Originally Posted by
Espada III
If I recall correctly not too many of the passengers on the ditching in the Hudson bothered to put on their life vest.
Several explanations were offered by investigators. “Although the accident flight attendants did not command passengers to don their life vests before the water impact, two passengers realized that they would be landing in water and retrieved and donned their life vests before impact, and a third passenger attempted to retrieve his life vest but was unable to do so and, therefore, abandoned his attempt,” the report said. “Many passengers reported that their immediate concern after the water impact was to evacuate as quickly as possible, that they forgot about or were unaware that a life vest was under their seat, or that they did not want to delay their egress to get one. Other passengers stated that they wanted to retrieve their life vest but could not remember where it was stowed.” In all, 101 life vests were left stowed under passenger seats.
Only two passengers realised they would be landing on water ...
This aircraft (One of 20, out of total of 75 A320's in US's fleet) was lucky to have life jackets and rafts ...