Although statistics show that flying is one of the safest modes of transportation today, accidents can still happen. In serious cases, all passengers on board might need to evacuate the aircraft quickly. Read More: Is There A Safest Seat On A Plane?
Before modern commercial airplanes are allowed to fly, they must prove that even at maximum capacity, and with only half of the exits available, everyone can evacuate within 90 seconds. This is because studies have found that a cabin fire can reach “flashover” (when everything ignites at once) within 90 seconds. At that point, the fire can become uncontrollable and threaten everyone’s lives.
That’s why airplanes must have enough exits to meet this requirement. Depending on the aircraft type, emergency exits can include the regular boarding doors, service doors, over-wing exits, and even an escape hatch in the cockpit. Any exit that is more than 1.8 meters (about 6 feet) above the ground must have a slide or other safety device.
Usually, the captain gives the evacuation order. But if the captain is trapped or unable to give the order, the senior flight attendant can decide to evacuate. Flight attendants are responsible for checking the area outside the exit (for fire or if the engine is still running), opening the exits, deploying the slides, and loudly directing passengers to evacuate quickly.
In January 2024, a Japan Airlines A350 collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft and caught fire while landing at Tokyo Haneda Airport. The entire plane was eventually destroyed, but all 379 passengers and crew evacuated successfully, with no serious injuries. Investigators praised the crew’s calm and professional actions.
In February 2025, a Delta Endeavour Air CRJ900 flipped over and caught fire while landing at Toronto Pearson Airport. All 80 passengers and crew evacuated safely.
These two incidents show that with correct and quick evacuation procedures, and with passengers cooperating, survival chances can be greatly improved.
