Aircraft Evacuation Statistics

Several incidents in the late 90s prompted the NTSB to conduct a study on commercial aircraft evacuations. This study investigated 46 aircraft evacuations to help identify passenger behavior and the effectiveness of crewmembers training. Here are the results:

- The most frequent event leading to an evacuation was an engine fire.
- The fastest ARFF response time was under 2 minutes and 10 seconds. The longest response time was 10 minutes [The ARFF was impaired by low visibility].
- 70 percent of evacuations were unplanned when the aircraft was either at the gate, taxiing, in the takeoff roll, or in the landing roll.
- In 1/3 of evacuations, a slide malfunctioned.
- Only 10 percent of evacuations used all available exits.
- Nearly 50 percent of passengers took their carry-on bag during the evacuation.
- Nearly 20 percent of passengers were pushed during the evacuation.
- 8 percent [ 6 minor and 2 serious] sustain injuries.