A plane crash or forced landing in difficult terrain is one of the most dramatic disaster scenarios anyone will probably ever experience.. Since this event could happen anywhere and at anytime, an individual could not expected to be totally prepared for this type of catastrophic event.
During an air disaster, always keep in mind that the Airline crew are trained for emergencies and you should follow their instructions (you were paying attention to the pre-flight brief, weren’t you?). Aircrew will be trying to land the plane as safely as possible. There really isn’t anything you can do except to stay calm and support the crew in calming other passengers.
To prepare for a crash-landing, tighten your seat belt, link arms with people on either side of you, hold you chin firmly down on you chest, lean forwards over a cushion, folded blanket or coat in your lap, interlink legs with your neighbors if seating permits and brace yourself for impact.
When the aircraft finally stops moving – and not before – evacuate the aircraft as instructed in the pre-flight brief. No matter how many times you fly and have been through the pre-flight brief, ALWAYS pay attention to it as each aircraft is different and different models have different evacuation procedures.
If it is a ground landing, get away from the immediate area as quickly as possible as there is the danger or fire or explosion. Even if there is no fire, keep away until the engines have cooled and any spilled fuel has evaporated.
If it is a water landing, rafts will automatically inflate and anchor on the wings. Do not inflate your life jacket while you are in the aircraft – this will restrict your exit. Wait until you are in the water and then pull the toggle to inflate it and get into the raft.
If the plane is sinking, release the raft from its anchor as soon as passengers and equipment are stored. As you leave the plane the more equipment you can take with you the better. But do not stop to gather personal belongings and luggage.
After The Crash
However self-disciplined you are, entering into this kind of survival situation will be dramatic, abrupt and confusing. You will be in a state of shock and may be on the verge of panic.
If there is fire or the risk of fire or explosion, keep at a distance until that danger appears to have passed – but no further away than seems necessary for safety. Do not allow anyone to smoke if fuel has been spilled.
You must not wander off into unknown terrain, especially at night. You also need to maintain contact with other survivors.
Move injured persons to a safe distance with you and try to account for all the people involved. The immediate treatment of the injured is a priority. Treat cases in order of severity of their injuries. With each individual deal with issues in this order:
- Breathing difficulties
- Major Bleeding
- Wounds
- Fractures
- Shock
Separate the dead from the living if possible. The deaths are part of the frightening strangeness of the event and the survivors will be easier to calm down. As with any disaster, maintaining mental health and well-being is key. Being able to project an image of confidence can greatly aid in stabilizing the situation. You should be confident in your ability to deal with any of the above injuries, even your own if necessary. By reviewing this recommended medical training you will know how to immediately and properly handle any of these conditions.
Even with a fire, not all useful items may have been destroyed. Investigate the wreckage and salvage whatever equipment you can such as food, clothing and water. Take NO risks if there is still a chance that fuel tanks could ignite and be aware of any noxious fumes from the wreckage which has been smoldering.
If you have to wait for the fire to burn out, take stock of you location, which should be the case for the next step in your survival strategy. You need to ask yourself, “Is it practical and safe to remain where you are?”
If your anticipated route is known – and with a flight it should be – some kind of search and rescue operation can be expected. There are considerable advantages in staying where you are. Searchers will already have some idea of your location. Even if you have been forced off route they will have a record of your last reported position.
The wreckage of a grounded plane will be more noticeable from the air, especially in heavily wooded country where even a large group of people will be hidden by trees. and difficult to spot.
If you find that you are in a very exposed or dangerous location then move to a more protected position if necessary. However, do not move at night unless the threat to life outweighs the risks of trying to negotiate unknown terrain in the dark.
The usual reason for making an immediate move will be because you are in an exposed position on a mountain or hillside offering no protection from the elements, or at risk from rock slides or other dangers there. Move down, not up the slope, as conditions are likely to be less exposed on lower ground.
Do not wander off looking for a safer location. Send out scouts, if possible, to investigate the surrounding terrain carefully. They MUST keep together, working in pairs, and not go off on individual explorations. They can maintain contact vocally and should mark their routes as they proceed so that they can easily retrace their steps.
Survival Tips
If bailing out from a plane by parachute in wild country, make your way to the wreck if you can – the wreckage will be much more noticeable to rescuers than a single person or a parachute.
Leave an indication on the crash site of the direction in which you have moved off, so that it is possible for rescuers to know there are survivors and to know in which direction to continue looking.
In an Air Disaster, it is unlikely that you will have carried a personal emergency kit with you, especially given all the restrictions of items that can be used for both survival and violence (e.g. knives). However, there are potentially two things in your favor: the first being provided by the airline and the second by yourself.
Firstly, most airplanes have survival kits of some type on board – be aware of their location. Secondly, knowledge is just as important as tools and you can ALWAYS arm yourself with knowledge. For example, I always carry a copy of this book with me at all times, whether it be in physical or electronic format.