PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Spanair accident at Madrid
View Single Post
Old 21st Aug 2008, 10:34
  #324 (permalink)  
Capvermell
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One would imagine that in the event of an evacuation first class seats would be much more desireable. Trying to squeeze out of the can of sardines that is economy class when there is a fire raging sounds like one of the worst possible ways to go.
Any reasonable review of catastrophic crashes of large passenger aircraft will in fact show you that the most important factors are to be (a) near an emergency exit that can be opened and (b) in the rear of the aircraft which often breaks off cleanly and does not then burn. Being in First Class or Club Class is only likely to help you in the event of a fire on board an otherwise intact aircraft.

The front of an aircraft (where first and club class are) is usually one of the worst places to be in a major crash since the front of the aircraft frequently takes most of the impact when the aircraft hits something. All of the small number of survivors on the Japanese Air Lines 747 crash where over 500 died for instance were in the very rear of the aircraft. The same thing on the Korean air lines 747 that crashed in Guam.
Capvermell is offline