Growing up, my dad insisted that whenever we flew we absolutely, positively, had to sit over the airplane’s wing. He subscribed to the popular theory that the wing area provided the safest seats because (as some argue) that section of the plane is the most structurally sound. I never questioned him (why would I—he was my dad). So for years, no matter what type of aircraft or how short my flight was I always requested a window seat over the wing. (Never mind, that I missed out on some spectacular aerial views because they were obstructed by this massive piece of metal that supposedly kept me safe.)
When I left my island home for college on the mainland, I encountered people who tried to debunk my beloved father’s safe seat theory. I was told that there was a saying that sitting in the back of the plane is safer because — if the flight crashes –planes tend to crash nose first. As the years passed, I tucked that theory away (along with my dad’s). Now, when flying solo I request a seat near the plane’s wing, but when I travel with my toddler daughter I find it is easier to sit in the rear of the plane so she can run around without bothering other passengers. So, where am I the safest?
Apparently, I have not been the only one pondering this question. In fact, I would say I am in good company considering a reporter from the New York Times recently gave the topic quite a bit of column space. So, are there any truths to either safe seat theory? Probably not, according to the paper.
“Whatever the reason, the claim that one section of a plane is safer than another is not supported by the facts,” the Times writes. According to Todd Curtis, an aviation safety expert and author of the book Understanding Aviation Safety Data, each crash has so many different variables that it would be “very difficult –- if not impossible –- to determine if any one seat offers a better chance of surviving a crash than another.”
But dad, take note—the paper says you can still improve your odds. The Times notes “60% of accidents occur while planes are descending and that 35% happen as a flight is climbing.” So, the paper suggests flying non-stop since that “reduces exposure to these accident-prone stages of flight.” The Times also claims that larger planes are safer, “partly because they are subject to stricter safety regulations, but also because they have more structure to absorb energy during an impact.”
Where do you sit on an airplane? Do you have a preference?