[steve86]

Not true. The “time to get to the oxygen masks” scenario happens when there is a gradual decompression (due to a door seal blow-out or whatever), not an instantaneous loss of all cabin pressure. Even at Mt. Everest elevation you would lose consciousness if subjected to that instantaneously. The gradual vs. sudden nature of the loss is very important. Many people have climbed Everest without supplemental oxygen but not without long, long acclimatization.

[Straight Vermonter]

Even at Mt. Everest elevation you would lose consciousness if subjected to that instantaneously. The gradual vs. sudden nature of the loss is very important. Many people have climbed Everest without supplemental oxygen but not without long, long acclimatization.

Except for the the stewardess who was swept out of the plane these people all survived. The incident was "only" at 24K but it was about as rapid as it possibly could be.