches and blizzards

Threat

The mountainous terrain concealed a peril – a constant risk of avalanches that could bury survivors and further complicate their chances of being found by the rescue teams.

Besides being stranded in an extremely cold pocket of the Andes, the Society of the Snow plane crash scene was in a location with heavy snowfall and raging blizzards. One could fall hip-deep in the snow, while the howling winds were stealing the breath from their lips.

On day 17, the snow built up so much that it triggered two avalanches, essentially burying everyone inside the plane, filling half of it with snow, and blocking the air supply.

The shelter that was providing a sense of security suddenly became a tomb. Eight lives were claimed that night.

Solution

Choosing a strategic location for a shelter in such a disaster is crucial, especially in avalanche-prone areas. But with no alternative hideout besides the plane itself, it was the awareness of the surroundings that saved lives on Flight 571.

The dramatized version may have skipped some details, but the sound of thunder awoke one survivor. Had he not stood up before the avalanche hit, it could have been a tragic end for everyone. With only a meter of space left beneath the ceiling, he started digging in the darkness, pulling out others who were sleeping on the floor when the snow filled the cabin.

Some survivors, such as Javier Methol, had to make hard decisions. With his feet touching the chest of his wife Liliana Navarro, he knew that freeing himself from the snow would come at the cost of pressing her down, under the suffocating weight of the snow. By the time they dug her out, she was gone.

To bring fresh air into the cabin, survivors used a metal pole to make a hole through the cockpit windscreen. Blizzard persisted. Hours stretched into days as they tried to claw their way out. Altogether, they spent four days trapped inside the plane-coffin, next to the lifeless bodies of friends and family.

Even if Andes plane crash proves that every rule has an exception, sitting in the back of the plane is still one of the safest choices you can make as a passenger.

4. Injuries

Threat

The initial plane crash took twelve lives immediately. But for others in the Society of the Snow, it meant serious injuries, ranging from broken bones to open wounds.

When the plane crashed and slid down the mountain, the abrupt halt created a momentum in which all the seats hurtled forward, crushing passengers in their path.

The resulting severe physical traumas, combined with frostbite, miles away from a hospital or any professional medical help, were a true test of the survivors’ resilience.

Solution

Without access to conventional medical resources, survivors had to improvise. Luckily, in the group of amateur rugby players, there were also several medical students, who used their knowledge to help.

Fernándo Vázquez studied at the Faculty of Medicine, but he tragically bled to death just after the plane crash. His friends and colleagues Roberto Canessa and Gustavo Zerbino became the Society of the Snow medical team. They turned available materials into splints, bandaged the wounds with strips of clothing, cleaned back sores, used snow to cool wounds and stave off infections, and performed rudimentary operations and other first aid measures. Their resourcefulness was a lifeline for the others.

Fernando Parrado sustained a severe head injury during the plane crash. Presumed dead, he was left outside in the snow, without water for days. It turned out to be a stroke of luck. As scientists later explained, these conditions stopped the head swelling that would have sealed his fate. Diego Storm, another medical student, was the one who recognized that Nando was actually in a coma, and not dead.

A 62-year-old Canadian embarked on a sailing trip around the 5 great capes, alone, and without the standard navigational help. Meet Bert terHart, a man who was injured during his voyage around the world, but still knew that giving up was not an option.

5. Dehydration

Threat

With limited access to clean water sources, the Society of the Snow had an increased risk of dehydration and waterborne diseases.

One would think that, being stuck in such a desolate landscape with nothing but snow around, the water supply would be the least of the survivors’ worries. But the altitude intensified their thirst to barely bearable levels. The path to dehydration was five times quicker than it would be at sea level.

The visual reminder of their plight appeared when nature’s call met the pure whiteness of the snow, revealing an ominous sight – black pee, an unmistakable symptom of severe dehydration.

Solution

Survivors melted snow for drinking water, carefully managing their water supply. This resourcefulness in obtaining and conserving water played a vital role in their survival.

At first, they drank what they could find in the aircraft – mainly some alcohol. But wine and liquor are the best way toward, not away from, dehydration.

They tried eating snow. However, they quickly learned it burned their tongues and throats, leaving painful cracks on their lips. It was just too cold to consume.

Parrado, ever the protective brother, later explained that he melted snow in his own mouth, transferring precious water to his wounded sister.

Soon, they figured out how to melt the snow in the sun and collect water in bottles, achieving a temperature bearable for drinking.

Numerous things can go wrong when you hit the road. These are the seven dangers of travel I experienced during my journey, and hopefully, they are something to learn from.

6. Hunger

Threat

Limited food supplies in the harsh environment of the plane crash site made starvation a significant threat to the survivors.

It didn’t take long for them to begin experiencing the pangs of hunger. Their bodies cannibalized their own muscle tissue for survival, leading to extreme weight loss and weakness.

At the altitude of the high Andes, the body craved more calories and burned them three to four times faster. So the more energy you invest in your survival, the harder it becomes to compensate for it.

Malnutrition didn’t just cause running out of belt holes, but also scurvy. Such bodies were ill-equipped to combat wounds, injuries, and general sickness.

When survivors returned to civilization, they couldn’t recognize their shadows in the mirror. Their weight was slashed in half. Once robust rugby players, Parrado had 55 kilograms, Canessa 44. These were the men who walked miles and miles to rescue their friends, equally resembling skeletons dressed in human skin.

Solution

Aware of their limited resources, passengers of Flight 571 carefully rationed their supplies. When those were exhausted, survivors turned to alternative sources of nourishment, making even life-altering decisions.

Initially, their diet consisted of food they found in the luggage. Aware of their difficult situation, they tried to extend their provisions while awaiting rescue. That could mean having meals that consisted of a cracker with some seafood or jam, a piece of chocolate, or other sweets. Parrado recounted that he was sucking on one chocolate-covered peanut for three days.

Within a week, conventional food was gone. Nothing lived in this part of the mountain, and any green-colored thing scratched off the rock looked edible. In this second starvation phase, survivors expanded their palate to some unusual choices, be it eating cigarettes, shoelaces, or even pieces of leather torn from suitcases.

Nando Parrado explains it in his 2006 memoir “Miracle in the Andes”: “Unless we wanted to eat the clothes we were wearing, there was nothing here but aluminum, plastic, ice, and rock.”

“Society of the Snow” opens the most controversial aspect of the Andes survival, with one of the characters peeling a scab off and eating it. With no alternatives, survivors had to make a difficult decision to – eat the dead. On day 9, the Strauch cousins used a piece of glass to cut the group’s first source of protein and fat in days.

Practical cannibalism was not an easy decision for survivors. It started with whispers and continued with long discussions about its legal and ethical implications. Could they face jail for eating someone without consent? Would their Roman Catholic church approve of consuming the meat from corpses? In the aftermath, the church actually called their survival-motivated act justifiable.

Not everyone could swallow the idea of eating each other, but in the end, only those who overcame their reservations made it to the end. Pancho Delgado tried to convince Numa Turcatti to eat human flesh wrapped in snow, as it masks the experience. When he finally surrendered, Numa was chewing the meat as little as possible before swallowing it.

To relieve everyone from ethical dilemmas, the group made a collective pact to donate their bodies for the needs of others if they died. Before leaving on a trek toward civilization, Parrado gave a permission to his comrades to eat his wife and sister.

Pushed to their limits and with no traditional food sources available, the Society of the Snow resorted to using common sense. Even if that meant breaking the taboo of eating meat from human ribs, it was this reliance on each other, in life and death, that saved them.

7. Isolation

Threat

Isolation from the outside world delayed rescue efforts, but the silence also came with fear and uncertainty that took a toll on the mental well-being of the survivors.

While exploring the crash site area on foot and climbing the nearby peak in DIY snowshoes (fashioned from cushions tied with seat belts), they realized their white plane, camouflaged against the snow, remained invisible from above. The passing aircraft would never be able to spot them.

Being stranded in an unfamiliar, bare landscape, with no way to communicate with those who could save them, the Society of the Snow was exposed to hard psychological strain.

