Can a plane fly if both engines fail?

The Silent Glide: What Happens When Both Engines Fail at 36,000 Feet?

The image of a plane losing both engines mid-flight often conjures scenes of catastrophic freefall. Hollywood has ingrained this dramatic, albeit largely inaccurate, image in our minds. The reality, thankfully, is far less terrifying. Modern aircraft are designed with redundancy and inherent aerodynamic qualities that allow them to glide significant distances, even without engine power. So, what actually happens if both engines fail at cruising altitude?

The short answer is: the plane becomes a very expensive glider. At 36,000 feet, a typical commercial airliner doesn’t simply drop out of the sky. Instead, it enters a controlled descent, leveraging its wings to generate lift and control its forward motion. Think of it like a paper airplane, albeit a highly sophisticated one.

This controlled glide is possible because of the aircraft’s lift-to-drag ratio. This ratio essentially defines how efficiently the wings convert forward motion into lift. Modern airliners boast impressive lift-to-drag ratios, allowing them to travel a surprising distance horizontally for every foot they descend. A typical glide ratio for a commercial jetliner is around 15:1 to 20:1. This means for every foot of altitude lost, the aircraft can glide forward 15 to 20 feet.

At a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, and assuming a conservative glide ratio of 15:1, a plane could potentially glide for approximately 108,000 yards, or roughly 61 miles. While the commonly cited figure of 70 miles is a reasonable estimate, the actual gliding distance can vary depending on factors like aircraft type, weight, weather conditions, and pilot skill.

This significant glide distance provides pilots with valuable time. Time to attempt to restart the engines, troubleshoot the issue, communicate with air traffic control, and, crucially, prepare for a controlled landing. They will identify potential landing sites, including airports, open fields, or even bodies of water, while continuously working to manage the aircraft’s speed and descent rate.

While a dual engine failure is undoubtedly a serious situation, it’s important to understand that it doesn’t automatically equate to disaster. Modern aircraft are built with multiple layers of redundancy and safety features, and pilots undergo rigorous training to handle such emergencies. The ability to glide significant distances provides a crucial buffer, transforming a potential catastrophe into a manageable, albeit challenging, situation. This inherent “grace under pressure” built into modern aviation offers a reassuring perspective on a scenario often misrepresented in popular culture.