# Your Seat Cushion Can Be Used as a Floatation Device **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-seat-cushion-can-be-used-as-a-floatation-device/637817 "2012-10-15T21:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-seat-cushion-can-be-used-as-a-floatation-device/637817/1 "2012-10-15T21:22:41Z")
In the history of commercial airlines, how many times has anyone actually used their seat cushion as a floatation device? Has it _ever_ happened? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-seat-cushion-can-be-used-as-a-floatation-device/637817/2 "2012-10-15T21:27:12Z")
Yes, they have been used (successfully). The most recent notable case was Cactus Air 1549 that ditched into the Hudson River. Some passengers remembered to take their seat cushions before they stood on the wings. The rescue was fast so I don’t think they had to have them in that case but they easily could have if the rescue took much longer because the plane sunk. Here is a list of successful water ditchings by commercial aircraft with at least some survivors. > **[Water landing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_landing)** > > In aviation, a water landing is, in the broadest sense, an aircraft landing on a body of water. Seaplanes, such as floatplanes and flying boats, land on water as a normal operation. Ditching is a controlled emergency landing on the water surface in an aircraft not designed for the purpose, a very rare occurrence. Controlled flight into the surface and uncontrolled flight ending in a body of water (including a runway excursion into water) are generally not considered water landings or ditching ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-seat-cushion-can-be-used-as-a-floatation-device/637817/3 "2012-10-16T04:09:02Z")
For those who aren’t air traffic controllers, “Cactus Air 1549” was US Air Flight 1549, the one piloted by Captain Sullenberger. Why “Cactus?” It’s a result of US Air’s 2005 merger with America West. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-seat-cushion-can-be-used-as-a-floatation-device/637817/4 "2012-10-16T07:46:48Z")
Oh. I didn’t get hung up on the Cactus. I skim read the post and did a double take thinking that planes hadn’t been invented in 1549. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-seat-cushion-can-be-used-as-a-floatation-device/637817/5 "2012-10-16T22:48:37Z")
I know I’d use mine as a toilet.🙂 ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-seat-cushion-can-be-used-as-a-floatation-device/637817/6 "2012-10-16T23:31:40Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > For those who aren’t air traffic controllers, “Cactus Air 1549” was US Air Flight 1549, the one piloted by Captain Sullenberger. Why “Cactus?” It’s a result of US Air’s 2005 merger with America West. Ah, yes, that makes perfect sense. :dubious: