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Crash survivors debate whether to eat the pilot

by Iva Skoch on Jun 13th 2008 at 2:00PM

Let's suppose you survive a plane crash a spend five days "huddled in a broken fuselage in sub-zero temperatures." You are running out of crackers. You have no idea how long you'll be there (especially if you are a Lost fan.)

The question is: Do you, or do you not, consider cannibalism?

The Cessna 208 with nine passengers crashed into a mountainside in Patagonia, near La Junta, a town across the border in Argentina, on Saturday. Recent volcanic explosions in the region have forced air routes out to sea, taking experienced pilots off their normal course, The Guardian reports:

The pilot died in the crash. "He had a cut on his head, a big wound and he lost lots of blood," said Victor Suazo, a Chilean police officer who was aboard the flight. "We couldn't do anything for him and he died around noon on Monday." Soon after, the survivors' hunger began to deplete their strength and they debated whether to eat the pilot. "We thought about the pilot, I don't know how to say it ... to feed ourselves from him. We thought about this, but some people were not in agreement because the situation was already so extreme."

Well, what do you think? Would you, or would you not, eat the pilot, folks?

Filed under: Chile

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)

Carl Jun 13th 2008 2:43PM

Without hesitation. Hell, I meet an annoying survivor too.

Dr .Z Jun 14th 2008 3:43AM

To "Kell" what part of sub-zero temerature don't u understand?"the body would'nt be eatable after a couple days". I can keep a frozen steak in the freezer for months. The pilot would be prime as long as you could get a fire going. The only question to ask yourself is if in eating the human, could and would you develop the disease known as "Kru" which is highlighted buy uncontrolable, deranged laughter and a pre-cursor to insanity, in a comment below "Bill" spoke about the brain and spinal cord consumption leading to a condition similar to Mad Cow disease, perhaps these two theories have a link. Before resorting to canabalism one could dig under the snow, or sub-zero soil in hopes to find grub worms or other dormant/hibernating creatures to consume. In the end the answer is chilche...survival of the fitest

TravelBot Jun 13th 2008 3:08PM

I'll certainly use this valuable information on my next trip to Patagonia. Very insightful reporting!

Mikael Mannberg Jun 13th 2008 3:52PM

Of course it is cannibalism but hell, if I had to do it to survive I'd definitely do it (and I'm a vegetarian!).

BrianM Jun 13th 2008 3:57PM

The body can survive for WEEKS with no external source of fuel (food). I'm not so sure I'd jump to such an act within the first week. Actually, I'm pretty damn sure I wouldn't within the first 2 weeks... after that, then it'd be no issue.

Kell Jun 13th 2008 9:41PM

I think that after a day or so the body would no longer be eatable. So, based on the events: he died on monday and you would wait a week or two to eat him? I'd rather starve than eat spoiled meat human or not.

Nick Hawkins Jun 13th 2008 4:25PM

Is Ken the pilot?

And really - when is it a bad time for cannibalism?

bill Jun 13th 2008 10:19PM

Don't eat the brain or spinal cord as this is how you get spongiform encephalitis(like mad cow disease). Early people knew the deadly outcome but not the reason and hence made cannibalism taboo.

William Jun 20th 2008 5:05AM

Ken the pilot?

And really - when is it a bad time for cannibalism?

I'd say, on the way down to the scene of the crash.

mike Jun 13th 2008 9:08PM

I say fire up the grill, say grace & chow down now, before he spoils the meal, er uh before the meat spoils...but fast later or forever hold on to your peace of grease

Ida Jun 13th 2008 11:23PM

THEY ARE IN A FROZEN PLACE, SO THERE-FORE THE BODY IS PRESERVED IN THE ICE UNTIL COOKED.

chileandpasta Jun 13th 2008 9:12PM

People should all remember the olympiads whose plane went down in the andes, they ate their own friends who had died, no one seemed to think it was awful and heartless then, ANYONE will do what they have to for their selves and loved ones to survive.

foxk92 Jun 13th 2008 10:06PM

The difference between the people on this flight and the Olympiads is that the Olympiads were stranded for 72 days before being rescued. Totally understandable that they would resort to cannibilism.

These people were ready to resort to cannabilism in less then a week. I would have to wait more then a week before the thought to resort to cannabilism entered my mind. Besides it was not like the pilot was going to rot since they crashed in the mountains in subzero temps. The pilot would have frozen and thus not rotted.

HAL 9000 Jun 13th 2008 9:14PM

I say fire up the grill & chow down now, before he spoils the meal, er uh before the meat spoils...but fast later or forever hold on to your peace of grease

Tom Jun 13th 2008 9:19PM

Get your meal first, I would hate to be the last one to give in to cannibalism and get stuck with the worst parts of the body :)

Eddy Jun 13th 2008 9:25PM

I wonder who gets to eat the joystick?

lostsoul Jun 14th 2008 2:15AM

Wishful thinking?

Velma Burrows Jun 13th 2008 9:30PM

I would never resort to cannibalism. I am a firm believer that my Lord will provide, but even if He didn't, I would rather go to be with the Lord than live with having eaten a human being.

Josh Jun 13th 2008 9:42PM

Some firm believer you are, you even doubt your Lord in the same sentence you say you firmly believe he will save you.

I'm amazed at how any one persons "God" would save them, but has let go so many more deserving people. but hey, i guess my imaginary friend would save me too if it came down to it. he's the best