Solution

Instead of falling into despair, survivors tried their best to determine their location and establish contact. They crafted makeshift signal devices from reflective materials and an X-shaped formation made of suitcases, hoping to attract the attention of the rescue teams.

While speaking to the dying pilot, they tried to map their whereabouts and the ways to contact the world. From the pilot’s whisper, they learned they had passed Curicó (even if that information turned out to be inaccurate).

On day 11, they found a small transistor radio, which brought devastating news: the rescue search was called off. The world didn’t believe someone would be able to survive the crash in such a climate for too long. The radio broadcast was a sobering reality check, forcing them to grapple with the stark truth that they were on their own. After the pessimism-inducing news, everyone accepted cannibalism.

On day 36, during their first attempt to descend the mountain, toward Argentina, they found the tail of the plane, with batteries they hoped to use for radio contact with the world. Even if their attempt was unsuccessful, not giving up allowed them to find a new stock of food, clothes, and tools for their second arduous trek.

The self-reliance showed importance in the final stage when, on day 71, the two who eventually descended the mountain on Chile’s side tried to pinpoint the location of the crash site on the map. The search party almost didn’t believe them when they said they walked for help all the way from Argentina, 60 kilometers away. Parrado’s determination was essential in convincing the rescue squad, while his sense of orientation unaided by navigation tools turned out crucial for guiding helicopters to his stranded comrades, practically forgotten after 72 days.

Wanna stay safe on the ground? Learn how to survive a train crash!

8. Physical exhaustion

Threat

The weather conditions and scarcity of resources contributed to physical fatigue. With each passing day, the Society of the Snow survivors were getting weaker, while the distance from civilization remained the same.

Solution

The injured ones prioritized rest and conserving energy. For others, maintaining physical fitness helped them endure the challenges.

When they learned help would not be sent in a live radio message, it was clear they would have to organize the rescue by themselves.

They waited for the weather to improve, and in the meantime, tried to prepare for the long trek, training for the walk daily, making walking sticks from aluminum poles, a sled from a suitcase, and a large sleeping bag from waterproof material they found in the wreckage.

The three hardiest rugby players, Nando Parrado, Roberto Canessa, and Antonio ‘Tintín’ Vizintín, left the crash site on day 61. Dressed in numerous layers of clothes and with shopping bags over their socks, they hoped they would just climb the mountain to the west, and then descend to Chile from what they believed were the western limits of the Andes.

Ignoring the acclimatization, they undertook the climb from 3,570 to 4,600 meters too quickly. They exposed themselves to reduced oxygen levels, temperatures that were breaking water bottles, and altitude sickness that made their hearts want to jump out of their chests. On the summit, their spirit was nearly destroyed. The pilot was wrong. There was no sign of the green valleys of Chile. The unfathomable expanse of towering peaks was waiting in front of them, all the way to the horizon.

To extend the duration of their meat rations, they sent Tintín back to the camp, while the two continued on a grueling 10-day journey to civilization. This would have been a mountaineering feat even for a healthy individual. For these starved and exhausted survivors, it bordered on the impossible.

The pair walked 37 miles over ridges and peaks. Meeting a Chilean shepherd marked the beginning of the final rescue.

9. Emotional despair

Threat

Survivors of the Andes faced immense psychological stress and trauma as they grappled with their post-crash reality. These challenges could lead to emotional despair.

They had to deal with the loss of their friends and family members, the uncertainty of their fate, social conflicts, and the constant threat of death. This had to take a toll on their mental well-being.

Solution

Surviving in extreme conditions like those the Society of the Snow went through is more than just a physical challenge. It takes mental resilience to go through such an extreme series of events and live to tell the story.

Survivors formed a tight-knit group, maintaining a sense of community, engaging themselves in sharing stories, exchanging whistles and rhymes, and even cracking jokes when the spirit was down. Their collective activities and mutual support to combat their psychological challenges fostered a collective will to survive, a sense of hope, and purpose.

Tapping into inner strength, pushing past our limits to keep going, and staying focused on goals is maybe the ultimate takeaway from this tragic 1972 flight, the one that reminds us that we can emerge from the emotional abyss stronger than before.

Books by and about the Society of the Snow survivors

Many of the Society of the Snow real survivors became motivational speakers and even wrote books about their experiences. For further reading, check out these titles:

1. “Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home” (Nando Parrado)

2. “I Had to Survive: How a Plane Crash in the Andes Inspired My Calling to Save Lives” (Roberto Canessa)

3. “After the Tenth Day” (Carlitos Páez)

4. “Out of the Silence: After the Crash” (Eduardo Strauch)

5. “Into the Mountains: The Extraordinary True Story of Survival in the Andes and its Aftermath” (Pedro Algorta)

6. “Memories of the Andes” (Coche Inciarte)

Additionally, you can explore these book titles related to the Andes accident:

1. “On the Other Side of the Mountain: Memories and lessons from our sons who did not return from the Andes” (María del Carmen Perrier Pérez del Castillo)

2. “Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors” (Piers Paul Read)

3. “To Play the Game: A History of Flight 571” (John Guiver)

Survival lessons of the Society of the Snow – Conclusion

We might never be in the life-or-death situation that a group of people had to face on that unfortunate Friday 13, 52 years ago.

Even when watching the “Society of the Show” movie from the edge of our seats, we’re taking a temporary visit to someone’s harsh reality from the warmth of our home comfort.

While being a touching tribute to those who survived and those who succumbed to the challenges of the 1972 Andes plane crash, the Netflix movie lets us reflect on how cultivating hope, prioritizing ratio over fate, and celebrating the power of unity can improve our chances.

After those incredible 72 days of 1972, reports called the survival saga of the Society of the Snow – a miracle

Passengers on Flight 571 are much more than just a documentary reminder that the human fight for survival can tap into an unknown potential, or even dig deep into “forbidden” topics that we prefer not to approach.

Real-life cannibalism that saved the final 16 from certain death serves as a potent metaphor. Collaboration breeds success. There is so much we can do for each other and give to each other, despite what societal norms question or tell us.

The word ‘sacrifice’ originates from the words sacer (sacred) and facio (make). It is literally a sacred act of giving.

After those incredible 72 days of 1972, early reports called the survival saga of the Society of the Snow – a miracle. But there was no deus ex machina moment that saved the crash victims. Their salvation came from within.

When facing threats that put a question mark on our survival, we should not just wait for the generosity of the world or some divine intervention as a solution. It is our action, our readiness to do something for our fellow mates, and their readiness to do the same for us, that provides the path from darkest hours to a clear exit.

Did you watch the “Society of the Snow”? What have you learned from one of the most challenging experiences in the history of plane crashes? 
Share your opinion in the comments, and pin the article for later!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

Images in this article have been sourced through Netflix.

The post Society of the Snow Survivor Lessons: How Did They Survive? appeared first on Pipeaway.

The start of 2024 was marked by three events that highlighted the benefits of airplane seat belts: a plane collision in Tokyo, Alaska Airlines plane losing a door plug, and the Netflix premiere of “Society of the Snow”

People sometimes resist systems that constrict their freedom of movement. Those who see fastening a seat belt as an ultimate punishment, probably on par with wearing an anti-COVID mask, may be missing the reasoning behind this safety procedure. Simply because flights are usually safe, and plane accidents are rare, it doesn’t mean we can diminish the seat belt as an essential safety device.

Personally, I am buckled up in a car even when there’s no police in sight, on a bus even when nobody instructs me to do so, and when flying, even when the plane seat belt sign is not on. I try to prevent negative surprises, and refuse to think about the supposed discomfort seat belt brings.

Especially on long flights, I don’t want to be caught off guard by a sudden shaking of the cabin disturbing my nap. Pro tip: if you plan to sleep on board, always buckle up above the blanket, or you’re risking being awakened by the cabin crew checking if everyone is securely tucked in for a potential (!) event of turbulence.

The year 2024 started with three events that highlighted the undeniable benefits of the use of seat belts. Plane collision in Tokyo, Alaska Airlines‘ mid-flight accident in Portland, and Netflix premiere of “Society of the Snow”, all provided valuable lessons in seat belt safety.

