A University of Calgary study examines the most effective aircraft cabin layouts for evacuating elderly passengers during dual-engine failures. Researchers modeled three passenger age ratios and seating arrangements to address low-probability, high-impact emergencies like dual-engine fires, which include incidents such as the 2009 Hudson River landing. None of the tested configurations met the Federal Aviation Administration's 90-second evacuation mandate, with the fastest scenario taking 141 seconds when 20% of passengers were elderly and seated near exits. The slowest evacuation—218.5 seconds—occurred with 80% elderly passengers in similar seating patterns. Airbus and Boeing may need to redesign cabins with elderly-specific features like wider aisles and priority exit access, as current models fail to accommodate mobility challenges.

The study highlights gaps in existing safety protocols and advocates for behavioral interventions, such as targeted safety briefings, to improve outcomes. Published in *AIP Advances*, the research underscores the need for real-world data integration and adaptive cabin designs to align with evolving aviation safety standards.