# What would a plane crash like the Air France one be like from inside the plane? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892 "2009-06-06T01:31:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/181 "2009-07-03T13:05:52Z")
Further information is that the Air France plane didn’t break up in the sky, as originally reported, but seems to have hit the water intact, belly down: [Air France flight 447 crashed belly-first into the Atlantic, investigators say](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6624798.ece): > [@](#): > > Neither was it in a nose or tail-down dive. A study of 660 pieces of debris showed that it had shattered only when it slammed belly-first into the sea, said the bureau. > > “The plane was not destroyed while it was in flight,” said Alain Bouillard, the chief of the investigation into the disaster which happened on June 1. “It seems to have hit the surface of the water in level attitude and with a strong vertical acceleration.” > > This could indicate that the crew had retained some control after the aircraft plummeted in little over four minutes from its cruising altitude of 35,000ft on its way from Rio to Paris, experts said. An aircraft falling belly first is likely to be in a stall or recovering from one. Aircraft diving fully out of control from high altitude usually break up before reaching the ground. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/182 "2009-07-03T16:24:19Z")
Some days ago I received an email with photos claiming to be from the inside of the flight after the frame had broken up. The claim was the camera had been recovered. They showed the tail section missing and you could see the sky at the end of the plane. I do not understand how people believe these things. Don’t you think this would be ll over the news if it were legit? Why do you think nobody is reporting it? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/183 "2009-07-03T16:29:45Z")
No one is reporting it because it’s an obvious fake. I’ve seen the picture and spotted the biggest tip off right away. Take a moment to think about it. The accident took place in the middle of the night. When it’s dark. In the the middle of a storm. Even darker. The picture(s) in question show DAYLIGHT outside the airplane. Fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake I also wish to point out that the “belly flop” theory is a new theory, and not universally accepted as it does not account for certain pieces of evidence, such as the pattern of bone breakage in recovered bodies, and more importantly, the lack of clothing in recovered bodies. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/184 "2009-07-03T16:37:46Z")
> **[Air France Crash Photos](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mid-air-breakup/)** > > Photographs show the interior of an airliner immediately after a mid-air collision. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/185 "2009-07-03T16:47:49Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > No one is reporting it because it’s an obvious fake. I’ve seen the picture and spotted the biggest tip off right away. > > Take a moment to think about it. The accident took place in the middle of the night. When it’s dark. In the the middle of a storm. Even darker. > > The picture(s) in question show DAYLIGHT outside the airplane. > > Fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake fake > I also wish to point out that the “belly flop” theory is a new theory, and not universally accepted as it does not account for certain pieces of evidence, such as the pattern of bone breakage in recovered bodies, and more importantly, the lack of clothing in recovered bodies. Maybe there was a lightning bolt at _precisely_ the time the photo was snapped. A really big lightning bolt. About the “belly flop”, there’s this in the article: > [@](#): > > The Brazilian authorities so far have refused the investigators access to post-mortem examination results from the 51 bodies recovered from the ocean. So how can we know about the condition of the bodies? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/186 "2009-07-03T19:34:12Z")
Because the Brazilian authorities HAVE released statements regarding those bodies, including information about broken arms, legs, and pelvises. They did not, however, mention broken vertebrae, which would be expected in a “belly flop” impact due to compressive forces on the spine. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/187 "2009-07-04T00:14:00Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Because the Brazilian authorities HAVE released statements regarding those bodies, including information about broken arms, legs, and pelvises. They did not, however, mention broken vertebrae, which would be expected in a “belly flop” impact due to compressive forces on the spine. The plane could have been still moving forward at a high speed when it hit the water, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/188 "2009-07-04T00:38:43Z")
Or it could have broken into several large pieces, some of which belly flopped. That could account for evidence of both scenarios. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/189 "2009-07-04T00:52:06Z")