Learn why you should wear a plane seat belt whenever seated!

This article may drop a few spoilers for "Society of the Snow", so keep that in mind if you still plan to see the movie.

Aircraft seat belt history

The first aircraft seat belt was invented in 1911. The US Army General Benjamin D. Foulois came up with a safety strap that would prevent military pilots from being thrown out of the plane.

While his seat belt wasn’t really effective in a plane crash, the aviation world embraced the idea, and aircraft seat belts and harnesses became a standard feature of warplanes.

Post-World War I, civil planes started adopting seat belts too, and in 1926, the USA issued its first seat belt regulations. Two years later, airplane seat belts became mandatory plane equipment, but their use by passengers was still optional.

Those early seat belts were just a protection against basic turbulence. It wasn’t before the late 1940s that seat belt manufacturers started developing enhanced, durable seat belts that could help against injuries, too.

However, the public of the 1950s was a tough crowd. Disinformation about seat belts was far more influential than science. Sensationalist reporting from the plane crash sites had folks convinced that airplane seat belts could trap you in a potentially burning seat, or even directly be a cause of death in the event of a crash.

The Federal Aviation Regulations, with a mandatory requirement of wearing a plane seat belt during takeoff and landing, were codified in 1972. Refusing to fasten a seat belt may cost you a fine of $10,000.

If you are afraid that you would be too big for a plane seat belt, consider purchasing a seat belt extender. Learn more about your options if you think you're too fat to fly. 

How airplane seat belt can save your life?

1. Surviving taxiing, takeoff, and landing

The moments of takeoff and landing are considered the most critical phases of every flight. They involve rapid changes in speed and altitude. According to IATA, 53% of accidents in commercial civil aviation between 2005 and 2023 happened during landing.

Securely fastened seat belts ensure that passengers are protected from unexpected events such as a sudden stop or a quick ascent/descent.

There is another seemingly routine flight operation when wearing an airplane seat belt is also mandatory, and that is during the taxiing of the aircraft.

Preparing the plane for departure from a runway, or parking the plane after it landed, should not be regarded blithely. These movements may seem minor, but they can still lead to injuries. Even when you hear the plane stopping, always stay securely fastened until the plane seat belt sign has been switched off.

If you need proof of how tricky it can be to navigate at the place where taxiing, takeoff, and landing intertwine, just look at what happened in Tokyo, Japan, on the 2nd of January, 2024. Japan Airlines Flight 516 from Sapporo was landing at Haneda Airport, where a coastguard plane was taxiing toward the runway. The collision was fatal for the crew of this smaller plane, while everyone on JAL 516 survived the evacuation from the burning aircraft, with only one passenger ending up with some bruises.

Applying a plane seat belt and following the safety protocols proved crucial in not turning the Tokyo accident into an even greater tragedy.

In trains, there are no seat belts. But there are still ways to improve your chances of surviving in a train crash!

2. Preventing unexpected skydiving

Once the aircraft is airborne, you typically expect the airplane seat belt sign sound to mark the freedom of movement, ushering an anticipated stampede to the bathrooms. But the potential perils of a flight may not go away by simply leaving the ground.

On January 5th, 2024, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 experienced a bizarre accident during the ascent. A defective door plug next to seat 26A fell off the plane, opening up a hole that sucked out seat headrests, a seatback cushion, a tray table, two mobile phones, and even a young passenger’s T-shirt from the depressurized cabin.

The pilot of Boeing 737 Max was forced to perform an emergency landing back at Portland Aiport, Oregon, a mere 20 minutes after takeoff.

Meanwhile, in row 25, a mother was holding her now shirtless son from being ejected from the plane. Luckily, no one was sitting in the two adjoining seats closest to the gaping hole. Miraculously, the door blowout drama left the 177 people on board with no major injuries.

The lesson is obvious: While one of the cell phones was allegedly found undamaged, no passenger would survive such a fall from a 4,900-meter height.

This was a sudden and never-before-experienced accident, and plane seat belts proved to be the first line of defense against passengers being thrown about and out of the cabin. With due respect to mothers.

3. Not getting hurt in turbulence

Air turbulence is a common occurrence in the skies and can range from mild bumps to more severe jolts. Sudden changes in altitude or unexpected maneuvers may occur throughout the flight, for various reasons. And these won’t always come with a courteous announcement over the intercom.

Weather conditions can change in a matter of seconds, transforming your flight into a roller coaster ride. Clear-air turbulence (CAT) is a type of turbulence that occurs without any visual cues, such as clouds, making it challenging for pilots to predict. This unseen threat can jolt the aircraft unexpectedly.

For a visual sneak peek into the unpredictability of turbulence, you need not look further than the first 15 minutes of “Society of the Snow”, Juan Antonio Bayona‘s drama that premiered on Netflix on January 4th, 2024.

Based on a true story of Air Force Flight 571 in 1972, this survival movie follows a rugby team traveling from Montevideo, Uruguay, to Santiago, Chile.

In the Andes mountain range, unanticipated turbulences start, and a cabin attendant explains the “hungry shark”: “The warm winds from Argentina collide with the cold mountain air, creating a suction effect.” Numa Turcatti, the narrator character, dismisses the theory as a joke.

Only after the second stronger shake did we hear the captain’s announcement: “Passengers, please fasten your seat belts.”

A third turbulence strike lifts the co-pilot in the air, so that he hits the ceiling of the cabin, exposing the true force turbulence can make. Sadly, this isn’t an exaggerated movie effect, but an event that could happen on any flight.

When unforeseen turbulence happens, an airplane seat belt acts as a reliable safeguard, minimizing the impact of forces on your body and preventing you from being lifted off your seat.

That’s why wearing your seat belt at all times, even when the seat belt sign is off, provides continuous protection against the unpredictable nature of air turbulence and lowers the risk of head injuries and other trauma that can occur during sudden movements.

Despite what "Society of the Snow" may suggest, sitting in the back of the plane has its benefits. The last row is my preferred row in the entire plane!

4. Not dying in a plane crash

When the situation requires an emergency landing or, beyond the pilot’s choices, an impact becomes unavoidable, a plane crash is an unwanted outcome. Not everyone survives the unplanned encounter with the ground.

But as “Society of the Snow” also shows, there’s more we can do to maximize our chances than just gripping armrests for dear life and saying final prayers.

Those who survived the 1972 plane crash in the Andes were those who fastened their seat belts (and had a sprinkle of good luck on the side, of course).

After the plane finally stops gliding through the snow, we see a movie character in an upside-down position, unbuckling their airplane seat belt, and falling out of the seat. Still, this is a much gentler drop than the alternative fate of becoming a human projectile (and “Society of the Snow” shows this too).

The purpose of airport seat belts is to keep you firmly in the seat, preventing you from being tossed around the cabin, and giving you a fighting chance to brace yourself for impact. That could prevent serious injuries, but also make a difference between life and death.

Passengers of Flight 571 employed different strategies to get out of the Andes alive. Learn more about their plane crash survival lessons!

5. Respecting cabin crew authority matters

Before the plane crashes in “Society of the Snow”, one passenger, not understanding the gravity of the situation, pulls a prank by addressing the cabin via the PA system. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is your Captain, General Carlos Páez“, he says. “Please buckle up so your bodies aren’t scattered across the Andes.”

While Páez survived the crash, his joke was prophetic. It got me thinking about the major differences in perception of the cabin crew authority five decades ago and today.

Of course, many things have changed since the time of the tragic Uruguayan flight. We don’t smoke in the planes anymore, we don’t play cards with the flight crew, or casually lounge wherever and however we want. And we don’t ignore the instruction to sit down and buckle up. Well, at least we shouldn’t.

I feel that putting on an airplane seat belt is more than a practical safety measure. It’s a power move establishing the authority of the cabin crew. It’s about following the commands even when we cannot fully understand the context. Blind obedience is a fundamental aspect of air travel safety; it fosters a culture of responsibility and respect for the rules.

