Not to get too sappy or anything, but golf – and business, sports, etc – all pale in comparison to what is really important. It often requires a tragedy or near tragedy to remind us of this…
The fear that those people on the plane must have been feeling – just awful. To fly around for three hours plus fearing death – reminds me of a great quote from the movie “Bladerunner”. Something along the lines of, “now you know what it feels like to live in fear.”
The pilot did a great job – good for him. My wife and I were just about in tears when that thing finally stopped.
A hurricane, another hurricane, and a flight that could have ended up so much worse than it did…
It is great to put my baby to bed, read to my four year old, watch Law and Order episodes for the umpteenth time with my wife – let me tell you, life is a wonderful thing. I just hope I remember to always keep this in mind – no matter what else happens.
I can't imagine the anguish or fear of having to endure a flight knowing that the outcome might not be favorable. How wonderful that all ended well! I know all too well the fear the people of Texas must be confronting right now. Life is precious and short and unfortunately, it usually takes a tragedy or near tragedy to remind us of that.
I have flown around the world many times, using airlines from British Airways,Panam KLM down to Bangalesh Airlines,Air Malawi and Modiluft (internal Indian Airline) , but I've never had to suffer anything like that.
I saw it last night and that guy set it down right in the middle of the runway, kept the nose high and only after slowing as much as possible , set the nose gear down. It of course had a wheel fire but only as long as the tires were burning off . the nose strut held and he was still RIGHT ON THE MID STRIP STRIPE> the guy did a great job!!!!!
Those pilots are amazing people. They train for those emergencies and when they do happen, they just follow their training. Back in the 70s, I covered a story at Memphis International where a 727 came in with one of the main landing gears not deployed. The pilot held the plane up on one landing gear and the nose wheel until his speed on the runway slowed, then he veered off into the grass. There was no fire, and minimal damage to the jet. We did an interview with him after he exited the plane and I will never forget what he said. "It was no big deal, years ago, I brought a B-29 in with NO landing gear." Those guys are a breed apart. I would fly aywhere, anytime, with a pilot like the one who brought that jet in last night. Men such as that are real heroes.
September 21st, 2005, 11:24 PM
:dancepart
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
