A major plane accident occurred in South Korea on Sunday, in which 179 people lost their lives. Jeju Air’s Boeing 737-800 Flight 7C 2216, which was en route from Bangkok to Muen, ran off the runway during landing and struck a fence and wall. In the accident, the plane caught fire, due to which most of the passengers got burnt to death. Only two people—the plane’s flight attendants (a woman and a man)—survived the tragedy.
incident details
A total of 181 people were on board the plane, out of which 179 passengers died. The surviving flight attendants include 25-year-old Kuo and 33-year-old Li. Both were sitting in the rear part of the plane, due to which their lives were saved. However, both are seriously injured and have been admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Most serious accident in 30 years
South Korean officials said the crash was one of the country’s worst aviation tragedies in the past 30 years. At the time of the accident, the landing gear of the plane did not function properly, due to which it went beyond the runway and collided with the wall. The plane caught fire after the collision.
aircraft position
The crashed plane, a Boeing 737-800, was 15 years old. The maintenance records of the plane are currently under investigation, and experts are trying to find out whether a technical fault or pilot error was the reason behind the accident.
Are the back seats on planes the safest?
This accident has once again become a topic of discussion regarding the safety of seats in the plane. The survival of the flight attendants sitting in the rear seats raises the question whether the rear of the plane can be considered the safest.
Time magazine report in 2015
Time magazine, analyzing plane crashes in 2015, found that the seats in the back of the plane are the safest.
- Rear mortality rate: 32%
- Rear middle seats: lowest fatality rate, only 28%.
- The most dangerous seats: the middle and front of the plane, which have fatality rates of 39% and 38%, respectively.
- Aisle seats (middle of the cabin): 44% fatality rate, said to be the most dangerous.
Newsweek and other research
A 2007 study by Popular Mechanics found that:
- Chances of survival for passengers sitting in the back of the plane: 69%.
- Chance of survival for people sitting on the wing: 56%.
- Chance of survival for passengers sitting next to the wing: 49%.
Importance of seat position and safety
Studies have proven that seats in the back of aircraft can be safer in emergency situations. However, this protection may vary depending on the type of accident and other factors.
Need to improve aviation safety
This tragedy in South Korea is the time to rethink the safety standards in the aviation sector.
- Technical investigation: The causes of the accident should be thoroughly investigated.
- Aircraft Maintenance: Regular checks should be ensured during use of older aircraft.
- Safety awareness of passengers: Passengers should be made more aware about seat belts, emergency evacuation, and safety guidelines.