The commitment to safety protocols is designed to protect passengers. Choosing not to wear an airplane seat belt disregards the established norms and places everyone at unnecessary risk. As a projectile, you are not just a danger to yourself, but also to other passengers. Also, if you get injured due to your anti-seat belt stance, you could drastically slow down the evacuation or even the assistance of the crew.

The cabin crew is trained to handle emergencies for a reason. Their instructions matter. We’ve seen that numerous times, and the successful evacuation at Tokyo airport, just moments before JAL 516 was completely swallowed by flames, shows how important that is.

Tokyo passengers survived the plane crash because they didn't delay the evacuation by retrieving their hand luggage. Read why that is essential for everyone's survival!

Plane seat belt instructions

Fastening and removing a plane seat belt is a straightforward process that the cabin crew explains before every flight. But if you are a first-time flier, you might want to read the exact instructions on how to use seat belts on a plane.

How to put airplane seat belt

1. Locate the two parts of the seat belt on each side of your seat, near the hip area. They may be tucked into the seat or hanging from the side.
2. Take both ends of the seat belt and insert the metal tongue into the buckle until you hear or feel a click.
3. Once the seat belt is fastened, adjust the length to ensure a snug fit. The seat belt should be low across your hips, touching the tops of your thighs, and should not be twisted. Give the belt a gentle tug to make sure it’s securely latched.
4. Leave it fastened, even when the seat belt sign is off.

How to unbuckle an airplane seat belt

1. Locate the seat belt buckle, typically near the hip area on the side of your seat.
2. Use your fingers to lift and release the latch on the buckle. The click will indicate successful unbuckling.
3. Separate the two ends of the seat belt by pulling them apart.
4. Keep the seat belt accessible and neatly stowed within reach. If you’re planning to rest or sleep, you can leave it loosely fastened for convenience in case you need to secure it quickly.

If you have an older child who sits in their own seat, but you're afraid that your kid would not be fully protected by larger seat belts, consider purchasing this portable safety harness, and travel with peace of mind!

Plane seat belt safety – Conclusion

Some passengers may be almost allergic to the airplane seat belt announcement. They don’t find it a coincidence that the plane seat belt light is placed just next to the sign forbidding smoking, another no-discussion policy on board the aircraft. As soon as that unmistakable airplane seat belt tone warns the cabin, these passengers start wiggling, rolling their eyes, and sometimes even just pretending they buckle up.

During turbulence, unexpected events, or emergencies, a plane seat belt is a protector against potential harm and should be prioritized as routine

I’m not sure if people with strong views on airplane seat belts as enemies of freedom of movement can be convinced otherwise.

But the real-life examples, from 1972 to 2024, show that dismissing the importance of strapping in during a flight can lead to avoidable tragic consequences.

Whether facing turbulence, unexpected events, or emergencies, a plane seat belt is a protector against potential harm and should be prioritized as routine, such as stashing personal belongings in the overhead compartment.

By transforming seat belt use into a habit, you’re upping your chances for a longer and healthier life, without starring in a YouTube video or becoming an inspiration for a series of documentary and feature films on flight disasters.

Strapping in should be a non-negotiable habit for every air traveler. It is not only a mandatory, law-required instruction whenever the airplane seat belt light is on. Fastening a seat belt on a plane is a simple act with a significant impact.

Do you keep your plane seat belt on even if the sign is not illuminated?
Let us know in the comments, and pin this article for later!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The images in this article have been sourced through Wikimedia, Freepik, and other authors and public domains.

In the order of appearance, the credits are as follows:
Cartoon characters (cover and pin image) - Ivan Kralj, created with Dall-e
Benjamin Foulois - Library of Congress
Man buckling up - DCStudio, Freepik 
Red seat belt - Daniel Schwen, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Seat belt instructions card - Ivan Kralj

The post Plane Seat Belt: Safety Behind Buckling Up appeared first on Pipeaway.

Humor is Ryanair’s marketing fuel. They’re the only airline that cracks jokes with their products

The two environmentalists had their brief moment of media fame, but O’Leary’s chilled response was nothing short of a masterclass in crisis communication. He ignored the protest against the low-cost carrier’s carbon footprint and insisted on his petition agenda. To make sure that he stays in charge of the narrative, he belittled the pie performance by casually licking cream off his fingers while declaring: “I love cream cakes, they’re my favorite.”

The real icing on the cake was delivered by Ryanair’s social media team. Their Twitter account, renowned for its unconventional communication style, shared a snapshot of their cream-coated boss and reported that passengers, thrilled with their new routes and “tasty low fares”, were celebrating with cake. Playing on the card of their budget-friendly prices, another tweet suggested that purchasing a pie was a waste of the protesters’ hard-earned dough when it could’ve bought them a ticket out of Belgium.

This wasn’t Ryanair’s first dance with humor as marketing fuel. They are the only airline that cracks jokes about the very thing they’re selling, even calling their windowless window seats – a waste of money. Their self-deprecating one-liner statuses consistently feed on the company’s disadvantages, which in turn makes them go viral.

One day they might downplay junk fees by trolling Donald Trump as having more charges than them. The next one, they could highlight their pricey name change fees by poking fun at Elon Musk’s X-Twitter rebranding. And then, they might spotlight oversized luggage charges by tweeting Loreen’s Eurovision performance setup.

Ryanair’s responses to legroom complaints, seat size questions, or free food inquiries regularly pack a comedic punch.

There doesn't have to be an intention for travel marketing to make you laugh. Check out these tourism campaign fails!

Smiles in the skies

There is a certain level of expectation for B2C communication standards, especially when delivering serious messages.

While most airlines try to maintain a professional demeanor in their social media presence, Ryanair’s strategy keeps customer service for DMs, while regularly dancing on the line of appropriate humor when it comes to the public field. Social media is a marketing tool, and a less serious approach definitely draws attention.

Humor has this ability to shake us up from not paying attention, and serious contexts prove this point the best. When we speak about airlines, there’s no more serious moment than a safety demonstration in the cabin. The procedure in which passengers are informed about the important features of the aircraft and things to do in case of emergency are standardized for a reason. But after flyers hear it for the umpteenth time, these safety briefings can blend into the background, become a sort of white noise, making their minds wander away.

However, every now and then, there emerges a flight attendant who shakes things up and breaks free from the script. One such legend in the history of in-flight entertainment was Michael McAdam, a veteran flight attendant for WestJet.

This multitalented Canadian (with expertise in acting, improvisation, and even comic book writing) had a remarkable steward career, giving his own twist to mundane safety announcements that usually make us fall asleep.

In an era when YouTube is flooded with videos of unruly passengers, cabin crew’s humor doesn’t just go viral. It also improves the atmosphere in the aircraft.

“Humor certainly did turn bad days into better days”, Michael tells me. “I once received an official commendation for turning an angry crowd  – our flight was three hours delayed – into a happy crowd by the time we landed.”

Educational hazard of in-flight entertainment

Flight attendants’ job can be exhausting, and in April 2023, Michael McAdam decided to retire his wings, after seventeen years of juggling turbulence and trolleys. During his career, he brought numerous smiles to a flying experience which can be stressful for many.

Even his fellow workers knew to resort to his improv comedy skills when nothing else worked. “Sometimes a crewmate would ask me to ‘step in’ if they had trouble with a difficult guest”, Michael reveals. Like in a magic trick, a flick of humor would make grumpy passengers disappear.

Back in the early 2000s, WestJet was the airline known for injecting humor into its announcements and safety demos. But when they decided to rebrand themselves as a serious business airline focused on the European market, they changed the uniforms as well as cabin crew “persona” for a “seamless experience”, Michael explains.

“Today, humor is discouraged for safety-related announcements, but attendants are allowed to use it during personal interactions with guests.”

In 2015, researchers Morteza Tehrani and Brett Molesworth conducted a study on the impact of humorous pre-flight safety briefings. It turned out they positively influence passengers’ moods, which could improve the performance in the event of an emergency. However, the study also showed that an entertaining briefing style had a trade-off. The funnier the presentation, the poorer the subjects recalled the key safety messages.

Michael McAdam never worried about whether his mood-lifting style affected the efficiency of his duties: “Quite the opposite. I saw that people actually paid attention to what I was doing, instead of reading or looking at their phones. It’s why I kept doing it all those years because people paid more attention to the safety demo.”

