Whenever I'm in a plane, it baffles me how a crash can claim all the passengers on board in the event of a crash. I'm talking about the commerical jets. I know planes travel at fast fast speeds, but what actually kills the person first on impact? Surely not all planes are crushed like a tin can... therefore, many times certain areas of the plane are still intact. If any of you are experts in physics, or have any other knowledge... I'd like to know why most people don't usually survive plane crashes.
For example, September 11th: What do you think killed the people when it crashed into the World Trade Center? The impact of the plane alone when it crashed into the building, or the fire?
2006-12-21 18:47:15 · 11 answers · asked by isaidmaybebaby 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
impact.
2006-12-21 18:49:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on how the airplane crashes. For instance, if the airplane crashes straight into the ground nose first then the impact would probably kill most passengers. If a plane skidded to a stop i.e. a "belly landing", then the resulting fire would be the cause of most deaths. In almost all fire related deaths it is the inhalation of smoke that is the cause of death, not direct contact with flames. Smoke has become very toxic in the past several decades due to the amount of synthetic materials used everywhere from upholstery to the many items made of plastics. Airplanes that have skidded off the end of runways into water, and there have been a few, sank rather quickly causing many of the passengers to drown or become hypothermic. Mid air collisions create a large amount of flying debris with the possibility of this debris impacting and killing passengers.
2006-12-21 19:30:32 · answer #2 · answered by Randy S 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I give credit to ur question. Well I think that the impact mostly does the damage. Imagine a plane rushing in at 700 miles an hour an crashing into a hard surface. There is no chance that the plane would remain in 1 piece. And if by chance some people survive, the explosion thereafter kills them.Therefore it is a combination of many things that kill the people on board.But the impact does the most damage.
2006-12-21 19:04:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Speed, G Force... usually accounts for lack of oxygen to the brain. Causes the body to stop breathing... which then opens up the next stage, sudden stopping (either hitting the ground or body of water) and/or an object. If the aircraft is high enough, the possibility of the speed and G force could also cause the skin and main frame of the plane to shear. The probability of a trained Military Pilot to eject can vary by G force and his/her ability to use their training to stay awake along with the use of a special suit that they wear while navigating the high sky's at hi speed. In a commercial aircraft, you don't wear one of these suits so it would depend on oxygen availability and the possibility of your ability to breath in and out based on the G force. As for the people on the planes that were impacting the building's and ground, only an autopsy would reveal weather they were breathing or not before death. But, since most of that info has not been released to the general public (or even possible to tell), we will only hope that death happened either before impact or on impact and that they didn't suffer.
2006-12-21 19:15:44 · answer #4 · answered by Kenneth M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure but I think the quick drop could actually make people loose consciousness and then I suppose the immediate crash kills them! I mean you generally do not find a crashed plane in one piece. Apparently it is best to sit at the back of the plane it is the safest...because when a plane crashes it is with the front first and then it generally breaks at the wings!!!
2006-12-21 18:51:05 · answer #5 · answered by INC0GNIT0 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's probably mostly debris during impact and fire/smoke. Better check on statistic though. I remember hearing lot of people do survive bad crashes. Can't say for sure if most dies although there are ones that kill everybody on board..
2006-12-21 18:53:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its the impact. But i m not so sure i would also like 2 know.
2006-12-21 18:57:28 · answer #7 · answered by eu-phoria 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
true, going a mere 200 to 500 mph into a tall building side wouldn't make one think it would kill someone, i mean they are wearing seatbelts!!!.... i think they should install airbags on all new planes... with fire resistant fuel...
2006-12-21 19:08:30 · answer #8 · answered by Jesters Deadd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the fat ladies I always sit between would suffocate me on impact and I wouldn't be able to get out from under them.
2006-12-23 18:06:22 · answer #9 · answered by qmstr725 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question- I'd like to know too
2006-12-21 18:48:57 · answer #10 · answered by Nicole K 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