At cruising altitude, the pressure outside a plane is around two-and-a-half times lower than inside the cabin, so a broken window or a large hole in the fuselage can be catastrophic, causing a blast of air that will suck out seats as well as people.
The window is replaced. Then the plane returns to service. It's not very exciting. A broken window is not usually "removed" because the window has multiple layers.
In this day and age, no. Removing passenger windows makes airplanes more dangerous, because the various purposes of the windows are key to the safety of the passengers and crew.
This means that one would have to generate in excess of 375 lbs of punching force to break a window, if the window were built to withstand the bare minimum required by the FAA.
Aircraft windshields are very strong
Windshields on aircraft are designed to be extremely strong so that they can survive bird strikes and anything else that might come into contact with them. Occasionally, though, they do crack, and the pilots land at the nearest airport.
Modern aircraft have electronically heated windows that sometimes crack due to a short-circuit. This causes uneven temperatures in the glass. The age of the aircraft and the number of flight cycles can also be a factor due to stress levels put on the glass over a long period of time.
In the middle, at the back
Nonetheless, a TIME investigation that looked at 35 years of aircraft accident data found the middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared with 44% for the middle aisle seats. This logically makes sense too.
The middle seat in the final seat is your safest bet
The middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared to 44% for the middle aisle seats, according to a TIME investigation that examined 35 years' worth of aircraft accident data. This also makes logical sense.
As technology in the industry has advanced to have passenger safety as a principal consideration, airplane seats can withstand 16 times gravity's force. These seats are also fireproof and do not emit toxic fumes if they were to catch on fire.
Pilots, especially on longer flights, need breaks just like passengers do. But flight duties, regulations, and security all weigh on a pilot taking an in-flight break.
Opening the window
This is because, when the aircraft is pressurized, the pressure would firmly hold the window in place and resist opening. When the aircraft is not pressurized, either on the ground or if depressurized during the flight (intentionally or due to an accident), then pilots can open them.
The tiny bleed hole in the window helps to balance the pressure difference between the cabin and the outside air. The tiny window hole also has another purpose which is to release moisture and stop frost or condensation from blocking your view.
Plane crashes are extremely rare. The odds of dying in a plane are about 1 in 205,552. If you want to feel safer, some seats that have a better track record during crashes than others.
Severe turbulence can cause a plane to drop so suddenly that pilots temporarily lose control. But, again, that's not enough to crash the plane. That's not to say it's never happened. In 1966, human error and turbulence combined to bring a plane down over Mount Fuji.
Aerophobia is a fear of flying. It's very common, affecting more than 25 million adults in the U.S. Psychotherapy can usually help people overcome their fear and fly without extreme anxiety or panic attacks.
When deciding either window or aisle seat, the window is found to be the loudest on the plane. While aisle seats are quieter, do note there's also a higher chance that other passengers from the inner seats might interrupt you if they need to go to the washroom.
In the middle, in the back
Nevertheless, a survey by the American magazine Time which examined 35 years of data on plane crashes found that the middle rear seats of an airplane had the lowest fatality rate: 28 per cent, compared to 44 per cent for the seats from the central aisle.
Takeoff and landing are widely considered the most dangerous parts of a flight.
So many travelers struggle with this fear, so the best way to cope is to find a seat with plenty of space. The least crowded section of the plane is first or business class. But if upgraded flying isn't in your budget there are still options. Try sitting in an aisle seat in an exit row towards the front of the plane.
Seats towards the back of the plane tend to experience more turbulence than those towards the front. Those who experience motion sickness should avoid seats in the back at all costs. Additionally, those seated in the back are the last passengers to get off the plane.
If the airplane's interior is dark while its exterior is bright and sunny, passengers may struggle to quickly exit the airplane during an emergency. Therefore, airlines require passengers to open their window shades during takeoffs and landings to allow for eyesight adjustment.
Windows on aircraft are small to maximise the areas of hull between them, to increase the strength of the air frame. The air frame would be stongest if the hull had no windows.
Roughly, there are between 70-90 plane crashes per year worldwide, including both commercial planes and privately-owned ones. Human error, mechanical failure, and poor weather conditions are some of the most common factors that contribute to plane crashes.