Safety meets satire – humor as a marketing tool that works

The topic of whether one should joke around while discussing matters that can literally mean a difference between life and death is controversial. Finding a delicate balance between entertainment and education is no easy feat.

However, the competitive space of social media is not a plane, and the audience is not just waiting for a take-off, with nothing else to do. To be able to deliver the message, one first needs to get users aboard. For achieving that coveted virality and a flurry of followers, humor is a fantastic tool.

Interestingly, this was proven exactly by the organizations that deal with the most serious topics of safety and security. They realized that to get their voices heard and truly connect with travelers, they needed to speak a language everyone could understand. And that language just happened to be humor.

Humorous tactics for safer travels

1. National Park Service – NPS, USA

Tourists have been misbehaving for years. The rise of unofficial accounts like the Facebook group Invasion of The Idiots or the Instagram account Tourons of Yellowstone (touron = tourist + moron) proved that sometimes it’s not enough to politely ask visitors not to approach a cliff, dip their fingers in volcanic hot springs, hug a cactus, take a selfie with a grizzly, or feed a moose.

With 1.2 million followers on X/Twitter, 1.8 million followers on Facebook, and 5.2 million followers on Instagram, the National Park Service is a US government agency that clearly knows how to reach its audience. If TikTok would be allowed to federal agencies, they’d probably have more than 4k fans there too (still an impressive base for zero posted content).

The organization that practically established a new slogan – “Don’t pet the fluffy cows” – uses clever captions, memes, infographics, and posters to teach us how (not) to engage with wildlife, as well as how to enjoy nature responsibly in general.

The person who devised the new social media strategy for the National Park Service in 2018 was Matthew Turner. He introduced hilarious content that just begged to be shared.

If you like visiting national parks, you sure don't love them as she does! Before the age of three, an American toddler Journey Castillo managed to visit all 63 national parks. Read an exclusive interview with a hiker with a pacifier!

Bison petting charts and bear menus

NPS’s advice can be as blunt as “To avoid crowds, visit areas that are less crowded”, or “Trails often look more flat on the map”. They can provide you with detailed bison petting charts, or sarcastically inform you what to do in the case of a bear encounter. “Pick up small children immediately, unless they’ve been acting up and you’re trying to send a message!” Or: “Hike in groups. Bears like to have options.”

This type of non-dry communication quickly proved successful in attracting more followers and producing better engagement. Even if it came from a serious government agency, users totally vibed with it. Some even picked up the style, such as rockinqltr who commented: “Do not push the Ranger’s buttons! All Rangers are voice-activated. Like Alexa.”

“The humor is often used to draw people in”, Matt Turner once explained. “But beyond the funny, there is usually a safety message, a deeper dive into park resources or policy, or a fun fact.”

I love their educational approach to the importance of drinking water:

“First rule of hydrate club: Stay hydrated.
Second rule of hydrate club: Talk about hydrate club.
Third rule of hydrate club: Just a minute, need a bathroom.”

2. Croatian Mountain Rescue Service – HGSS, Croatia

Croatia, a popular honeymoon destination and more, is a small European country with only 8 national parks (“only” – compared to USA’s 63). Croatia’s territory still gets a fair share of adventures and misadventures by tourists who need a little… Guidance. But there’s no dedicated government agency that would school these visitors in appropriate behavior, especially not one with a knack for humor.

However, one voluntary organization filled that slot. Hrvatska gorska služba spašavanja (HGSS), or Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, specializes in search and rescue operations in all sorts of hard-to-reach places, from the tops of mountains to the depths of caves and even the open sea. They’ve been doing this noble work for free since 1950, but their mission to prevent accidents got an irreplaceable platform in the age of social media.

Since 2012, they started focusing on Twitter as the most direct way to reach both citizens and the media. They quickly learned that a touch of black humor expands their reach. The masterminds of Christian Nikolić and Jadran Kapović delivered content that soon earned them accolades beyond their humanitarian work, such as awards for public communications.

Jadran Kapović himself explains it best: “Since we are not a typical service, our approach was in line with our character, a bit avant-garde. It was a breath of fresh air in terms of our laid-back, ironic, and sometimes sarcastic way of communicating.”

Tourists gone with the wind

How does that work in real life? HGSS might try to appeal to your compassion by asking: “During these chilly days, have you been in touch with your third-age relatives, especially those who live alone, and not on the topic of inheritance?”

Or they might appeal to your common sense, by posting a makeshift sign on Ugljan Island begging you not to hike in flip-flops.

In times when AI is being asked to recreate various world wonders, they generated their very own nightmare – an improperly dressed tourist in the mountains, complete with the caption “We asked artificial intelligence what non-intelligence looks like.”

Jadran sheds some light on this humor tightrope they walk: “Humor can often backfire or drift one’s attention away from the important message we incorporate in our posts. Humor is like bait, but the punchline is the ‘hook’ that makes the difference. Balancing the two is sometimes really hard.”

Their #deartourists series was especially inspired by Croatian visitors who underestimate the power of the ‘bura’ wind and find themselves floating away from the coast on inflatable birds. HGSS will advise you to bring your ID (“So that Italian coast guard do not mistake you for refugees”), urge you to hang on tight to your pink flamingo (“Makes it easier for us to find you”), or, as a last resort, suggest you tweet them from the afterlife (complete with a photo of a tourist in a coffin-shaped floaty and the message “May the dolphins be with you”).

Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, the organization that tries to “keep the number of you entering and exiting Croatia proportional”, definitely knows how to get its message across. They’re talking to tourists in a way that the Croatian Tourist Board never would, but they still include the country’s official slogan: “You are beautiful even without the dangerous cliff edge selfies. Take care of yourselves & let’s keep Croatia full of life.”

3. Transportation Security Administration – TSA, USA

Before you arrive from the USA to Croatia, you’ll have to pass through airport security checks, and the federal agency in charge of travel security doesn’t want to delay your journey.

To keep travelers informed, the Transportation Security Administration, born in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, uses Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as reach-out channels.

Passing through airport security is already stressful in itself, so the lighthearted approach TSA’s screener Bob Burns introduced in 2013, managed to attract over 1 million intrigued followers.

You could see unusual checkpoint discoveries such as Freddy Krueger’s razor glove, but also learn that “while worn out fedoras and tattered green and red sweaters are discouraged in the fashion world, they are permitted at TSA checkpoints”.

“There’s a cheekiness to it, but I also try to educate and prove travel tips”, Blogger Bob explained his strategy once.

After the original author passed away, the six-member team led by social media manager Janis Burl (2020-2022) left their own mark with posts packed with wordplay and puns. She reveals that it would take them four hours of teamwork for each post!

Among numerous confiscated weapons, they reported about a passenger trying to travel with a bazooka. “It’s not rocket science”, TSA explained, promising to fire back answers to all questions shot at them.

On packing weapons, from chili beans to lightsabers

Today, TSA will teach you why peanut butter is a liquid and a cat is not. They’ll tell you that fireworks on the plane are not allowed, but “what about your canned chili beans?”.

As for forgetful travelers who typically act surprised when faced with weapons found in their luggage, they advise: “Always start with an empty travel bag. That way you don’t “accidentally” leave a knife, gun, cattle prod, brass knuckles, baton, hammer, or baseball bat in your carry-on.”

Even TSA’s official website has caught onto the relaxed communication vibe. In the list of things you can(not) bring to the plane, they toss in fantasy weapons as a legitimate example: “Sadly, the technology doesn’t currently exist to create a real lightsaber. However, you can pack a toy lightsaber in your carry-on or checked bag. May the force be with you.”

“The world doesn’t want to talk to the Government of my parents and their parents”, Janis Burl said in A Bit of Optimism podcast. “The world wants to talk to people and they want to know that you are human. And that was the aspect I was trying to bring out, ‘let me talk to you the way you are talking to me’.”

The benefits of humor in safety marketing

Incorporating humor even in the most serious of communications can be a super effective strategy. Several reasons make this marketing choice beneficial, even when we communicate topics of safety and security.

