Positions when crashing in a plane

[marmaduke]

My friend Keith heard that putting your hands behind your neck and bending over your knees will break your neck and kill you quickly if you are involved in a plane crash, and that is why they tell you to do so. Is this true?

[CT]

My housemate has told me it is so that your mouth and teeth are protected. This is so that your body can be identified by your dental records in a worst case scenario.

[Morrisonker]

eeek!  I'd imagine there is a fairly good reason for it, and it probably is based on safety, but I honestly can't see what good it would do.  Maybe it's just to give you something to do...?

[doctorsteve]

If you are in a good going crash then it doesnt matter what you do you will die.  If you have a very rough landing then logically you are protecting from whiplash and flying debris by adopting the accepted position.  If the impact is severe enought or you are not wearing a belt and your head connects with the seat in front then you will hyperflex your neck and potentially snap it.  You stand more chance of doing this in economy as the seats are closer together.  Maybe its a ploy to kill all of us who can't afford business class seats!!

[KittyGlitter]

Apparently the brace position reduces flailing of the head, arms, upper torso and legs to prevent injury.

[KittyGlitter]

I found this, lets hope its true!

An example of all passengers adopting a brace position before impact occured, and surviving the subsequent crash happened in 1991 when an SAS MD-80 lost both engines shortly after take-off. The aircraft ended up in three pieces, yet the majority of passengers literally walked away from the crash. Only seven were seriously injured and their all adopting a brace position was cited as a significant factor in the survival of all on board.

[hopalong]

I would hate to think that the last thing I am doing before I die is my head up my backside

[banth]

I watched a film once which put forth the suggestion it was more to do with calming panic and making people feel as if they are more in control and are doing the best they can do in the given situation.

[spudqueen]

I think that if you are having a rough landing you are less likely to break bones being in the brace position. Try bracing yourself sat upright and then with your head between your knees, you are much more tense sat upright. As someone who has been in a plane which had an emergency landing when we were all told to put our head between our knees I can honestly say that it works!

[normyc]

I read that when you are in the brace position, there is less chance of your legs flailing forwards into the back of the seat in front, and hence less chance of your legs being broken around the shin area, so that if you did survive, you could still evacuate the plane....... but i think it is so you can kiss your ass goodbye