"It was raining sick bags. The aircraft was in chaos."
Come fly the friendly skies !
Posted on 02/27/2006 11:14:45 PM PST by A.A. Cunningham
WE'LL CRASH WE'LL CRASH
EXCLUSIVE What stewardess yelled as plane hit turbulence
28 February 2006
By Stephen Moyes
A STEWARDESS kept screaming: "We're going to crash," when a packed jet hit turbulence at 30,000ft causing panic among passengers.
The cabin crew member shouted out three times as travellers were tossed around and trays, drinks and bags flew through the air.
Passenger Paul Gibson, 30, said: "She began screaming every time the plane shook.
"She shouted at the top of her voice, 'We're going to crash! We're going to crash! We're going to crash!'"
Virgin Atlantic flight VS043 hit bad weather three hours into its journey from Gatwick to Las Vegas.
The stewardess, who is in her mid-20s, was terrified. One passenger was smashed into the overhead lockers of the Boeing 747-400 while others, some in tears, gripped their seats and prayed.
Some were trapped in the toilets or sat petrified on the floor. Many of the 469 passengers and crew vomited and the cabin was strewn with sick bags.
The pilot told the screaming stewardess and other crew members to strap themselves into their seats. She sat for an hour tossing sick bags across the aisle to frightened customers.
Mr Gibson, editorial director of Chauffeur Magazine, was on his way to a limousine industry conference on Friday. He said: "The turbulence started very suddenly and one member of cabin crew said it was the worst they had experienced in seven years of flying.
"Passengers who were walking about the aircraft had to sit on the floor and hold on for dear life.
"Loads of people were being sick and when someone shouted at the stewardess for more sick bags, she picked up a dozen and threw them across the cabin.
"It was raining sick bags. The aircraft was in chaos.
"People were crying and being sick everywhere and then there was an announcement that the people stuck in the toilets would have to stay there until the turbulence had stopped.
"One passenger hit his head on the overhead luggage compartments as he wasn't strapped in.
"Afterwards, no apology was made over the loud speakers. The supervisor on the aircraft was informed that complaints would be made against the stewardess."
Virgin Atlantic said: "The crew report stated that there was severe turbulence.
"Crew were asked to remain in their seats for an hour.
"We have not yet received any complaint about the actions of any of the crew, although the passengers are still out in Las Vegas.
"Turbulence can be a very frightening ordeal."
stephen.moyes@mirror.co.uk
ex-stewardess
Turbulence happens. The flight attendant was acting unprofessionally, if this story is true. There was little danger that the plane would crash.
I guess she thought she was on an Air Bust...er.. Air Bus.
wow, sounds like a really bad movie. lol
What a fustercluck that was.
Which is why you have trained crew members there to calmly reassure the passengers that:
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!!!
Airplane 2006!
...And, the passengers lined up to belt some sense into her...
Doesn't this thread need a Barf Alert? :o)
Well, she did handle the situation better than Gov. Blanco handled Katrina.
I'm waiting to hear that the stewardess ended up heavily sedated later on.
Sounds like the opening chapters of Crichton's "Airframe".
"It was raining sick bags. The aircraft was in chaos."
Come fly the friendly skies !
As dad used to say to me before the belt, "Assume the position."
Can you imagine the stench in the passanger cabin of the plane with all those people blowing chunks. EWWWWWWWWWWW
Probably smelled almost as bad as a Michael Moore seminar.
lol yeah i was trying NOT to think of that. i imagine the ones trapped in the bathroom were the lucky ones.
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