What would happen if a airplane crashed into the ocean?

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Tim

Well if the plane was at cruising altitude, no one would survive as the ocean is hard as concrete when you hit it at over 500 mph from 30,000 feet. Look up Alaska Airlines that crashed in the Pacific a few years ago outside of LA. They literally plummted from cruising altitude nose first into the ocean. The only thing left of the plane were tiny shards.

IF anyone survived, and that is a huge IF, there's a big possibility that they would be rescued soon. Unlike the movie Castaway, the NTSB would be all over the crash site in a matter of hours, so if someone made it to the surface of the water, still could move their limbs, and weren't getting burned by the jetfuel and oil in the water; they would have a good shot at being rescued.

Josh G

Indeed that is a strange question. To be completely honest, there is no such thing as a good airplane crash. Airplanes either land or they don't. There is no in between. Every single measure has been put in place to best ensure your safety in the event of a crash, including a water landing.

Hollywood has probably already set your expectations as to what happens during an water landing. I can't remember the name of the film, but there was a movie where several people were on a private 747 and it crashed into the ocean. Well the plane had no structural damage and sunk. All of the passengers were just fine- they waited several days and were rescued. These events are highly unlikely.

I certainly do not mean that you wouldn't survive a crash water landing. Like I said every possible measure has been taken to ensure you do survive. It may seem cliche but having your seatbelt TIGHT around your waist and not inflating your life vest while inside the aircraft are two very important measures.

In 1996 Ethiopian Airlines flight 961 was hijacked. EA 961 was a B767, a double isle jumbo jet. The hijackers demanded the captain fly to Australia. The captain knew that there was not nearly enough fuel to fly that far. Eventually the B767 ran out of fuel and both engines shut down. This crash water landing does have special circumstances. Because the aircraft had lost power the captain was unable to use the aircraft's hydraulics, which, among other things, controls the flaps to slow the aircraft down. EA961 hit the water at a speed of 200MPH.

You can read more on the hijacking of EA961 here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Airlines_Flight_961

The video of EA961 Crash here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6UtJhRDDFc

Hollywood crash water landing here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qJuNqI6C4

potatochip

The airplane would most likely break apart. If you survive the impact, your seat cushion can be used as a flotation device and most aircraft have inflatable life rafts in the cabin ceiling. The emergency slide also should be able to float.

Gazuba

Pilots r trained to do emergency landings on water. So u pretty much land the same way as on land. The cabin crew then inflate the rafts and paddle for help.you could either die of dehydration or maybe drown if you fell of the plane and couldn't swim

Neil

What would happen to the survivors is that they would use seat cushions and/or inflatable vests to keep themselves afloat and/or use the inflatable exit slide/raft that's at each door, while awaiting rescue. Those that didn't would not be survivors for long.

And planes have crashed (and ditched, not exacly the same thing) in the ocean (and other water) with survivors.

Tyler W

Depending on the cause of the crash and how far the plane fell before crash, the plane would most likely explode or break apart, killing many. Crashing into water can be just as bad as crashing into land, which is why people die when the jump into water from a high altitude, like a bridge. Any survivors in a crash like this would likely be injured, or overcome by fumes from the plane.

STARstruck

ermmmm i'd think you'd die lol more problems for me i cant swim i'd be the first person to die!!

Snowboard Zombie

most likely everyone would die. and it would suck a lot.

i hate flying.

A PANDA

If you would survive, you would drift for days most likely and probably die from dehydration. Thats about it, pretty simple. Unless you drifted onto a sweet strange island in the Pacific where the Dharma Initiative once took place :P (I like Lost a lot)

nyknights45

It depends on the angle at which it hit. If it went down nose first, it would shatter on impact. If it went down smoothly, like a regular, controlled landing, it would probably sustain damage on the underside but would probably remain largely intact and afloat for awhile.

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