I'm not sure I'd want to stake my life on a life preserver that was a "supersaver"... sounds like it was bought at a bargain basement sale.
Posted on 05/19/2011 12:17:23 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
If you're afraid of flying, reading this post may or may not make it worse. On one hand it describes a story about the smell of a burning plane engine, the expressions of encumbered panic and the experience of coming to terms with death. On the other hand, everybody lives!
Reuters photographer Beiwharta had just started to fall asleep on a flight with his family from Singapore to Jakarta when two loud bangs jolted him into a frightening reality. Based on Beiwharta's account of what came next, the activity on a crashing plane is just like you might imagine. The smell of acrid smoke stung nostrils. The flight attendants break routine and rush the food carts down the aisle. The lights go out. The flaming engine serves as a horrifying view out the window. And you wonder what it's like to die. Beiwharta wrote:
During my many years of assignments as a Reuters photojournalist, when flying I have imagined being on a plane that had a problem that forced an emergency landing, and then taking pictures. But I never imagined this situation with my family. But it happened. We will die together, so we can fly to heaven together, I thought. If we die together, I will not miss my wife’s delicious cooking, I will not miss the smell of my kids’ sweat. There will be no tears among us. My thoughts, to my surprise, stopped me being afraid any more.
Beiwharta's thoughts lead him to reach for the camera hanging around his neck. Conditions were less than ideal but managed to capture one passenger praying. ""Behind us, passengers were praying: 'God, save our flight! Give us your protection!'" Beiwharta said.
Another shot shows relative calm in the shadow of what appears to be the engine flaming outside of a window.
The Airbus A330 successfully landed in Singapore, and Beiwharta captured the evacuation in better lighting.
Passengers walked off the plane without incident and the captain told them soon thereafter, "The best that we can ever ask of passengers is to stay cool, stay calm ... which you did. And for that we thank you."
According to an airplane safety expert, the uncontained explosion and open flames that Beiwharta saw out the window are "rare."
Along with the airline, Singaporean authorities will lead an investigation into the photographers flight, Cathay Pacific CX 715, in order to discover the cause of the fire. Airbus and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce will cooperate.
I'm not sure I'd want to stake my life on a life preserver that was a "supersaver"... sounds like it was bought at a bargain basement sale.
So you can breathe.
The woman in the back just CAN NOT leave with out her carry on bag.
: "Oxygen gets you high. In a catastrophic emergency, you're taking giant panicked breaths. Suddenly you become euphoric, docile. You accept your fate. It's all right here. Emergency water landing - 600 miles an hour. Blank faces, calm as Hindu cows."
That's why I always demand an aisle seat in a row that has a fat person sitting next to the window.
There’s not a firearm on Earth that can reach anywhere near that altitude, much less a BB gun. Plus a BB gun wouldn’t break an airplane window if it was held against it and fired. Oh, and I’m that “fat person” (340lbs, 6 feet tall) that you’re referring to. The AVERAGE American adult is overweight and a large minority are obese. Been to a Wal-Mart recently?
“That’s uh...that’s an interesting theory.”
I haven't had the heart to watch it again after 9/11 because of the ending, which I used to enjoy a lot.
Your words capture my own recollections very well. People talk quietly if at all in the unnerving stroboscopic flickering ambience.
I recall especially the almost knock-the-wind-out-of-you whoompf of extreme buffeting.
Airplanes seem to be remarkably robust in that regard - the wings and tail don’t tear off during these episodes; nor do the engines tear themselves out of the wings, as much as it seems that is exactly what is happening!
What I fear most about flying is airports.
Check out this guy's reaction....
“What I fear most about flying is airports.”
I don’t mean crash-landing - I mean the TSA, parking, walking - just being there.
I used to love flying.
It’s one of my all-time favorites too. I’ve watched it many times, but the last time was, sheesh, probably 6-7 years ago.
I read the book too. Sold my copy of it on Ebay last year. I read the book after seeing the movie and I was befuddled as to how they ever figured out a way to make it into a movie.
I only got halfway through the book. One of those rare events where the movie is better.
How many of these incidents have we had with Airbus and how many with Boeing? I don’t recall Boeing planes losing any engines over the last couple of decades.
I LOVE THAT FILM !!!
If this is happening to anyone flying and they see Cheryl Ladd on the plane, your doomed! /badmoviereference
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