Overview
- Using an Airbus A320 dual‑engine fire scenario that blocked over‑wing exits, the study found every run missed the 90‑second rule, with total times from 141 to 218.5 seconds and the slowest in a dense cabin with 80% older travelers.
- Researchers tied the delays to slower walking speed, reduced situational awareness under stress, and weaker fine motor control that makes standing up and moving into the aisle harder.
- The simulations used industry‑standard crowd models to test how cabin layout and age mix shape flow through only the front and rear doors once the wing exits are unusable.
- The team advises seating older flyers closer to usable exits, widening aisles, adding better handholds, and giving tailored safety briefings to cut delays.
- They also urge spreading older passengers across the cabin to avoid clusters, which could mean some older pairs do not sit together, and plan to study children, infants, and pregnant travelers next.