Why 2 engines are safer than 4
- The probability of a single engine failing on a 4 engine aircraft is double that of a 2 engine aircraft. Therefore, the chance of engine failing, blowing up or self-destructing is doubled with 4 engines
- Consider that the vast majority of failure of all engines (whether 2, 3, 4 or 6) scenarios have been caused by fuel contamination or fuel starvation – scenarios in which 100 engines will not help.
- Also remember that catastrophic failure of an engine on a wing can easily affect the 2nd engine on the same wing (shrapnel, bird flock).
