[mikey_hates_everything]

Rapid descent? 26,900 feet (5miles) in 15 minutes is 20 mph.

[z3n]

Rapid descent? 26,900 feet (5miles) in 15 minutes is 20 mph.

~~~

I was surprised by that too.
It is a faster decent than you’d see when on approach to an airport, it definitely isn’t as fast as I would expect when trying to reach a safe altitude under decompression.

[Moltke]

Rapid descent? 26,900 feet (5miles) in 15 minutes is 20 mph.

It's also 30 ft/sec, which is about the initial free fall velocity. Continuously over 15 mins would be quite an experience (think falling down a four story building every second for 15 minutes). Wheeee....!!!

[DennisR]

Uh...bad reporting!

[crusty old prospector]

C’mon, man. They were in a slow nose dive.

[353FMG]

Sudden descent without sudden stop. Say your prayers of thanksgiving.

[libertarian66]

20 mph STRAIGHT DOWN, vertical drop, not highway speed. Might feel more like 200 mph. Think falling from a first floor window - in one second. Nine hundred times over and over!