South Korean Plane Crash: How Two Survivors of 181 Lived Because of Their Seats

Only two people survived a South Korean plane crash on Sunday that killed 179 people, and they were saved because their seats were located at the back of the plane, NDTV World reported.

Newsweek contacted the South Korean Embassy in London for comment via email outside normal business hours.

Why It Matters

While commercial aviation statistically remains the safest way to travel, passengers are increasingly concerned about aviation fatalities following recent crashes in South Korea and Kazakhstan, with many wondering where the safest seats are on an aircraft.

What To Know

A 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet carrying 181 people, including six crew members, crashed on Sunday after returning to South Korea from Bangkok, killing 179 people.

In one of the country's worst aviation disasters in 30 years, the plane surpassed the runway at Muan International Airport, crashed into a wall and exploded into flames after its landing gear failed to deploy, officials said.

The two survivors of the plane crash are flight attendants, a man and a woman, who were seated at the back of the plane. Identified only by their surnames, BBC News reported, Koo, 25, and Lee, 33, were taken to separate hospitals to receive treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Which Seats Are Safest on Commercial Flights?

A 2015 assessment of aircraft accidents conducted by Time magazine found that the safest seats on a plane were at the rear, specifically the back third of the aircraft. The outlet found a 32 percent fatality rate for that portion of the aircraft. Overall, the best seats in terms of row position were the middle seats in the rear of the aircraft, which had a 28 percent fatality rate.

In 2007, Popular Mechanics, a technology and automotive innovation magazine, examined reports of 20 accidents from the National Transportation Safety Board and found that passengers in the rear cabin had a 69 percent chance of surviving a crash. Those over the wing had a 56 percent chance, those ahead of the wing had a 56 percent chance, and those in the front had a 49 percent chance.

Which Seats Are Statistically the Most Dangerous on Commercial Flights?

The Time magazine assessment found that the most dangerous seats on a plane were in the middle and front of the aircraft, as they had fatality rates of 39 percent and 38 percent, respectively. The magazine found that the most dangerous seats in terms of row position were aisle seats in the middle third of the cabin, which had a 44 percent fatality rate.

What Do We Know About the South Korean Plane Crash Cause?

Although officials are still determining the cause of the deadly crash, the control tower at Muan International Airport issued a bird-strike warning while the Jeju Air plane was trying to land.

Expert Geoffrey Thomas, an airlines news editor, previously told Newsweek that bird-strikes and problems with an undercarriage were "not unusual." He added that bird-strikes are more common and do not typically cause "the loss of an airplane by themselves."

Officials are also looking into weather issues as a potential cause for the plane crash, Reuters reported. On Monday, South Korean officials said they would conduct safety inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country's airlines, the Associated Press reported.

What People Are Saying

In a statement issued to Newsweek on Sunday, Boeing said: "We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew."

Alex Macheras, an aviation analyst and consultant, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Horrifying footage emerging of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 (not a Max) with 175 onboard involved in a crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea—video shows the aircraft attempting a 'belly landing' (without its landing gear extended) before impacting the perimeter wall.

"Jeju Air is the largest South Korean low-cost airline with an impeccable safety record (like the other Korean airlines). The airline operates the world's busiest flight routes, with an all-Boeing fleet of 40. Rescue & recovery operation is currently underway, per govt."

What Happens Next

Commercial flyers concerned about the fatality rates associated with different sections of an aircraft may be more selective about where they sit going forward. An investigation into the deadly crash in South Korea is ongoing.