Surely the ATR72 ditching off Sicily proves the need for lifejackets on aircraft. Wouldn't the death toll have been greater if there hadn't been any?
What about the Airbus (Air Transat if my memory serves me right) which glided some considerable distance before landing in the Azores? The passengers were told to put their lifejackets on as there was a strong possibility the aircraft might have to ditch. Fortunately, they made it to terra firma but can anyone honestly say no lives would have been saved by the availability of lifejackets on the aircraft if a 'water landing' had occurred?