Could a trained individual passenger escape a commercial plane crash by bringing the necessary equipment to parachute?

Question

We've been through why airlines don't provide parachutes for the passengers. But who says they have to be provided? I want to take my fate into my own hands the next time I fly, by bringing my own parachute. I will train extensively in parachuting beforehand. I'll train in wilderness survival skills, too, and bring aboard lots of survival gear for after I land, including a floatation device in case that's over water. I will at all times keep all this gear on my person ready to go and remain vigilant for any signs of a crash.

Here's what I'd do about each of the points those answers bring up:

• "Street clothes will be torn to shreds. Oh, and it's COLD up there." Then I'll wear special Air Force-grade clothing that will keep me warm and won't get torn to shreds, or a pressurized suit if I have to.
• "You cannot depressurize an aircraft over 12,000 feet altitude without the passengers passing out rather quickly." Then I'll bring an oxygen supply with me. I don't care about the fates of my fellow passengers. Escaping their fates is precisely why I want to do this.
• "It is extremely difficult to exit an unstable aircraft...If the plane is spinning and you are beside the door you might get tossed out and then struck by other parts of the airframe." That's a risk I'm willing to take, a risk that I would prefer over the risk of the crash.
• "There are very, very few aircraft accidents that occur with enough time to actually use one." "Almost all fatal accidents happen during take-off or landing, where parachutes would not be of any help." Either assume that I am notified with enough time to escape, or just forget about crashing entirely and consider that I might just decide to leave the plane whenever I want.

The other objections are all about training, which I'll have in spades, or profit, which isn't a concern because I will fund my survival myself.

My questions are:

1. Is any of the equipment I would need forbidden by TSA rules? If so, is there a country that doesn't forbid that equipment?
2. How could I escape the plane? This is the one objection that I can't figure out. The only suggestion is to blow the door out with explosives, which are obviously out of the question.

Answer 1

So, if you could even open the doors, which you can't, you'd need a parachute, oxygen supply and mask, survival gear, and probably thermal clothing.

That's a problem. The parachute would likely be legal as carry on luggage, the thermal clothing as well. Both would however make people really really look at you with suspicion about your reasons for being on the flight.

The oxygen supply is even worse, it's a pressurised cannister which is definitely prohibited.

The survival gear would almost certainly include a knife and other sharp implements, prohibited. As well as bottled water and/or food paste, and water purification tablets (and possibly other chemicals) which would either be prohibited or draw a lot of attention to you at security.

And that's without taking into consideration that all that stuff is going to be rather bulky and heavy, quite possibly putting you way over the carry on luggage restrictions. And making egress (if you could even get the door open) very problematic.

Answer 2

Well, it depends. Remember, first off, that most aircraft accidents take place during takeoff and landing, at altitudes were a parachute is going to be moot and not very useful for survival.

Second, as a passenger, you would have to be aware of the threat and have enough time available to realize you had to abandon the airplane, then do so with enough time that you could get out and deploy a parachute safely safely.

Third, we would have to consider the case where you were attempt to abandon the aircraft in a situation, where it’s not necessary, causes additional damage to the airframe that precipitate to crash. For instance, you open an emergency exit door in flight, and that door is torn off by wind forces, and strikes the air frame and damages it in a way that the airplane is no longer controllable, you have now caused the airplane to be incapable of continued flight, with a high risk of crashing, and you’re now liable for criminal manslaughter charges should your actions results on the death of someone.

Fourth, a catastrophic threat to the aircraft may not be known to you, the passenger, until it’s all over. Bailing out of an airplane as you suggest, is really only useful in a very slim number of accidents, chiefly ones that occur with enough altitude to reasonably assess the danger that you were in, then make a commitment and make your way to an exit to escape the aircraft. It’s possible a passenger bail out scenario might have been useful in the case of Cactus 1549 (Sully’s bird strike/ forced water landing in the Hudson), or possibly the two accidents involving the 737 MAX, which grounded it. It will not, however, save you from an incident like what happened at Tenerife in 1977.

Finally, your risk of dying in an airplane crash, while flying aboard a scheduled air carrier over international waters or a country with a stable government in place is so low, it’s not even worth worrying about. You have a greater chance of drowning in your own bathtub or choking to death on your dinner tonight. There are a hell of a lot of other things that could kill you, and are far more likely to do so, than a commercial aircraft accident.

Answer 3

Either assume that I am notified with enough time to escape, or just forget about crashing entirely and consider that I might just decide to leave the plane whenever I want.

You can't open the doors at altitude.

Time - Unless you are already wearing the parachute, you'll not have enough time to get it from where it is, and put it on.