1. Attracting attention

Humorous content is a quick and effective way to grab people’s attention. In a world inundated with serious and often grim messages about safety and security, humor is a neon sign. It can make a message stand out, increasing the likelihood that people will notice and engage with the message.

2. Fact retention

While Tehrani-Molesworth research might disagree, the practitioners in the field claim that humor, when done right, can make important messages more memorable. Jokes and funny anecdotes can ease nervousness, disarm tension and anxiety, and help the targeted audience process, accept, and remember essential safety instructions.

PRO TIP: If you’re nervous about flying, try bringing along some weighted stuffed animals. They’re like fluffy anchors for your anxiety!

3. Universal appeal

Safety and security messages can sometimes feel impersonal or bureaucratic. Well-executed humor can humanize even the most complex message, and make it transcend cultural and language barriers. It can be digested and appreciated by a wide range of people, making it an effective tool for reaching diverse audiences.

4. Reduced resistance

Services that use humor can engage the audience and deliver critical information in a way that doesn’t feel too preachy or fear-inducing. As such, humor can lower resistance and, by making the message more relatable and less intimidating, encourage better compliance with safety guidelines.

5. Emotional connection

When people laugh, they experience positive emotions. Humor can foster an emotional connection between the audience and the message they receive, but also boost the positive brand image and trust in the organization behind the message.

6. Viral potential

Humorous content is the real king of the social media platforms. People can’t resist sharing and engaging with content that makes them laugh, which can significantly boost the organic reach of safety or security messages.

Humor as a serious safety marketing tool – conclusion

Travel experience, with its always new rules and regulations, can easily become a source of stress. All actors in the chain, from airlines and airports to organizations that manage destinations, can ease the tension with humor and make travelers swallow even those hard pills that they haven’t even considered consuming.

I’m not suggesting we need an army of comedians throwing dad jokes in a desperate attempt to make everyone laugh. As we have seen in examples, sometimes all it takes is just giving bureaucratic jargon a makeover – translating it into something more relatable. Whether it’s referencing pop culture, ditching the legal lingo, or simply not taking oneself too seriously, humor has the power to turn monologues into dialogues.

Humor takes raw information and makes it fun to absorbMichael McAdam

Jadran Kapović, who brought two PR professionals’ awards to Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, explains that the impact of their social media can be measured by the fact that, despite the rise of adventurous tourism, they’ve managed to stabilize the number of rescue missions. “Our educational posts, seasoned with a bit of irony, were great recipes to spread awareness and safety tips”, he says.

Of course, humor is subjective, and what might be hilarious to some may not resonate with others. It’s crucial to strike the right balance when using humor on serious topics. Offensive humor can backfire, causing harm to the brand or message. That’s why the task is best left to the professionals who can consider the target audience, cultural nuances, and the specific context when using humor in safety and security marketing.

The viral flight attendant Michael McAdam, who turned safety briefings into stand-up routines in the skies, summed it up nicely for Pipeaway: “I believe humor is a connection between people. It takes raw information and makes it fun to absorb, more interesting, and forges a connection between the speaker and the listener.”

After all, the word ‘humor’ has its roots in the Latin expression for ‘fluid’. Back then, a person’s health was measured by the balance of bodily fluids. Similarly, today, when humor is mostly connected to the world of amusement, it can be seen as an essential force that balances communication and makes it flow. It can improve the health of our social being.

What do you think about humor as a safety marketing tool?
Share your thoughts in the comments, and pin this article for later!

The post Humor to the Rescue: Can Jokes Be a Serious Safety Marketing Tool? appeared first on Pipeaway.

This was certainly not the first example of how humans, confronted with a life-or-death situation, misjudge the circumstances. Surrounded by chaos, they execute intuitive decisions that are not only unfounded in reason but are utterly not intelligent. Is it just selfishness, or are we conditioned to be the slaves of – stuff? Things we do for things are not only proof of how materialistic the contemporary world has become. They also show how easily our vision can be blurred when our lives are in real jeopardy. And after a plane crash, clear vision is all we need.

The reason for a plane crash can often lie in the miscalculation of the plane's weight. As passengers are getting heavier and heavier, and airlines are trying to fit in the plane as many of them as they can, is the risk of flying actually growing? Read all you need to know about flying while fat!

Death on a volcano

My memories of climbing Erta Ale Volcano in Ethiopia are still fresh. Ascending an active volcano with a permanent lava lake by night could have been just an atmospheric hiking choice. But this majestic piece of nature was located at the border with Eritrea, where kidnappings and killings of tourists occasionally did happen. A military escort was undoubtedly not just folklore. It was a hike that shouldn’t leave you indifferent.

Several months before my visit, on December 3^rd, 2017, also a Sunday, a German tourist misjudged the circumstances and paid it with his life. Walter Roepert was a 63-year-old medical doctor from Aalen. He visited the amazing volcano with a private guide, who survived the incident.

One version of the event says that assaulters attacked them because the guide was not from the Afar Region and didn’t have the local approval to bring tourists. The other version of the story that the guides tell to Danakil Depression tourists explains it as a robbery attack. The German doctor supposedly didn’t want to hand over his possessions, and they shot him on the spot.

Whichever version was correct, the shots had to be a warning to show how serious the situation was. This experienced ear, nose, and throat specialist did not succeed in reading the context. He was outnumbered and had nowhere to hide.

Do you want to walk out of a railway accident? Here's your guide to train crash survival!

Flight accidents and stranger things

I didn’t climb Erta Ale on December 3^rd, 2017, nor was I a direct witness to the Aeroflot plane crash on May 5^th, 2019. I have no idea how I would react if the ultimate danger confronted me. We can all be smart in our comfy armchairs and call any behavior stupid, selfish, or materialistic. However, stressful situations do affect human judgment capacity. If we are willing to protect our possessions more than value our own lives, our brain chemistry is not functioning in the best way.

I already wrote how I ignored the lump that could’ve been diagnosed as cancer because I was busy with other “important” stuff. I do believe our minds cannot think straight when overwhelmed, even if the situation requires an urgent reaction. We can lose the feeling of priorities and act irrationally.

There is no doubt that Dmitry Khlebushkin, the passenger from seat 10C on an unfortunate Aeroflot flight, lost his sense of reality. The survivor of the plane crash was one of the people who blocked the aisle while saving his backpack, only to complain after the crash that he waited 40 minutes for the refund of his ticket and that, in the end, Aeroflot did not even provide it. Passengers behind row number 11 never had the chance to stand in front of the media microphones and complain about the refund. They burned to death!

There are some plane crash situations where access to luggage can save lives. Learn how Society of the Snow survived the 1972 accident in the Andes!

Embed from Getty Images

Plane crash history of luggage love

While it’s easy to call out this passenger for incredible selfishness, history confirms that the majority of us are the same. When confronted with the plane in flames, we save our luggage!

On 9 December 2011, Cathay Pacific flight B744 from Shanghai to Hong Kong experienced problems during taxiing for departure. The smoke appeared in the cabin, and the captain ordered the evacuation of the aircraft. Photographs of the event clearly showed that passengers were leaving the plane stuffed with personal belongings. Everyone on board was lucky to survive the incident.

On 6 July 2013, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 from Seoul to San Francisco crashed on the final approach. The tail section was ripped off during the crash landing. As the fire was swallowing the aircraft, passengers were still grabbing their carry-on baggage before fleeing the burning wreckage. Some of them even had some heavy roll-aboard suitcases. Out of 307 persons on board, three died.

I do find it disgusting that these people all valued their hand luggage above the other passengers lives. pic.twitter.com/LTiDecgmMf

— Stuart McAllister (@Stu_McAllister) September 9, 2015

On 8 September 2015, British Airways flight 2276 from Las Vegas to London suffered an engine failure, prompting an aborted take-off. As they were evacuating the enflamed plane, passengers were carrying their purses, trolley bags, and shoulder bags, everything that they should have left behind. Nobody died.

On 3 August 2016, the Emirates flight 521 from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai crashed while landing. One of the passengers took a video that captured the chaos of the evacuation. People were grabbing their luggage from the overhead lockers, even after the smoke started to fill the cabin! All 300 people on board survived.

