Air India plane crash raises questions: Is 11A the miracle seat? Here's what experts say
Air India flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, tragically killed all but one, sparked debate over seat safety. Survivor Viswashkumar Ramesh's escape from seat 11A fueled speculation, but experts caution against drawing conclusions. Proximity to exits matters, yet preparedness, like knowing evacuation routes and brace positions, proves more crucial for survival.
When the Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday, killing everyone on board but one, survivor Viswashkumar Ramesh, who stepped out of the wreckage through an emergency exit, which led to speculation about whether his seat 11A was the secret to his survival, as per Reuters.
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Ramesh, who was seated beside an exit door on the London-bound flight, managed to walk out of the shattered plane moments after it crashed, according to the report. The entire opposite side of the aircraft was crushed against a building, he told investigators, as per Reuters. Want a Loan? Get cash against your Mutual Funds in 4 hours His miraculous escape has stirred intense public interest if his seat, 11A, is the safest, but aviation experts have highlighted that it is not so easy to jump to conclusions because aircraft vary widely in seat configurations, crashes are unique and survival often hinges on a complex interplay of factors, reported Reuters.A director at the US-based Flight Safety Foundation, Mitchell Fox said, "Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location," quoted Reuters.
While the chairman of AvLaw Aviation Consulting, Ron Bartsch, pointed out that, "In this particular instance, because the passenger was sitting adjacent to the emergency exit, this was obviously the safest seat on the day," adding, "But it's not always 11A, it's just 11A on this configuration of the Boeing 787," as quoted in the report.
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads
Being close to an exit door can increase your odds of escaping after a crash, but it's no guarantee, according to the report. Some exit doors are blocked or damaged after a crash, and depending on the crash dynamics, the safe side of the plane can vary.
In Ramesh's case, his seat location gave him immediate access to the only exit that wasn't obstructed, but aviation history is full of unpredictable outcomes, as a 2007 Popular Mechanics study found that passengers seated toward the rear of planes had slightly better survival odds, as per Reuters. Some experts suggest the wing section offers more stability, reported Reuters.While many passengers might try to secure a seat near an exit or on the aisle, but experts caution that the most effective ways to survive a crash are less about seat number and more about preparedness, according to the report.Experts say, "Safety briefings typically cover critical instructions such as how to fasten your seatbelt securely, adopt the correct brace position and plan your evacuation route," as per Reuters.Another tip the experts shared with Reuters is to count the number of rows between your seat and the nearest exit, which is important knowledge if the cabin fills with smoke and visibility is low, according to the report.Is seat 11A always the safest spot on a plane?
Not at all. In this specific crash, it helped. But in another situation, it might not. Safety depends on the plane model and the nature of the accident.
Are rear seats safer than front ones?Some studies suggest higher survival rates toward the back, but it's not a hard rule.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Horror in American Sky! California plane crash, searches are underway. Passengers flee smoking aircraft on emergency at Denver airport
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs Authorities are searching for three people who were aboard a private twin-engine plane that crashed off the central California coast. Emergency officials responded Saturday night after receiving a lost radar alert and 911 calls from residents, KSBW-TV reported. Witnesses reported hearing an aircraft engine revving and a splash in the water near the coast of Pacific Grove, the station small plane, a Beech 95-B55 Baron, took off from the San Carlos airport at 10:11 p.m. (local time) and was last seen at 10:37 p.m. (local time) near Monterrey, according to flight tracking data from agencies responded to the crash and search effort, including the U.S. Coast Guard and California's Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection. People on shore reported seeing debris wash up from the crashed aircraft. Coast Guard officials estimated the plane crashed about 200 to 300 yards (183 to 274 meters) off shore, the news station National Transportation Safety Board will slid down an emergency slide of a smoking jet at Denver International Airport due to a possible problem with the plane's landing gear, authorities said. American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a 'possible landing gear incident' during its departure from Denver on Saturday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The problem involved an aircraft tire, the Fort Worth, Texas-based company said in a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 173 passengers and six crew members was on its way to Miami International Airport, American aired by local media showed people sliding down the inflatable chute near the front of the plane while clutching luggage and small children. Some passengers, including at least one adult carrying a young child, tripped at the end of the slide and fell onto the concrete runway. Passengers were then taken to the terminal by of the passengers was taken to a hospital with a minor injury, American Airlines said in its statement. Five people were evaluated for injuries at the scene but did not require hospitalization, Denver International Airport officials extinguished a fire on the aircraft, the Denver Fire Department said.'All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,' American said. In a statement, the FAA said it will investigate.A1. A small plane, a Beech 95-B55 Baron, took off from the San Carlos airport at 10:11 p.m. (local time) and was last seen at 10:37 p.m. (local time) near Monterrey, according to flight tracking data from Passengers slid down an emergency slide of a smoking jet at Denver International Airport due to a possible problem with the plane's landing gear, authorities said.
