Those who survived the crash of Delta 191
were all seated in the tail section,
traditionally the smoking section on most
planes and the place where the airlines
are required to put the so-called black
boxes, it is the tail section that
is most likely to remain intact in a
crash.
That fact is prompting some passengers
to request seats in the back of the plane
lately, whether they're smokers or not.
Airlines will talk about the increase in
rear seat requests except to acknowledge
that they do tend to pick up somewhat
after an airline accident.
Aviation experts say there's no proof and
that there have been no studies to
support the theory that seats in the back
are safer than those up front.
And air travelers we spoke with today
were divided on the issue.
I did get a little squeamish when I took
off from New Orleans and the weather was
bumpy only because of it being
so recent that the tragedy occurred.
But, um, no, I didn't it didn't concern
me at all where I said I don't think
there's any seat that's any safer than
any other.
No, I didn't hear anybody requesting
it.
Did it make any difference to you at all?
You know, I
did think twice about it, but no, it
didn't make a difference.
I've always flown as far back as I could
go. The
in all fatal crashes,
if anybody survives, it's normally the
people are sitting in the back of the
plane. So I always sit in the back.
Travel agents say historically, after an
airline accident such as Delta ninety
one, there does tend to be some increase
in the number of requests for seats
towards the back of an airplane.
But the travel agents say those requests
tend to come from people who don't tend
to fly very much, perhaps once, maybe
twice a year.
The travel agents say the frequent
fliers, especially the business
travelers, are not likely to change their
flying habits and require seats in the
back of a plane.
Just because there's been an accident.
I'm Alan Laughlin, Channel 5
News at DFW Airport.