'Miracles': High Profile Plane Crashes With High Survival Rates
From the 'Miracle on the Hudson' to Bali, incidents with high survival rates.
July 7, 2013— -- intro: While the Asiana Airlines crash at San Francisco International Airport might ignite fears of flying, passengers should remember that not all flights are bound for peril.
The survival rate in U.S. plane crashes from 1983 to 2000 was 95 percent, according to the NTSB.
The aviation industry has taken strides to protect passengers in emergency situations.
Stronger seats, improved flame retardant plane parts and better firefighting techniques following a crash have contributed to increasing the time for passengers to make a safe escape.
Here's a look at plane crashes where the majority of the passengers survived.
quicklist: 1title: Asiana Airlines Flight 214, July 6, 2013 -- 2 Killed, 305 Survivorstext: Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was carrying more than 300 people when it crashed at San Francisco International Airport, tore off its tail and burst into flames on July 6, 2013.
The crash killed two teens from China and injured 181 people.
The flight 214 originated in Shanghai, China, and had a stopover in Seoul, South Korea.
San Francisco Plane Crash: 2 Killed in Asiana Crash Were Teenage Girls on School Trip from China
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quicklist: 2title: Lion Air Jet Crashes Into Sea in Bali, April 13, 2013 -- All 108 People on Board Survivetext: The impact of an airplane crash into the sea on the Indonesian resort island of Bali snapped a Lion Air jet into two pieces on April 13, 2013, but somehow all 108 people on board survived and had no serious injuries.
The Boeing 737-800 Next Generation plane, which had joined budget carrier Lion Air's fleet in March, approached the runway for landing in cloudy and rainy weather, but fell short, spokesman Edward Sarait told The Associated Press.
Bali Airplane Crash: Test Finds Bracing for Impact Could Save Lives
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quicklist: 3title: Caribbean Airlines Crashes in Guyana and Splits in Two, July 30, 2011 -- All 163 People on Board Survivetext: A Caribbean Airlines jet en route from New York crashed in Guyana on July 30, 2011, and split in two upon hitting the runway, but none of the 163 people on board were killed.
About 100 people received medical attention for injuries, which included broken legs and scratches.
There appears to have been no fire after the crash, allowing passengers to exit the plane safely. People said they scrambled out through the emergency exit and over the wings.
The plane overshot the 7,400-foot runway at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, crashing through a chain-link airport fence and ending up on a dirt road around the airport. The plane broke in two just before reaching a 200-foot ravine.
There were no emergency vehicles immediately available. It was 1:30 a.m. and dark and rainy outside.
Caribbean Airlines Jet Crashes in Guyana and Splits in Two
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quicklist: 3title: AIRES Flight 8250, August 16, 2010 -- 1 Killed, 131 Survivorstext: The crash landing of a Boeing 737 in the Caribbean near an airport in Colombia on Aug. 16, 2010, was called a "miracle" by the region's governor.
The jetliner broke into three parts on the runway, but remarkably all but one person survived the crash of an aircraft known for its improved design and relatively clean safety record.
The Boeing 737-700, carrying 127 passengers, crashed while landing at Colombia's San Andres island during a thunderstorm. Local police said the lone fatality was a 73-year-old woman who reportedly died of a heart attack moments after the crash.
The Colombian Air Force investigated reports that Aires flight 8250 from Bogota to San Andres was struck by lightning before it crashed.
Colombian 'Miracle' Plane Crash: Inside the Story of Survival
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quicklist: 4title: American Airlines Flight 331, Dec. 23, 2009 -- All 154 People on Board Survive text: American Airlines 331 crashed in Kingston, Jamaica, on Dec. 23, 2009 after the plane came down in heavy rain.
The Boeing 737-800, filled to capacity with 148 passengers and a crew of six, came down in heavy rain and overshot the runway at Norman Manley International Airport.
After its landing gear collapsed and the plane started to break up, it finally slid to a stop less than 10 feet from the Caribbean Sea, The Associated Press reported.
Jamaica information minister Daryl Vaz told the AP that 44 passengers were taken to area hospitals with injuries ranging from broken bones to back pain. Most of the injuries were cuts and bruises, and none were life threatening, American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told the AP.
The plane began its journey at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., before stopping at Miami International Airport then heading to Jamaica.
Dozens Injured in Flight 331 Crash in Jamaica
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quicklist: 4title: US Airways Flight 1549, Jan. 15, 2009 -- 'Miracle on the Hudson' -- All 155 People on Board Survivetext: Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed a US Airways Airbus A320 on the Hudson River Jan. 15, 2009 after the plane struck Canada geese upon taking off from New York's LaGuardia Airport.
"There were many birds," Sullenberger said. "They were very large, and they filled the entire windscreen."
All 155 people on board survived.
Sullenberger said he and his right-hand man -- after, ironically, admiring the view of the river -- had precisely the same reaction when the plane touched down with a splash.
"First Officer Jeff Skiles and I turned to each other and, almost in unison, at the same time, with the same words, said to each other, 'Well, that wasn't as bad as I thought,'" he said.
Passengers: First Engine on Fire, Then Frigid Water
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quicklist: 6title: Air France Flight 358, Aug. 2, 2005 -- All 309 People on Board Survivetext: There were 309 people onboard an Air France jet that overshot the runway upon landing and burst into flames at Toronto's Pearson Airport Aug. 2, 2005.
All on board survived and the incident became known as the Toronto Miracle.
A clearly shaken survivor told reporters after the crash, "When I was inside the plane, I think I will be die." He said he thought he would perish because his only experiences of air disasters were what he'd seen in the movies.
Staying Alive During a Plane Crash
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