What is the safest airplane? (2023)

What is the safest airplane?

Quantas came top of the table thanks to "an amazing record of firsts in operations and safety" leading it to be "accepted as the industry's most experienced airline," according to the air safety rating site.

Therefore, the ERJ135/140/145 members of the family are among the safest airliners in history. The Airbus A340 is also one of the safest, with no fatal accidents involving any of the 380 units since its introduction in March 1993.

Seats in the middle of the cabin had a 39% fatality rate, while the front third had 38% and the rear third 32%. When looking at what seats gave you the best chance of surviving, the middle seats in the plane's rear came out the best with a 28% fatality rate.

What about Boeing and Airbus' safety record? According to Airfleets.net, Airbus has suffered 86 total crashes or accidents between its models – fewer than just the 147 suffered by Boeing's 737 alone.

Running since 1929, Hawaiian is among the oldest airlines in the world but, remarkably, it has never suffered a single fatal crash or hull loss.

Statistics show that the middle seats in the rear of an aircraft historically have the highest survival rates. This is based on a study of aircraft accidents in the last 35 years.

Coming in at eighth overall, Alaska ranks as the safest U.S. airline in 2023. However, four other domestic carriers made the cut, including Hawaiian Airlines (12th), United Airlines (14th), American Airlines (19th) and Delta Air Lines (20th).

In addition to wake turbulence, rough weather and winds can pose a bigger threat to smaller planes than large ones. Because of this, flying in a tiny aircraft is not as reliable as airliners that can more safely operate in severe weather conditions, like heavy rain, snow, and high winds.

The study concluded that passengers who sit in the back rows “are 40% more likely to survive a crash” than those in the front. Statistics provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) support this finding.

What seat is most likely to survive a plane crash?

It found that the survival rate for those sitting in the front 15% of seats there was a 49% chance of survival. Those sitting in the middle of the plane – above the wings – has a 56% chance of survival. Meanwhile, those sitting behind the back edge of the wing had a 69% chance of surviving the crash.

Exit rows, aisle or window seats, and anywhere close to the front are typically considered the best seats on a plane. On a short business trip, you might want an aisle seat near the front of the plane so you can debark as quickly as possible on arrival.

Do pilots prefer Boeing or Airbus? Pilots will always differ in opinion. The general feeling is that Airbus aircraft on the narrowbodies (A320 etc) are slightly more comfortable in terms of space in the flight deck than a 737 for example.

On 22 March 1998, Philippine Airlines Flight 137, using an Airbus A320-214, crashed and overran the runway of Bacolod City Domestic Airport, RPVB, in Bacolod, Philippines, plowing through homes near it. None of the passengers or crew died, but many were injured and three on the ground were killed.

According to experts, the model (737-800) is considered to be the safest aircraft ever made. The 737-800 belongs to the aviation giant's next-generation aircraft which also includes 600, 700, and 900. A passenger aircraft of China Eastern Airlines crashed in the southwestern province of Guangxi.

The Boeing 767, discontinued in its passenger version but still used by a number of airlines (especially in North America and Japan), is one of the most comfortable ways to fly in economy, with wider seats and only one middle seat in the 2-3-2 seating layout. It's certainly one to pick.

Compare it to other major forms of transportation – with 0.04 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, train travel is much more dangerous than airplanes' 0.01 deaths per 100 million miles. However, air travel is only as safe as the operator, the equipment, and the training procedures that underlie the flight itself.

How many planes crash a year?

The number of plane crashes varies yearly, but roughly, assume that there are between 70-90 crashes per year. Keep in mind that includes all types of crashes, including commercial planes and privately-owned ones worldwide.

Across all airline operations globally, there were 12 fatal accidents resulting in 229 fatalities in 2022. The deadliest crash of this year was China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 which crashed on 21 March, killing all 132 people on board.

Its latest report revealed that Delta was in its top 20 list of safest airlines, ranking 14th.

The AirlineRatings top 20 safest low-cost airlines for 2022 are, in alphabetical order; Air Arabia, AirAsia Group* Allegiant, Air Baltic, easyjet, FlyDubai, Frontier, Jetstar Group, Jetblue, Indigo, Ryanair, Scoot, Southwest, Spicejet, Spirit, Vueling, Vietjet, Volaris, Westjet, and Wizz.

By far, the most common cause of small aircraft accidents happens due to pilot error. Many small plane operators are “hobbyist” fliers. They don't fly for a living and, therefore, don't rack up a substantial flight time. Any misjudgment can result in tragedy.

Of the 61 Boeing 747 aircraft losses, 32 resulted in no loss of life; in one, a hostage was murdered; and in one, a terrorist died.

Bottom line. Flying on a twin-engine aircraft is just as safe as flying on a four-engine one.

Because of its vast size, crossing the Pacific Ocean requires a staggering quantity of fuel. However, most commercial aircraft do not fly directly over the Pacific Ocean; instead, they choose what are known as 'curved paths'. These paths offers a faster, more efficient route given the curved nature of the earth.

Is it safe to sit over the wing?

Time found seats in the rear third of the aircraft had a lower fatality rate (32 percent) than seats in the overwing (39 percent) or front (38 percent) thirds of the plane.

In many crashes the aircraft structure collapses and the individual is injured by impact with the airframe. These injuries can include amputations, major lacerations and crushing. When the structure collapses, the victims may become trapped within the wreckage and die of fire, drowning or traumatic asphyxia.

In a 2015 crash simulation, Boeing found that passengers who both wore their seat belts and assumed a brace position (feet flat, head cradled against their knees or the seat in front of them if possible) were likeliest to survive a crash.

It turns out that the aisle seats at the back of the plane are the safest, with an average 28% fatality rate if the plane crashes. Things get more dangerous the closer you get to the front of the plane. Aisle seats over the wings have a 44% fatality rate, while all seats near the front have a 39% fatality rate.

If you're travelling east, choose the right side of the plane. If you're travelling west, go for the left side of the plane. That rule should help you out if you're travelling in the Northern Hemisphere, especially during the winter months.

You can look out the window and enjoy the view from liftoff to landing. You have a place to rest your head as you doze away. Accessibility to the restroom requires passengers to exit first. Some people say it helps with claustrophobia.

Within the cabin itself, try to find a seat in the middle of the cabin. The main areas where passengers congregate are the toilets and snack areas, and these are generally located at the back of cabins, so if you're on the aisle and don't want to be disturbed by noisy passengers, stay away from the back.

The Boeing 737-800 was cruising at high altitude when it suddenly pitched into a near-vertical descent, plummeting into a mountain at extreme speed. Data from a black box recovered in the crash suggests inputs to the controls pushed the plane into the fatal dive, these people said.

The Boeing 737-800 model makes up about 17% of all planes operating worldwide, according to aviation consultancy Cirium, and is considered one of the “workhorses” of the airline industry. The plane has only had 11 fatal accidents in its 25-year history, according to Cirium.

It's been widely reported that Boeing's decision to use a flight control software fix known as MCAS in its 737 MAX planes was one of the key factors that led to two crashes that killed 346 people.

Can I refuse to fly on a Boeing 737 Max?

“If a customer doesn't want to fly on the 737 MAX, they won't have to. Our customers will be able to easily identify whether they are traveling on one even if schedules change. If a customer prefers to not fly on this aircraft, we'll provide flexibility to ensure they can be easily re-accommodated.”

Boeing To Pay $2.5 Billion Settlement Over Deadly 737 Max Crashes. Investigators found that both crashes were caused in part by a flawed automated flight control system called MCAS.