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Expert Q&A

	By Laurie Borman Managing Editor Rand McNally

Which part of the airplane is the safest in the event of a crash?

There really isn't a good answer to this question, because you would need to know what is going to cause an accident before it even happens. And if you knew the answer to that question, you'd never board the plane! For example, if an explosion occurs at the rear of the aircraft, it's probably better to be at the front, away from the explosion site.

Even though you can't predict an accident, it may be safer to choose an exit row seat. In the event that there is smoke in the cabin, it may be difficult to see the way out. If there is a survivable crash, those in exit row seats are closest to the exit. As children are not allowed in the exit row, if you're traveling as a family, you might ask for seats adjacent to the exit row. And no matter what row you're in, you should determine which exit is closest to your seat every time you board a plane -- even count the number of rows to that exit -- so you can find your way even in the dark.

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