Coming late to the thread, sorry. In the case of a massive structural failure, I believe it’s a near certainty that an unknown percentage of passengers will be conscious during free fall, probably strapped to a piece of the plane. That will suck. In a rapid descent scenario, there will be absolute panic during seconds to minutes until impact when everyone dies from massive deceleration. If the vertical speed is low enough and you win the lottery, you might survive the crash with severe injuries only, which would make it considerably more difficult to escape the massive gasoline fueled fire that will rage after the wreck stops moving. That will also suck. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/190 "2009-07-04T02:55:38Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > In the case of a massive structural failure, I believe it’s a near certainty that an unknown percentage of passengers will be conscious during free fall, probably strapped to a piece of the plane. That will suck. **LSLGuy** actually covered that in some detail for us on page one. You might want to go back and check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/191 "2009-07-04T03:36:48Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > Coming late to the thread, sorry. > > In the case of a massive structural failure, I believe it’s a near certainty that an unknown percentage of passengers will be conscious during free fall, probably strapped to a piece of the plane. That will suck. > > In a rapid descent scenario, there will be absolute panic during seconds to minutes until impact when everyone dies from massive deceleration. If the vertical speed is low enough and you win the lottery, you might survive the crash with severe injuries only, which would make it considerably more difficult to escape the massive gasoline fueled fire that will rage after the wreck stops moving. That will also suck. Jet engines don’t use gasoline and you’d be hard pressed to get jet fuel to burn in the ocean. Under normal atmospheric pressure you can hold a torch up to it and it won’t ignite. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/192 "2009-07-04T03:41:32Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Jet engines don’t use gasoline and you’d be hard pressed to get jet fuel to burn in the ocean. It’s true that jet fuel is less volatile than the gas we put in our cars, but IIRC TWA Flight 800 burned on the water for some time; not to mention the jet fuel fires on _Enterprise_ in 1969 and _Forrestal_ in 1967. True, there was ordnance involved as well; but there was also a lot of JP-4. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/193 "2009-07-04T03:49:04Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > **LSLGuy** actually covered that in some detail for us on page one. You might want to go back and check it out. Thanks, he did a good job too. > [@Magiver](#): > > Jet engines don’t use gasoline and you’d be hard pressed to get jet fuel to burn in the ocean. Under normal atmospheric pressure you can hold a torch up to it and it won’t ignite. Right, I meant to say jet fuel, but that term wasn’t coming to me. I’ll also take the chance to correct ‘massive structural failure’ to ‘catastrophic structural failure’ and ‘absolute panic’ to ‘abject terror’. Much better. Obviously I was referring to a crash on land, so thank you for pointing out I’m off topic in such a GQish way. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/194 "2009-07-04T04:34:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > It’s true that jet fuel is less volatile than the gas we put in our cars, but IIRC TWA Flight 800 burned on the water for some time; not to mention the jet fuel fires on _Enterprise_ in 1969 and _Forrestal_ in 1967. True, there was ordnance involved as well; but there was also a lot of JP-4. The fuel by itself isn’t going to burn in the ocean without a catalyst. The initial impact would create sufficient heat energy to ignite it but that would dissipated rapidly with the cooling effect of water. Fuel soaked parts of the plane (such as the interior) would burn more readily as it floated above the splashing waves. I’m guessing the plane went into a classic stall and nosed over into an unrecoverable spiral. The impact would have shredded the plane. ---
**Author:** ![Illinois\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Illinois\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illinois_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/195 "2011-05-27T18:31:46Z")
Wow - I stumbled upon this when googling the Air France crash. LSL Guy’s description was fascinating as much as it was disturbing. LSL Guy - if you’re still around, would the details of your description change with the information about that was released today about the flight’s final moments? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/196 "2011-05-27T18:42:57Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I really do not understand the common mentality that keeps trying to assert that humans will become unconscious before they die unpleasantly. People, by and large, don’t. > > Back after 9/11 there was a lot of discussion about how people jumping out of the buildings would somehow become unconscious. Bogus. > > When someone is mauled by a zoo animal folks want to claim that the idiot who wanted to swim with the polar bears or cavort with the lions lost unconsciousness at the first hostile snarl. Not so. > > Folks, the world does not work that way. > [pet rant mode=off] Word. People badly need to believe they would not endure a full sense experience leading to their violent death. There is, out there, video and audio of people being mauled to death by a bear. They’re alive. Till they’re not. They feel their bodies being torn open, viscera ripped apart, limbs being bitten, face being torn off. They’re alive until they’re not. Until their heart stops or they die from exsanguination. Similarly, those who made the decision to throw themselves out of WTC 1 and WTC 2 on 9/11 watched the plaza rush up at them until they hit and died. Welcome to real life. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/197 "2011-05-27T18:45:45Z")
The good news is, once your arm has been ripped off, you no longer feel the bear chewing on it. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/198 "2011-05-27T18:52:46Z")
Can’t argue with that. Who knew death by mauling had an upside??? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/199 "2011-05-27T18:53:02Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The good news is, once your arm has been ripped off, you no longer feel the bear chewing on it. Yeah, but she eats it right in front of you. With a big grin on her face. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892/200 "2011-05-27T18:56:04Z")
One guy’s traumatic death is another guy’s ursine smorgasbørd. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-plane-crash-like-the-air-france-one-be-like-from-inside-the-plane/498892.md?page=11)