If you look at survivable crashes, it's rare that even half the emergency exits open, says Shanahan. Plus, there's a lot of panic and confusion. Shanahan cites the example of a Delta crash in Dallas. It should have been very survivable. There were very few traumatic injuries. But a lot of people were killed by the fire. They found them stacked up at the emergency exits. Couldn't get them open.
Shanahan highlights the sobering reality of emergency evacuations in survivable crashes, emphasizing that often less than half of the emergency exits operate as intended. Panic and confusion during crises exacerbate the situation, leading to tragic outcomes, even when the crash isn't devastating. This phenomenon underscores the critical need for better exit accessibility and passenger preparedness in emergencies.
He provides a poignant example from a Delta Airlines crash in Dallas, which was deemed survivable with minimal traumatic injuries. However, many lives were lost due to the fire, as victims were found trapped and unable to escape through emergency exits that had failed to open. This incident illustrates the dire consequences of unpreparedness during aviation emergencies, as noted in Mary Roach's book "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers."