Scroll.in
3 hours ago
- Scroll.in
Schools get mud and clay update to stay cool in warming climates
When prize-winning architect Francis Kéré was growing up in Burkina Faso he spent his schooldays in a gloomy classroom that was so stifling he says it would have been better suited to making bread than educating children. Years later, while studying abroad, Kéré returned to his home village to build a light and airy school where children could learn in comfort despite temperatures that can hit 45 degrees celsius. But the Berlin-based architect did not use air conditioning. Instead, he incorporated a host of cooling features into Gando Primary School that he has since applied to projects across Africa. Kéré, who won architecture's highest honour of the Pritzker Prize in 2022, is among architects pioneering sustainable school designs for a warming planet. 'My own school was so hot it was hard to concentrate,' he told Context. 'So I wanted to build a school that would be comfortable and inspiring for children.' Studies from Brazil to Vietnam show heat significantly impacts learning. In a report last year, the World Bank warned that climate change was threatening educational attainment, creating an 'economic time-bomb'. Experts say classrooms should be no hotter than 26 degrees celsius. In Gando, villagers were initially shocked when Kéré announced he would build the school from clay, but the material is a natural temperature regulator, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night. Concrete and plate-glass may look contemporary, but Kéré said they make buildings hot, necessitating air conditioners. This creates a vicious circle. Energy-intensive air conditioners, which expel hot air outdoors, contribute to global warming, which then fuels demand for more aircon. Instead, Kéré uses passive cooling techniques. Gando's classrooms have openings at both ends, generating cross-ventilation. An overhanging roof elevated above a perforated lower roof improves air circulation and shades the facade. In Kenya, Kéré's design for a college campus was inspired by termite mounds, which use natural ventilation to regulate interior temperatures. Low openings on the buildings suck in fresh air while terracotta-coloured towers let hot air escape. Social change Some 8,000 km away in India's Thar desert, temperatures reached 48 degrees celsius this year. Vegetation is sparse, and sandstorms are common. The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School, a large oval sandstone edifice rising from the Rajasthan desert, was designed by New York architect Diana Kellogg. The building's orientation and shape allow prevailing winds to flow around the school, while lime plaster on the interior walls has an additional cooling effect. Lattice walls, inspired by traditional Indian jali screens, accelerate airflow due to a phenomenon called the Venturi effect. The school also runs off solar power and harvests enough rainwater for its needs. Temperatures inside are up to 10 degrees celsius cooler than outside, contributing to high attendance, Kellogg said. Like Kéré, she believes good architecture can encourage social change. Rajasthan has the lowest female literacy rate in India, but Kellogg said the school's monumental scale sends a strong message about the value of girls. 'It has enhanced their standing in the community,' she said. 'The girls take pride in attending and call it 'The College'. When I visit, the boys say, 'Build one for us'.' Greening schools Even temperate countries are looking at how to cool schools as climate change brings more frequent heatwaves. Britain has said new school buildings should be future-proofed for a 4 degrees celsius temperature rise. Its draughty Victorian-era schools with big windows and high ceilings are better suited to heatwaves than newer schools designed to keep heat in. But education does not just happen indoors. Playgrounds are also important for children's development, and many cities are trying to make them greener. Urban areas can be 4-6 degrees celsius warmer than rural areas, but planting trees reduces temperatures through shading and the release of water vapour. Paris aims to convert all asphalted schoolyards to green oases by 2050. Another solution involves cool paint. While countries like Greece have long painted building roofs white, scientists are now working on high-tech coatings that could potentially outperform air conditioners. Building with clay From geothermal cooling technology to smart glass, engineers are developing increasingly sophisticated systems and products to control temperatures. But German architect Anna Heringer said sustainable architecture meant working with local materials. Heringer, who has designed schools from Bangladesh to Ghana, is known for building with mud – 'a low-tech material with high-tech performance'. 