Japan Airlines Flight 516 in 2024 showed how essential it is to follow the cabin crew's instructions during the emergency evacuation. Everybody survived because they left their baggage behind, but this event also reminded us of another essential safety measure on all flights - airplane seat belts. 

Anger towards the plane crash survivors

The unfortunate Moscow plane crash was not the first, and it will probably not be the last example of how plane passengers lose reason in a state of panic. What made this flight different was only the high fatality rate.

The majority of these earlier accidents have produced instant anger on social media networks as well. But as most of them didn’t take any human victims, some new stories quickly replaced the scandal. The condemnation bubble automatically deflated.

We don’t know if anyone faced prosecution for not following the emergency evacuation protocol in plane accidents. Nobody spent a day in jail; nobody paid any fine. Jeopardizing the lives of others remained just some Twitter J’accuse, as airlines didn’t go to court with passengers. Maybe even out of fear that they would be the ones expected to pay the compensation.

But would the passengers of Aeroflot flight SU-1492 react differently if they had known that what they were doing was a criminal offense? Would they be running for their lives, or still running for their suitcases?

Moscow plane crash showed that fellow passengers could be one's worst enemy. Even if the majority of those in the rear end of the plane died, my belief that the last row of the aircraft has the best airplane seats has not been shattered.

Embed from Getty Images

Six reasons why you should leave your things behind in the event of a plane crash evacuation

Internet comments show that people do not want to take airline rules for granted, and prefer to trust their judgment. Many of those who would take their belongings from the plane under the evacuation, claim that it doesn’t require much more action than not taking them, putting an accent on the value of things they travel with (which we could never compare with a value of human life). Still, there are perfectly sane reasons why your bags should stay behind you:

1. Taking items with you slows down the evacuation process, no matter how skillful you may be.

2. In the state of panic, objects or parts of objects could fall, block the aisles or hurt the people who would stumble on them while trying to escape the plane.

3. When fire and smoke appear on the plane, the air becomes very toxic. Taking items from the overhead bin or pulling them out from under the seat makes you consume more oxygen than needed, and lack of oxygen is what kills passengers in a burning plane.

4. Items you carry with you could puncture the evacuation slide, and make it unusable, killing everyone behind you. If one needs to remove high heels or even glasses before jumping on it, why would wheels of your bag or your duty-free (flammable and breakable) whiskey be harmless?

5. Bags can become dangerous once you jump on the slide – they can hit you, make you or fellow passengers unconscious, or turn into a dangerous obstruction at the base of the slide.

6. After plane crash, never trust your feeling of safety! Even if you can’t see the danger, it doesn’t mean one is not there. Emergency evacuation happens ONLY if there is a possibility that passengers could die in the aircraft. No, there is no time to grab a bag or take a video with your phone! You never know when this damaged vehicle full of fuel could explode!

Passengers + luggage = a recipe for chaos

If I’ve learned anything in a couple of decades of using world airports, it is that people with luggage most often behave like people with damaged brains. I don’t know if we can blame a different air pressure in the skies, dry plane air, or flight meals that are not nutritious enough, but once their plane lands and they go through all the border control procedures, it feels as if something destroys passengers’ brain functions. They cannot think clearly anymore!

Just spend some time at the baggage carousel at any airport for a while, and you’ll know what I mean! Even if the yellow line marks where passengers should stand, they do not notice it. Also, when they do, they do not see any connection between the efficiency of bag delivery and following the rules on where to stand.

In the perfect world, passengers stand one meter away from the baggage carousel, opening up the view to the actual bags arriving. When their bag comes close, they step behind the yellow line, take the bag, and leave.

In the world as it is, passengers crowd the conveyor belt, with their airport trolleys occupying any free centimeter, blocking both the views of the carousel as well as space where one could unload one’s bags when they arrive. By wanting to reclaim their bag as soon as possible (and sooner than others), passengers switch off their brains and do everything they can to not retrieve the bag as soon as they can.

To promote the best ways to travel via airports, TSA is often cracking hilarious jokes in their social media. Find out how humor can be an educational safety marketing tool!

Stuff makes us stupid

Turning off the use of reason is not exclusive to air travel.

Recently, I traveled by boat from Coron to El Nido in Palawan, the Philippines. When we reached the final port, passengers rushed to exit the vessel and flocked to the area designated for luggage delivery. They filled the seafront until the last inch, leaving no space for the boat crew to disembark the bags.

None of these passengers showed any intention of stepping back, so their bags could be delivered. They were afraid of losing the “best spot” for grabbing their bag, even if their stand was actively disabling the delivery.

If reclaiming our bags makes us stupid in everyday situations, how could it be different in a burning plane?

If the obsession with reclaiming our bags makes us stupid in the most serene situation of traveling on a tropical island, is it such a surprise that in the condition of panic produced by the airplane in flames, our brains can additionally deteriorate and become less functional?

Would we leave our bags in the burning plane only if the overhead bins were charged with electricity? Would that protect us from stupid actions we were wired to do? Some commenters were indeed advocating in recent years that overhead bins should be automatically locked in case of an emergency. But would that stop our inclination toward not thinking clearly?

There are certain areas of the plane that seem privileged with access to the evacuation path. Should you book extra legroom seats? Could bulkhead seats meet your needs?

Goodbye, things

Fumio Sasaki, the author of the Japanese bestseller book “Goodbye, Things”, advocates for a minimalist lifestyle. He says: “It’s not as though you feel satisfied after collecting a certain amount of stuff. Instead, you keep thinking about what you’re missing.”

Human attachment to things is a fascinating and insatiable beast. We clutter our lives with stuff. We do it at home, and we do it when we travel, too.

You are probably aware of how you overpack for every trip. Then you end up not wearing all those dress combinations that you fantasized about when you were packing.

My friend recently packed five different sporting outfits, imagining that he would garnish his holiday with jogging mornings. He ended up using one of these outfits. Once. His packing eyes were not in touch with reality.

When speaking about myself, I rent a whole apartment in Zagreb, Croatia, mainly to have a place for my stuff. This is the most expensive part of my traveling budget – renting a flat I rarely sleep in! The truth is, I don’t need as much stuff, and my stuff does not require such living space. My stuff would be as fine in some storage room without water, heating, or cable TV, all the things I regularly pay for, while living the life of a nomad. Why do I do that? It’s not logical, and I’m aware of that.

Our brains are not always logical. I guess we identify stuff with value because we are aware that we had to invest energy and work to obtain these things. Not appreciating things would mean that we do not appreciate our own efforts.

Embed from Getty Images

Things as roommates or travel companions

Trained to identify stuff with value, we have a hard time dissociating the two. It took a lot of effort for me to learn that I can live for months from a suitcase that is less than 20 kilos. It took the experience to learn that I do not need two power banks or an extra charger, just in case. While I fancy the idea of minimalism, I know I’m not there yet. But the truth is that most of us are not.

Sasaki says: “Whether we live alone or with other people, few acknowledge the presence of another roommate. This roommate is named ‘Things’ and the space that ‘Things’ occupies is typically a lot larger than the space people have for themselves.”

Things literally take up our living space. Passengers of the Moscow flight discovered this in the worst possible way. They were cremated alive because things took over the mindset of the people in front of them.

Need more advice on how to survive a plane crash? Check these tips from the pilots!

If we are married with stuff, can we file for a divorce?

The question “Can we survive without stuff?” is a weird one, as the answer after these examples is undeniable. German would be sending postcards from some new volcano if he only gave his camera away. Several more passengers behind row 11 of the Moscow flight would be complaining about the refund if the passenger sitting on 10C left his backpack on the plane.

These travelers are gone, and nobody will resurrect them. They died in possibly survivable situations. The carry-on bags saved from the plane crash will be forgotten, or their value will decrease with time. This stuff will eventually also die and will not get resurrected.

If we understood things we do for things and invested the same type of energy in fellow humans or even ourselves, the matter of life or stuff would never be a dilemma. Nobody smart gives one’s life for an object.

