[masraum]

I've heard that you lay flat, which might be OK unless the sudden stop 1 causes the ceiling or parts of the ceiling to impact you at whatever speed the elevator was falling in which case having your face and internal organs unprotected seems unwise.

The semi squat/crouch might be OK unless you're moving fast enough in which case you're likely screwed.

If you can get the other person to lay still and let you lay on them, that is likely to be the best option, but you probably want your head on their chest or something like that. You don't want to go knocking noggins or having your noggin wrap around their shoulder until it hits the floor.

A tight fetal position might not be a bad idea with one arm under your head and the other on top to protect it from falling debris.

The problem is that if the thing is in a freefall, you're going to be weightless, floating, until the elevator stops which is going to make it hard to get into any position.

THe reason that I say that is I used to work in a building in Houston that while I worked there, had one or two elevators do weird crap 3-4 times. The elevator went into freefall for a bit, I think once it was 3-4 floors, and then the brakes stopped it. In the case when it was several floors, IIRC one woman had a compound fracture of the lower leg afterwards.

I suppose the best case scenario is that the brakes are engaged but inadequate for some reason so you're descending REALLY fast, but not at terminal velocity.

I think your best option is to try to bend over and kiss your aß goodbye and pray that you get really lucky.