Originally posted by slimjimAn excellent answer.
A parachute would be useless in the event of an airplane crashing. Imagine just trying to stand, much less open the door to exit the plane due to inertia of the plane spinning. Even if everyone had a chute on and the plane burst open could you imagine falling freefall at 30,000 feet with just a shirt on. You would freeze to death in minutes not to mention bl ...[text shortened]... for it, have an oxygen supply i.e. tank to breath, and de-pressurize the plane prior to exiting.
Exiting an aircraft at altitude requires a aircraft to be under control, level and depressurised.
These conditions tend not to be present during catasrophic air disasters.
Let ut not forget that even if these conditions were met, and evacuation was a better option than trying to land (and I cant think of many), probability dictates you would either be over water, mountains, forest or urban areas. In which case unless you are in the special forces, you would probably die on impact anyway.
Jesus I need to get out more