Someone mentioned the crash in the Andes (where they were forced to eat the dead -- fortunately there is a lot more food in Hawaii, especially if you use the emergency slides as rafts.)
There is a great book about it called, "Alive : The Story of the Andes Survivors" (Avon Nonfiction) by Piers Paul Read.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
They were able to get a fire going (I forget how) and used it to melt snow for water, and cook food if needed.
There is a 1993 movie based on the book, but I haven't seen it.
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I drove from San Diego to the tip of Baja years ago, and all the car wrecks at the side of the road had been cut up for salvage. Usually a big piece of the roof was missing, as well as the trunk and hood. People used them to make fences and roofs for their shacks.
Folks, could they pull up the metal strips on the floor the seats attach to and use them to spear fish? Or other critters? Or is there something else that would make a good spear?
Does this plane crash soon after takeoff, when there is presumably more food, drink, and snacks available, or towards the end of the flight? Does first class carry metal silverware anymore, or would they be stuck with plastic utensils?
There would presumably be plastic cups they could use to catch rainwater, not to mention the plastic bags the headsets (for in-flight entertainment). And plastic trash bags used to collect trash after meals. The blankets in the overhead bins could be used for warmth (if needed) or rigged to provide shade and protection from the wind. The wires from the headsets could be used as rope.
I'd check the luggage for sunscreen, especially in the first few days, and mosquito repellent. Plus check the luggage for medical supplies and clean clothes. Perhaps some people even packed a snorkle, mask, and fins, also useful for fishing. Presumably there are swim trunks...
And all those batteries from Game Boys, portable computers, and cell phones. Could they be used for anything, at least for the first couple of days?
Maybe there is even a volleyball, so they could paint a face on it a la Tom Hanks in the movie "Castaway."