Did you like this article?
Pin it for later!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

The post Plane Crash Baggage Obsession: Things We Do For Things appeared first on Pipeaway.

Selecting a plane seat may or may not be your worst nightmare. With so many pros and cons for any of them, deciding on the best place to sit on an airplane gets complicated.

Are the back seats on a plane good? Airport staff seemingly objects: “Are you sure you don’t want to be reseated to a better seat?”

Picking the last seats on flights could definitely raise an eyebrow or two. It might happen that even the airport staff at the baggage drop-off asks you: “Are you sure you don’t want to be reseated to a better seat?”

Is the last row of the plane really that bad? Sure, the ride in the back of the plane could be bumpier, the seats in the last row sometimes may not fully recline, they are also just in front of the plane’s toilet area, and they are never actually mentioned as the “best seat on a plane”.

But there are also many unmentioned benefits of sitting at the back of a plane, some of which I will discuss in this post on the best airplane seats.

My choice might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But until somebody rewards me with the business class treatment, I will always be choosing “the worst seats of the economy class”.

Whichever seat you end up choosing, you will find the cheapest flights on this link! During the Black Friday promotion, get a special discount if booking before December 5th, with the promo code "BFRIDAY40"!
    

Passengers’ sweet dreams becoming your worst nightmare

Here is one example to illustrate this idea! The flight from Riga, Latvia, to Frankfurt, Germany, was not a long one. Lufthansa brought me there for two and a half hours. But flights that depart at 06:30 in the morning make one sleepy, no matter how long the actual trip is.

Drugged by the narcotic sound of the plane engines, rows and rows of travelers fell into sleep, with their jaws dropping on their chests as if they were waiting for a dentist checkup.

Just at the moment when I planned to hit the sack myself, something scratched my heels. Did the life vest fall off? Has the part of the seat crumbled? Did somebody’s bag get legs?

It couldn’t be! Both mine and the row behind mine were the emergency exit rows. I know that for many people, these are indeed the best plane seats. They provide more space, but no luggage can be stored beneath those plane seats.

Hence, the tickle I sensed did not derive from a bag.

I moved my legs apart, and in between, the two shiny shoes emerged. Whose legs were these?! How could someone sit in an extra legroom plane seat and still not have enough?

Not only was his extra legroom not enough, not only was the space below my seat insufficient… His legs were actually invading the legroom of the seat in front of him!

Was he the tallest man on Earth? The sleeping passenger wasn’t exceptionally tall. The fact was that somehow he just spilled out of his seat as if he were a liquid, and diffused all over the floor.

If you are a passenger of size, you will face a series of challenges on the plane. To handle them well, read our dedicated guide to flying while fat! If you're afraid of being seated next to a plus-size passenger, use these tips to defend your personal space! And if you're aspire to become a member of the cabin crew, learn everything about plus-size flight attendants!

Making your own “extra legroom”

Example number two. On my Jetstar Pacific flight from Phu Quoc Island to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, an incredibly ugly female leg sneaked onto my armrest.

Unpedicured in-your-face toenails could make one puke even on firm ground. People go to schools to handle this for a reason! It should not be something any civilian can handle!

But how to approach the issue when you are in a confined space with no possibility to run away?

In my case, luckily, the flight was short, and the leg appeared just before the landing, so I decided not to confront the female passenger behind me.

But how would you handle this on a long flight? If the alternative to not seeing this unpleasant sight is getting into a conflict, and maybe even winning it, is that truly a win? Or would you spend the rest of your flight replaying the quarrel in your head?

To tell the truth, this was not the only time I experienced close encounters with Vietnamese feet. Find out about my crazy bus adventure in the collection of the biggest WTF moments of my travels!

The preferred seat may come as an extra expense on top of your flight ticket, but that's just one of many junk fees airlines tax you with. Check them all out!

Benefits of sitting at the back of a plane

These two flights with Lufthansa and Jetstar Pacific not only reconfirmed that the last seats on flights are the best airplane seats.

They also reminded me how important online check-in is. Never ever leave the choice of your seat row to the fortune of the airport check-in!

And here is why the supposedly least attractive seats at the back of the plane should be on the top of your list!

Do you want to know what the safest place to sit on a train is? Here's how you can survive a train crash!

1. When seated in the last seat row, there is no one sitting behind you!

Don’t you just hate it when somebody’s knees are poking your ribs through the seatback throughout the entire flight? This can be annoying even when in a cinema, and someone is constantly pushing their feet against your seatback.

Plane seats are not known for the greatest sturdiness, so if the annoying passenger behind you can be avoided, why would you think twice about sitting in the rear of a plane?

For some people, the seclusion of the last row presents an opportunity to misbehave. Learn all you need to know about the mile high club! 

2. The chance is nobody else wants to sit in the last row of seats!

Being well-marketed as the least attractive on the plane, last-row seats often stay empty.

On the smaller planes, certain portions even get reserved for the cabin crew, who don’t necessarily use them.

So if you hit it big, it could just mean that instead of sleeping on a reclining seat, you could actually spread yourself over two or three empty seats that do not recline!

Sitting in the back of the plane may bring the luxury of a proper rest!

3. Small children are sitting far away from you!

Family designated spaces in the plane are often at the bulkhead seats, which face the partitions that divide different sections of the aircraft.

These have no seats in front of them, so if you opted for bulkhead seats, you indeed could have gotten more legroom.

But also, your first neighbors might be babies and toddlers sitting on their parents’ laps. Bulkhead seats sometimes have extra oxygen bags for children, so this is the place where the airline will put the crying babies.

Enjoy your extra legroom! I can’t hear anything from the last row!

4. No blocking in between the drinks carts!

Yes, sitting just in front of the toilet may be annoying if people start piling up in front of it as if the bathroom might run away.

However, it is even more annoying to have to go to the bathroom while being blocked in between the carts from which the flight attendants serve the drinks to the passengers. That sound of the coffee hitting the cup makes you want to pee even more! And the toilet is so far!

Sitting in the last row means you will always be the first in the queue for the loo. Wait, did I say queue? What is a queue?

5. The plane seat in the last row is the safest one!

The last, but not the least important answer to the question “What is the safest seat on a plane?”!

From when I’ve heard the conversation of a pilot talking to his civilian friends about how he always chooses the last seat row when he flies in a private arrangement, because “the last rows come with the safest seats on a plane”, I follow this advice whenever I can.

Sure, airlines will tell you this is not true, as then everybody would just want to sit in the back of an airplane.

However, statistics do confirm that after a flight crash, the construction of the aircraft’s tail will be the least damaged. Therefore, it is not that unusual that even the flight recorder, commonly known as a black box, is placed in the plane’s tail section, where it is more likely to survive a severe crash.

JAT flight attendant Vesna Vuković survived the plane crashing from the 10.000 meters of height not because she jumped out of it with a parachute, but because she was sitting firmly next to the supposedly repulsive toilet section.

In-flight safety starts with properly using the airplane seat belt. Learn how that little device can save your life!

Of course, there are various arguments one should take into account when choosing a plane seat. Consider some of them mentioned in this video!

The best airplane seats – Conclusion

To find the best airplane seats, we have to take into account various priorities passengers might have.

Sometimes, it is hard to reconcile practicality, comfort, safety, and personal preferences when we are forced to enter a confined space and share it with strangers for a couple of hours or more.

If you were to take 100 passengers, you would get 100 different airline seat reviews. So searching for the best airplane seats always involves making certain compromises.

You might have a backlash to the controversial idea of picking the last seat as a first choice. But you will not be able to make an informed decision without ever experiencing it.

Choose the last row of seats next time you fly! After all, sitting in the back of a plane won’t kill you if you try! Pun intended.

Do you know what is the most dangerous place at the airport? Check here what you need to know about the airport security check! It might surprise you!

Did I convince you to consider sitting at the back of the plane?
Pin this article for later!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you click on them and make a purchase, Pipeaway may make a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work!

Cover photo - free vector design by: Vecteezy.com

The post Selecting a Plane Seat: 5 Reasons Why Last Row Should Be First Choice appeared first on Pipeaway.