The Sky-High Risks: Surviving A Plane Journey In Afghanistan's Skies

In August 2021, as the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, hundreds of Afghans converged on Kabul airport in a desperate attempt to flee the country. Several videos shared on social media showed people climbing onto a US military plane as it progressed down the runway, some hanging off the front wheel, and others sitting on top of the wheel well. At least two people were seen falling from the sky after the plane took off. The US military later reported that human remains were found in the wheel well of the plane when it landed in Qatar.

The chances of surviving outside a plane in Afghanistan are slim to none. Firstly, the altitude at which planes fly is well below 0°F, and hypothermia would set in within minutes. Secondly, the air pressure at such altitudes is incredibly low, and hypoxia would quickly render a person unconscious. Finally, the speed and wind at those heights would make it nearly impossible to hold on to the plane.

Hypothermia and hypoxia would set in quickly at high altitudes

Hypothermia and hypoxia are two of the most significant dangers of high-altitude exposure. Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below 35.0 °C (95.0 °F). The symptoms of hypothermia depend on the temperature. At high altitudes, the air temperature is extremely low, and the wind chill makes it even colder. The human body loses heat through radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation. As the body temperature drops, the symptoms of hypothermia become more severe, and the risk of death increases.

At mild hypothermia, the person may experience shivering and mental confusion. As the body temperature continues to drop, shivering stops, and confusion increases. In severe hypothermia, the person may experience hallucinations and paradoxical undressing, where they remove their clothing due to a malfunction of the hypothalamus. The heart rate and respiration slow down, and the risk of the heart stopping increases.

Hypoxia, or oxygen deficiency, is another life-threatening condition that can occur at high altitudes. The reduced air pressure at high altitudes leads to a decrease in the partial pressure of inspired oxygen, resulting in a lower driving pressure for gas exchange in the lungs. This, in turn, affects the functioning of the mitochondria, the energy-producing structures in the cells. As a result, the body's ability to generate heat decreases, further exacerbating the hypothermia.

The combination of hypothermia and hypoxia at high altitudes can lead to a rapid decline in an individual's health. The body's core temperature drops, and the reduced oxygen availability affects the brain and other vital organs. Without proper acclimatization and protective gear, the effects of hypothermia and hypoxia can be fatal within minutes.

People have survived falling from 30,000 feet

While it is highly improbable to survive a fall from 30,000 feet, there have been instances of people surviving falls from such heights.

Serbian flight attendant Vesna Vulović, holds the Guinness world record for surviving the highest fall without a parachute: 33,330 feet. She was the sole survivor of a bomb placed onboard JAT Flight 367 in 1972. Experts believe she survived by being trapped by a food cart inside a section of the aircraft's fuselage, which subsequently landed at an angle on a heavily wooded and snowy mountainside in Czechoslovakia. She suffered a fractured skull, three broken vertebrae, broken legs, broken ribs, and a fractured pelvis. These injuries resulted in her being temporarily paralyzed from the waist down.

Another instance is that of American airman Alan Magee, who survived a 22,000-foot fall from a damaged B-17 bomber over France in 1943. Magee was knocked unconscious mid-fall and crashed through the glass roof of St. Nazaire train station, suffering severe injuries.

Factors that determine whether one can survive a fall from thousands of feet include size and surface area. Smaller people fall slower, giving them a better chance of survival. Additionally, landing on a soft surface, such as a tree or water, can increase one's chances of survival by increasing stopping distance and decreasing acceleration.

The speed of the plane would make it impossible to hold on

At the cruising altitude of an airplane, the speed of the plane, coupled with the thin air, would make it impossible to hold on to the outside of the plane.

At 18,000 feet, hypoxia sets in, causing weakness, tremors, light-headedness, and eyesight problems. At 22,000 feet, a stowaway will struggle to remain conscious as blood oxygen levels drop.

At a typical cruising altitude of 33,000 feet, lungs require artificial pressure to function normally. At 35,000 feet, the speed of the plane would be around 120 mph. The higher the altitude, the faster the plane needs to fly to stay airborne.

The speed of the plane, coupled with the extreme temperatures and thin air, would make it impossible to hold on to the outside of the plane.

Even if a person were able to hold on for a short period, they would soon lose consciousness and freeze to death.

The choice between being crushed or falling to one's death

Footage from Kabul's airport showed hundreds of people running alongside the plane as it prepared for takeoff, with some even climbing onto the plane and hanging off its moving front wheel. As the plane gained altitude, at least two people were seen plunging to their deaths. The full extent of the horror became clear later: the stowaways in the wheel well faced the unthinkable choice of being crushed by the retracting landing gear or letting go and falling to the ground.

The decision to cling to a departing plane was driven by desperation and a desire to escape the Taliban's rule. However, the chances of survival in such a situation are incredibly slim. At altitudes of 25,000-35,000 feet, the air temperature is well below freezing, and the thin air makes it impossible to breathe without specialized equipment. The extreme speed and wind would also make it extremely challenging, if not impossible, to maintain a grip on the plane.

While surviving a fall from such heights is unlikely, it is not impossible. Vesna Vulović, a Serbian flight attendant, holds the record for surviving the highest fall without a parachute at 33,330 feet. In 1972, she was the sole survivor after an explosion tore through the baggage compartment of the plane she was on, causing it to crash. Vulović was trapped by a food trolley in part of the fuselage, which likely cushioned the impact when it hit the ground.

In the case of the Afghans who fell from the C-17, their chances of survival were even more remote. Not only were they facing extreme altitudes, speeds, and temperatures, but they also had to contend with the danger of being crushed by the landing gear. It is a testament to the desperation and resilience of those fleeing that they chose to take this perilous risk rather than face the Taliban.

The US military offered psychological counselling to personnel who witnessed the events

The US Air Force offered psychological counselling to personnel who witnessed the events in Kabul, Afghanistan, where hundreds of Afghans chased a C-17 transporter plane in a bid to escape the country. The scenes were so traumatic that the US Air Force provided psychological support to the air force personnel who worked at Kabul airport, as well as the crew of the ill-fated C-17 flight after it landed in Qatar.

The US Department of Defense employs more than 8,000 psychologists, making it the largest employer of psychologists in the nation. These psychologists are responsible for providing clinical care to military service members and their families. They diagnose and treat patients with behavioural health disorders and conduct psychological evaluations.

Military psychologists are critical support components that assist military leaders in designing appropriate training programs, providing oversight to those programs, and assisting military members as they navigate the challenges of military training and their new lifestyle. They can assess, diagnose, treat and recommend the duty status most suitable for the optimal well-being of the individual, group, and organization. Through the use of group therapy, individual therapy, and behaviour modification, these psychologists actively treat psychological disorders, most commonly emotional trauma.

The stressors associated with military service include exposure to high-risk training and combat. Common clinical issues tend to mirror what’s seen in the general population, including anxiety, depression, and relational issues. However, the most common mental health diagnosis across the military health system is adjustment disorder. Most service members are young and may be living away from home for the first time. They’re also adjusting to the significant changes that come with entering the military—loss of freedom, individuality, and privacy.

Psychological stress in the military includes a range of military-specific and non-military-specific stressors. Military-specific stressors include combat stress, the requirement to take actions that may end another human’s life, or the risk of losing one’s own life. Non-military-specific stressors include workload, boredom, and danger.

Psychological counselling can help military personnel cope with the stress and trauma they experience during their service. Counselling can provide a safe and supportive environment for military personnel to process their experiences, manage their emotions, and develop healthy coping strategies. It can also help them improve their relationships, enhance their problem-solving skills, and increase their overall well-being.

Frequently asked questions