When a huge plane crashes and it explodes..?

Question

Does the passangers feel the explosion before being blown apart..like when the plane hits the ground at full force and it explodes, Does the passangers even know whats going on?? My aunt died in AeroMexico flight 498 and I was curious if she felt the explosion or not....

Answer 1

Many people die of heart attacks on the way down, just as a third option, but it would depend on where you're sitting and how you're positioned and the speed of the plane and so on. Some can survive the impact only to be burnt alive, or in most cases of being caught in a fire, die of smoke inhalation, some are incinerated immediately, and some die of heart failure because their bodies are aware of imminent death, so they shut down in anticipation of great pain as to avoid it.

I'm sorry about your aunt, I hope she didn't suffer much.

Answer 2

It all depends. Some people may be killed instantaneously by the impact - regardless of the explosion or fire. Others may survive the impact but be unable to escape the burning wreckage. They succumb to smoke inhalation and pass out, and never know they are dieing.

As for the HUGE explosion - they don't explode. Their fuel tanks rupture and the fuel catches fire from the engines or an electrical wire causing a spark when it's torn apart.

But when a plane is going down, it's likely the passengers know they are going to die. I'd have to imagine that by itself can be very scary.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, and hope your aunt didn't have to suffer when the accident occurred.

Answer 3

Burning jet fuel does not create the shock wave that high explosives make. Even when a plane bursts into flames, it is not really exploding, it's just burning rapidly.

If the fire is contained in the wing or tail section, smoke inhalation is what kills the passengers. However, if the entire plane is immediately engulfed in flames, it's a good bet that there's burning jet fuel inside the passenger area, in which case the temperature of 600 to 800 Celsius kills the passengers.

Either way, it would be quite painful.