If a plane is crashing... ??

Question

My friend told me that if I was on a plane that was crashing I should not put on the oxygen mask so I could pass out. That was I would be passed out when it hit the ground and probably wouldnt feel it.... is this true?!? Thanks!
PS. I hope I never have to find out!

Answer 1

*wince* not a good thing to think about

Answer 2

You're confusing two entirely different situations.

If your aircraft has a depressurization, they oxygen masks will drop down. Why does this happen? Could be a malfunction of the pressurization system or even a hold in the fuseloge. The latter is rare and usually there's more to the story.

It's unpleasant, a little scary but usually not life-threatening. The pilot will lower altitude and probably land the aircraft as soon as is possible, depending on the reason for the incident.

If your oxygen masks drops on landing, which can happen, don't touch it. You're on the ground where you can breathe the air. You don't need it!

Now, if you were in an emergency situation, that would NOT involve the oxygen masks, although it's possible that they would drop anyway but aren't needed. If it's a "prepared emergency landing", you'll be instructed to take a "brace" poisition and they F/A's would explain everything. No oxygen masks would be involved.

It is possible that you'd be involoved in a prepared emergency landing that turned out to be no big deal. Perhaps there was a mechanical problem that made it possibly necessary.

I flew with two carriers for 13 years and never had either happen to me. I did know coworkers who did have these experiences but it was so rare, we would be all "Oh tell us about it..." F/A's train for these incidents but they rarely happen.

Yes, a terrorist could put a bomb on the plane and it could blow up inflight. In that case, it would probably be a altitude-triggered bomb like the one that blew Pan Am 103 out of the sky over Lockerbie. Those people probably lost conscienceness at that height and never knew what hit them. Very scary thought but terrorist attacks are rare, especially in the industrailized world with security at their airports.

There are "unplanned emergency landing". In that case, the F/A's would tell you what to do. It's really important to follow their instructions because today MORE PEOPLE SURVIVE ACCIDENTS THAN DIE IN THEM. Often, those who do die did so because they did NOT follow instuctions. The airlines, out of tact, would not relate this to the press but we F/A's were given this information during emergency recurrent training. Passengers have run to the wrong exits, taken time to grab their things, etc.

So, wait till the plane stops, listen for instructions, don't go get your bags, don't go the wrong direction, don't block other people, just do what they tell you!

The chances of either happening are really small.

Answer 3

Ummm if a planes crashing...I think you wouldn't pass out. BUt um perhaps you would just hold on for your life. And you should only out the oxygen mask on if you cant breathe.

Answer 4

Oxygen mask is needed when a plane decompresses at HIGH altitude. They are not needed below 10,000 feet.
If a plane suffers sudden decompression at high altitude and you do not put your mask on and then the pilot brings the plane safely to the ground, you'd be dead and feel stupid.

Answer 5

You wouldn't feel it anyway whether you're wearing your oxygen mask or not. If a plane is crashing, all passengers will experience instantaneous death because of the severity of the impact. Wearing an oxygen mask won't make it hurt more or less, you just won't feel a thing.

Answer 6

You're not going to be able to make decisions while the plane is crashing... your first instinct is to survive, so that mask is probably going to go on pretty quickly.

Ether way though, if you're going to die, the impact is going to be in hundredths of a second, you're not going to feel it.

Answer 7

well if a plane is crashing then ahh you'd be dead already.... well no one ALIVE can tell you if it is true. But probably it all happens so quickly you won't feel anything. Plus even if you do feel it you will be dead in the next moment.

Answer 8

Um, don't know about that.
How could someone tell you that unless they experienced it themselves, but live to tell you.
I guess with the dropping of the altitude, yeah, you probably would pass out.

Answer 9

who said you would die?I would rather live in pain than die with no pain.death would come so fast I doubt you would ever feel it.air flight is safer than crossing the street.