There are a lot more problems with this idea than you can imagine
The idea of having a parachute on board a plane during an emergency seems like a no-brainer, right? If things go south, you could just jump out and float to safety. But as appealing as that might sound, there are actually several reasons why airlines don’t offer parachutes to passengers.
Flying can be nerve-wracking even when everything goes smoothly. So, in the event of an emergency, you might think that jumping out of a plane sounds like the only option. Unfortunately, that idea is not as practical as it seems.
A chilling simulation on the YouTube channel JimiMoso explains exactly why parachutes wouldn’t be helpful in a plane emergency—and why they might even make things worse.
High Speed and Dangerous Heights
As the narrator in the video explains, the main issue with parachutes on commercial planes is speed. Airlines typically cruise at speeds between 530 and 600 miles per hour. If you were to jump out at that speed, you’d most likely smash into the side of the plane, causing severe injury or death. Ouch.
But let’s assume you somehow manage to avoid that disaster and actually exit the plane. The next issue is altitude. Commercial airlines fly at an altitude of about 35,000 feet—roughly 6.6 miles above the ground. At that height, oxygen levels are incredibly low, and within minutes, you’d lose consciousness. If that doesn’t sound bad enough, temperatures at that altitude can drop to as low as -65°F, which would cause serious frostbite or even thermal shock.
The Reality of Airline Accidents
Even if you somehow managed to escape all of the aforementioned dangers, there’s still the problem of timing. Most airline accidents occur during takeoff or landing, which are not long enough or high enough for passengers to make the decision to jump, wait for others to exit, and figure out how to use a parachute.
So, while it’s a great idea in theory, there’s simply no practical way for parachutes to be effective on a commercial airplane in an emergency. This is why airlines don’t bother with providing them.
Social Media Takes the Edge Off
Thankfully, people on social media found a way to make light of the situation. One user jokingly imagined a chaotic scene: “Plane is on fire and going down. ‘Uuuuhhhh, this is your captain speaking… please form an orderly line at your nearest exit so we can all parachute out safely.’ Yeah, good luck with that.”
Another user commented: “If you manage to make it out the door safely, the engine is the final boss.” A third joked: “So basically the solution is to buy your OWN parachute and time the proper moment to jump out instead of jumping out too high.”
And one more said, “If it doesn’t work, then you wouldn’t mind I bring a parachute just in case.”
While skydivers usually jump from 15,000 feet or lower—not 35,000 feet—this amusing take shows just how unrealistic it is to think that parachutes would solve anything in an emergency situation on a plane.
At the end of the day, while the concept of jumping out of a plane might sound tempting in the midst of an emergency, the reality is much more complicated and dangerous. Hopefully, we’ll never have to find out for ourselves.