'If you ask farmers, they will tell you a mud house is cool in summer,' Heringer said, adding that clay balances humidity, which exacerbates physical discomfort in extreme heat and cold. 'Architects often try to be way too technical, but sometimes the solutions are in front of us.' In Tanzania, villagers told her they built concrete homes for status, but went to mud huts to sleep at night. Contrary to popular perception, clay walls do not dissolve in the rain, Heringer said. There are simple techniques to prevent erosion, and a natural crystallization process strengthens the walls over time. 'Clay has been branded as a weak material, but in every culture and climate we have mud buildings that are hundreds of years old,' Heringer said, adding that schools she built 20 years ago have required little maintenance. Some classrooms in her schools have solar-powered fans, but there is no air conditioning. Not only does it consume energy, but constantly switching between heat and cold can harm children's health, she said. Kéré – whose international commissions include Benin's new parliament building and the upcoming Las Vegas Museum of Art – said his studio gets many inquiries about building with clay and passive cooling. 'There's a big shift,' he said. 'This would never have happened just a few years ago.'
Mint
5 hours ago
- Mint
Denver plane fire: One injured, 90 flights delayed as American Airlines passengers evacuated — Here's what happened
A mechanical malfunction on an American Airlines flight moments before takeoff led to a dramatic evacuation at Denver International Airport on Saturday afternoon. Passengers aboard Flight 3023, bound for Miami, were forced to evacuate onto the runway after a brake fire broke out beneath the aircraft. The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. local time as the Boeing 737 MAX 8 began its takeoff roll. According to American Airlines, the plane experienced a 'mechanical issue' that caused the aircraft to decelerate abruptly. Blown tires and braking triggered a localized fire near the landing gear, prompting the crew to initiate an emergency evacuation. 'All 173 passengers and six crew members deplaned safely,' the airline said in a statement. One person sustained a minor injury and was transported to a hospital for evaluation. Five others were assessed at the scene but did not require further treatment. Dramatic footage shared on social media and reported by US media outlets shows thick smoke billowing from beneath the aircraft as passengers slid down emergency chutes and fled across the tarmac. The Denver Fire Department responded swiftly and extinguished the fire. American Airlines confirmed that the affected aircraft was taken out of service for inspection by maintenance crews. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the crew reported a 'possible landing gear incident' during departure. The agency is investigating the cause of the failure. Due to the emergency, a temporary ground stop was issued at Denver International Airport from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., delaying nearly 90 flights, according to data from FlightAware cited by Fox News. Flight: American Airlines Flight 3023 from Denver (DEN) to Miami (MIA) Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8 Time: Incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 Cause: Brake fire triggered by blown tires and deceleration during takeoff Response: Emergency evacuation via slides; fire extinguished by Denver Fire Department Casualties: One minor injury; no fatalities FAA: Investigating possible landing gear failure Delays: Temporary ground stop delayed about 90 flights Rebooking: Passengers flown to Miami on a replacement aircraft Authorities continue to investigate, and the aircraft remains grounded pending inspection.
