Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Plane plunges ‘like a rollercoaster’ as nose and windows destroyed by hail in thunderstorm(pic)
https://newsannapurna.com/ ^ | 6/6/18

Posted on 06/07/2018 10:44:27 AM PDT by BBell

A passenger jet plunged through the air “like a rollercoaster” after it flew into a thunderstorm, dropping thousands of feet as it was bombarded with strong winds, hail and lightning.

“Things were flying. Passengers throwing up. Scariest flight of my life,” said Jesse Esparza, who was aboard the American Airlines flight from San Antonio, New Mexico to Phoenix, Arizona.

With its nose and windscreen badly damaged by hail, the plane was forced to divert to El Paso for an emergency landing.

“I never thought I’d have to buy in-flight WiFi to message my mum goodbye,” Mr Esparza added.

Pictures of the plane on the runway showed its nose caved in and its windows covered by a web of cracks after it was battered by hailstones of up to three inches in size.

“I keep looking back at the photos and getting chills,” said another passenger, who did not want to be named. “We had no idea how bad it was until after we landed.”

She told ABC15 several passengers had panic attacks after the aircraft hit severe turbulence about 30 minutes after taking off.

Mobile phones flew through the air, drinks splashing the ceiling, and passengers sharing sick bags during “five minutes of hell”, she added.

Mr Esparza said the plane then dropped “like a rollercoaster”.

He added: “We dropped so hard that objects in people’s laps start flying inside the aircraft. My seatbelt is pulling against my waist keeping me in my seat. Babies screaming. I start hyperventilating. I grab my phone and sign on to the WiFi. I text my mom that I love her

(Excerpt) Read more at newsannapurna.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: americanairlines; destroyed; hail; plane; thunderstorm
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

Did the co-pilot have to hang his head out the side window and give directions to the pilot.

Co-pilot:right Larry right! Your other right Larry!

1 posted on 06/07/2018 10:44:27 AM PDT by BBell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BBell

What’s our vector victor?

It’s over Over.


2 posted on 06/07/2018 10:46:34 AM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Are there no editors anymore

San Antonio Texas to Phoenix

Not San Antonio New Mexico


3 posted on 06/07/2018 10:47:39 AM PDT by wardaddy (Hanged not hung.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Most airline pilots endeavor to fly around thunderheads. This is what happens when one doesn’t bother and guts it out straight through. Idiot.


4 posted on 06/07/2018 10:48:41 AM PDT by katana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Just d-mn


5 posted on 06/07/2018 10:49:05 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

I didn’t think San Antonio, NM had an airport that was served by major airlines.


6 posted on 06/07/2018 10:49:49 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

“That doesn’t look like much on the radar.”

(how about now?)


7 posted on 06/07/2018 10:49:57 AM PDT by Peter ODonnell (Look for England to do well at the World Cup until it starts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Yeah, the pilot was Ace Ventura.


8 posted on 06/07/2018 10:51:37 AM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Peter ODonnell

Now it doesn’t look like we have much of a radar.


9 posted on 06/07/2018 10:52:04 AM PDT by SpinnerWebb (Winter is coming)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Holy cow! It looks like it took a burst of 88-flak ...


10 posted on 06/07/2018 10:54:49 AM PDT by BlueLancer (Come Hell or High Water - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQNUp9rgjNs&feature=youtu.be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

I picked a bad day to quit drinking . . .


11 posted on 06/07/2018 10:55:07 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks ( The US Constitution ....... Invented by geniuses and God .... Administered by morons ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: katana
Most airline pilots endeavor to fly around thunderheads. This is what happens when one doesn’t bother and guts it out straight through. Idiot.

I've been through thunderheads on airliners. In '12, I flew through one just west of Pittsburgh as we approached the airport. When I finally got settled in at my motel in Greensburg, Pa., the storm that we flew through finally caught up with me.

12 posted on 06/07/2018 10:56:05 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: katana
Pay attention to previous posts? There is a video of the plane flying all types of vectors to avoid the hail.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/airlines/a21095482/american-airlines-1897-hail-storm-flight-path/

This time of year some altocumulous also build higher than 50K ft in that region too. That's higher than most commercial airliners are rated to fly.

13 posted on 06/07/2018 10:57:00 AM PDT by pfflier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BBell

From here on in, grocery store turkeys used to test the strength of airliner windshields WILL be frozen.


14 posted on 06/07/2018 10:58:08 AM PDT by robroys woman (So you're not confused, I'm using my wife's account.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Re: “plane plunged like a rollercoaster”
This may have been intentional to get down below 10,000 ft. so that the passengers could breath (which is pretty important.)


15 posted on 06/07/2018 10:58:31 AM PDT by libertylover (If people come here legally, they're immigrants; if they come here illegally, they're invaders.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

Re: “plane plunged like a rollercoaster”
This may have been intentional to down below 10,000 ft. so that the passengers could breath (which is pretty important.)


16 posted on 06/07/2018 10:58:41 AM PDT by libertylover (If people come here legally, they're immigrants; if they come here illegally, they're invaders.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: katana
Read this article first, then reconsider the 'idiot' statement.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3661003/posts

17 posted on 06/07/2018 10:59:15 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: pfflier

Everything happening at 500+ mph
Bad enough for a person on the ground to avoid while running for shelter.


18 posted on 06/07/2018 11:00:20 AM PDT by minnesota_bound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: BBell

That’ll buff right out.


19 posted on 06/07/2018 11:00:36 AM PDT by NativeSon ( Grease the floor with Crisco when I dance the Disco)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

When did Air Traffic Controllers begin routing aircraft through thunderstorms instead of around them?


20 posted on 06/07/2018 11:02:19 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson