Experiment claims economy seats are safer
Economy passengers are more likely to survive a plane crash according to scientists.
A recent experiment, arranged by Channel 4 and television production company Dragonfly, saw a Boeing 747 carrying cameras, sensors and dummies with breakable bones crash into the Sonoran desert in Mexico.
The first 11 rows of seats ripped out as the nose of the plane dipped and a force of 12G was recorded in the front of the remaining cabin.
Further back in the plane, the force dropped to 6G.
It also found those in the brace position had a better chance of surviving the impact but that it may cause injury which would make escaping the aircraft more difficult.
The findings back up a chart produced five years ago by US magazine Popular Mechanics where it studied those who had died and those who survived in every commercial air crash since 1971. It found the nearer to the cockpit you are, the less likely you are to survive.
But the airline industry insists safety is unaffected by seat position.
Sanjay Sighal, creative director at Dragonfly told the Sunday Times: "Planes are sold entirely on comfort, food, entertainment systems, space in your business class seat and so on. They are never sold on the safety indications.
"That’s partly why I don’t think it’s been in anyone’s interest to do a test like this."
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