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AIBU?

To think dying in a plane crash is far preferable to on a sinking ship?

79 replies

NewMatress · 14/05/2021 16:00

Obviously I'd prefer neither, but I have friend who's wife refuses to fly so they go on a cruise every year.

I try not to think of it too much, but the thought of being on a ship as it goes down is far more distressing than a plane crash. All that time to contemplate your fate and wonder where DC are.

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FlorenceWintle · 14/05/2021 16:02

I’d prefer the ship to a plane crash. You can try to hold on, swim a bit, maybe find something to float on.

On a plane, you just sit there helpless, waiting for the inevitable.

LookingGlassMilk · 14/05/2021 16:02

I think I could survive a sinking ship though, whereas I probably have no chance on a crashing plane.

Ships take a long time to sink, so during that time people could be boarding lifeboats, or other boats nearby could collect the passengers.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 14/05/2021 16:02

If a ship is sinking they have a chance to be rescued by other boats.

If a plane goes down you're pretty much fucked.

Phobias aren't rational though.

Sparklingbrook · 14/05/2021 16:03

There's more chance of surviving a sinking cruise liner than a plane crash I would think. Life boats/helicopter rescue etc.

UrsulaTee · 14/05/2021 16:04

I’d prefer the ship too. Ships have life boats so there is a chance you would survive, in a place crash youre pretty much done for

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 14/05/2021 16:04

I can swim, and float. I can't fly.

I'd rather be in a sinking ship than a crashing plane!

NewMatress · 14/05/2021 16:04

I think it's the illusion that you have some control if a ship's sinking that makes it so frightening.

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NannyR · 14/05/2021 16:04

I suppose if a ship is sinking, you have a very good chance of getting into a lifeboat and being rescued, if a plane crashes your chances are not so good.

DingDongDenny · 14/05/2021 16:05

Drowning is apparantly quite a peaceful way to die. I doubt the same can be said for hitting the earth

Sparklingbrook · 14/05/2021 16:06

@NewMatress

I think it's the illusion that you have some control if a ship's sinking that makes it so frightening.

How do you mean? Getting into a lifeboat or getting winched onto a helicopter isn't an illusion of control.

NewMatress · 14/05/2021 16:08

I'm not thinking of those who are resuced really though, obviously not doing is preferable, but if you're going to die, being trapped inside a large ship....

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TheQueef · 14/05/2021 16:08

I've thought about this.
If I were on a ship I would make feeble attempts to save myself. I can't swim but I'd have a bash.
On a plane I would think fuck it.
Plane for me.

Taikoo · 14/05/2021 16:08

In a plane crash you will go unconscious if the plane plummets to the ground from a high altitude.
I'd probably prefer that.

Sparklingbrook · 14/05/2021 16:09

All things considered though I wouldn't be setting foot on a cruise liner any time soon though, floating germ central.

HelloOldSport · 14/05/2021 16:09

I'd rather the ship.

Sparklingbrook · 14/05/2021 16:10

@NewMatress

I'm not thinking of those who are resuced really though, obviously not doing is preferable, but if you're going to die, being trapped inside a large ship....

You know there was room on that door for two people don't you? Kate Winslet was just selfish.

PermanentTemporary · 14/05/2021 16:11

Much more phobic about ships than planes. That's not logical though.

LittleBlackSox · 14/05/2021 16:12

The scene in The Perfect Storm where the boat turns over and the two men are stuck in the cabin and just have to wait to drown - literally my biggest fear.

Or the true life story where a a man (maybe a chef?) was the only person who survived a sunken ship because he lived in an air pocket for days and had sharks literally bumping into him and was in the pitch black. Blurgh makes me sick.

But then reading about Air France Flight 447 the people might not have been killed on impact.

I mean neither death is preferable.

Lovebug06 · 14/05/2021 16:13

You may have more chance with a ship.
But the deep sea terrifies me. The unknown of what's in it. And at night if its pitch black. That's without if your in a hot country and there's sharks or whatever. The thought of the titanic type sinking terrifies me.
I thought if a plane crashed it would be instant when you hit the ground?

SumThucker · 14/05/2021 16:14

Ooh I’d pick the plane. I have a morbid fear of drowning, not being able to swim doesn’t help.

Lovebug06 · 14/05/2021 16:15

The thought of being stuck in a ship or aircraft that's crashed in the sea and being in it in the sea makes me feel ill.
Even if I was dead I hate the thought of being at the bottom of the sea. Even typing this makes me feel sick!

Ducksurprise · 14/05/2021 16:16

@DingDongDenny

Drowning is apparantly quite a peaceful way to die. I doubt the same can be said for hitting the earth

I don't believe it is. Its illegal to drown animals (ie pests like rats as its classified as inhumane)

partyatthepalace · 14/05/2021 16:16

Phobias aren’t rational, but on a ship you have a decent chance on a lifeboat. Plane crash not so much. I know what you mean though - if you were going with a scenario where you were fucked, plane crash would be quicker.

sirfredfredgeorge · 14/05/2021 16:16

If a plane goes down you're pretty much fucked

The majority of people on commercial planes that crash survive, obviously exact percentages depend on exactly what you mean by a crash, (is a plane simply rolling off the runway slowly at the end a crash or not) but if those are included it's over 90% of people survive.

I can't find the stats on boats, but of course not many cruise liners sink these days, last one I can remember had a 99% survival rate (Costa Concordia), ferries are have some very high death rates when they go down, but that's not quite the same.

either way survival rates of both are actually surprisingly high, even more so when you consider they don't actually sink or crash anyway.

zizl · 14/05/2021 16:18

I think I'd take my chances on the ship. The thought of a plane crash terrifies me more than anything.

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