It's been almost 48 hours since I got off of the plane flight 507 from Vegas to Fresno. I am home now safe, happy to be alive with a fresh perspective on life.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Getting ready to leave Las Vegas after Ashley's first trip. Here's what's saved in my phone from the text messages I sent to Gary:
5:57 pm - Boarding Now
6:01 pm - On Plane
6:48 pm- Something is wrong...I am serious
6:50 pm - I love you
Looking back over these times...I realize we were almost home when one of the two plane engines exploded! I heard the BOOM and it felt like something had hit the plane even though we were still in the air. I looked out...it looked like we were perfectly still over the mountains. All you could see were mountains..no flat land...no city...no houses...no cars...no roads....just mountains.
The flight attendants had just started drink/snack service when the engine went out. They had passed our seats 7E/7F maybe 3 minutes before. I knew it was extremely serious when they began to RUN (as quickly as you can on a plane) back to their own seats, putting the cart away and then strapping themselves in. For maybe 5-10 minutes we sat without a word about what was happening. Then one of the attendants - Jasmin came onto the PA and announced the Pilot has indicated that we would be returning to Las Vegas for landing in 20 minutes. OMG
Ashley started to panic....freaking out....asking if we were going to die! I didn't know myself and all I could say (lie) was "it's okay" - "it will be okay." In her state of panic, Ashley started to get out of her seat so Jasmin came over to address her. Jasmin was scared herself...you could see her pulse jumping out of her neck. She assured us everything would be ok. However, when asked if we would be landing safely...she answered "safety is always our number one priority"...clearly a textbook answer.
So we sat....helpless....time passes slowly...
The pilot then informs us that one of the two engines has failed and we would be returning to Las Vegas.
The plane was silent...except for sobbing....even the other flight attendant was in her seat crying but trying to be calm. I had to look away to avoid seeing her fear in her eyes. I remember thinking...this is bad...she's as scared as we are.
A young girl seated next to me (Shelley) was alone on the flight and I offered her my hand. There I sat in between Ashley and a stranger scared and worried - trying to remain calm.
At some point, I began to consider this would be my last moments in life. When presented with such a situation you have to consider death as a real and near possibility. It's really hard to explain and put into words. All I knew was there was something wrong, everyone was scared and we might not make it back to the landing strip in one piece. I had to fully accept that I would never see Gary, Ryan or Toni again and that was ALL I could think about as I prayed for a second a chance to live.
The return flight and landing was rough to say the least! I felt every bump and turn like no turbulence I've ever felt on a flight before.
Finally, we were getting closer and began to see houses...remnants of Las Vegas. Then the airport emerged and we approached just hovering over the nearby houses. I felt like I could reach out and touch them. I could see the fire engines waiting for us...not knowing if we were already on fire or going to be upon landing.
Then another BOOM....and hard THUD as we HIT the very end of the runway!
APPLAUSE!!! APPLAUSE!!! APPLAUSE!!!!
At this moment the entire flight passengers and crew were unified in our thankfulness to be alive.
We approached a gate and exited the plane at 7:31 pm (longer than 20 minutes after the engine failure) The pilot let us know it was due to a mechanical failure, apologized and explained although rare it does happen unfortunately.
The phrase it's a "one in a million" chance of a plane crashing/ engine failure/malfunction etc. echoed throughout the airport. I'm here to say that phrase is not comforting when you were on the "one in a million" flights which in this case was Allegiant flight 507 from Las Vegas to Fresno.
I agree with Ashley when she said on our drive home with Shelley in tow "It's like we are plane crash survivors because we went through every feeling and emotion that they would minus the crash..."
Celebrate Life!
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9 comments:
Hi, Reading your story, if what you say is correct...that you had an engine failure...airplanes are designed to be able to fly with one engine. You weren't actually in danger. The Flight Attendants should have done a better job reassuring you.If you were in real danger they would have done another demo in a planned emergency like that.
I'm so sorry to hear that you weren't reassured by your crew, that is part of their job.
1) I am so thankful you are alive...love you!
2) I will NEVER fly again in my life, I had a slight fear before - now I am paranoid!
;)
To The Flying Pinto.....
YOU were NOT on this flight! You clearly do not understand the situation we were in. I find your comment just as callous and non-empathetic as the customer service reps from alligiant air. The flight attendants did as good of a job as they could considering they were IN THE SAME NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE the rest of us were in. If flying with only ONE engine is so safe....why didn't we just keep on going to Fresno we were 1/2 way there???? I've actually spoken with friends in the Air Force who have a much different opinion than you do. I must admit that when I first read your comment I quickly wanted to delete it as this is my PERSONAL blog. Instead, I've chosen to share more of my thoughts, feelings and emotions so others can see how non-empathatic you are and the fact you would post such a thing on a stangers blog. BTW...Thank you Hilda, my friend for showing compassion as I go through this difficult time.
Hi, I'm sorry that you took my comment as callous and non-empathetic. It was not meant to be at all!! I have been a flight attendant for 16 years and have been in that situation.I was on a flight where we lost an engine, it's intense but this is what pilots are trained for and airplanes can fly on a single engine. I was only trying to reassure you that your life was not in danger. I completely understand you were nervous and felt as though your life was in danger but you should feel better knowing it was not.
I have a lot of compassion and hope you are feeling better, sorry you had to go through that.
Hi Jennifer. We were on that plane as well. I have never been as terrified in my life. My husband and I thought we were never going to see our 15 month old again. I am glad the second engine held in there and got us back. Your recollection of what happened was right on par. Everywhere around us there were mountains.
I was always uncomfortable flying and people would tell me that there is such a tiny percentage of something actually happening. Well guess what - it did! I really do not want to get on a plane again.
The pilot and co-pilot did an awesome job. I hope he gets paid a huge salary because he deserved it. I credit him with getting us back on the ground.
The Airlines didn't offer us anything; no room no voucher. We left after 30 minutes, did a tequila shot and went to a hotel.
On the way to get our luggage, I saw one of the stewardesses. I asked her why she wasn't getting on the plane they said they were getting the passengers to fly us back to Fresno on. She told me that they had been dismissed. I then asked her if she had been scared - because I know I was. She looked down, then looked at me and said 'Yes. I was scared.'
My husband and I got to the hotel. We in a bit of shock and drove home the next day.
The Airlines called to see if we were ok. My husband asked the representative on the phone what she could offer us and she said she really couldn't offer us anything and that customer service would have to call. WHATEVER. Why the heck did they bother calling? Just to say they called the passengers but could provide no help, service or information.
It is very traumatic and I don't care if there was another engine. People can quote statistics all they want. They have no idea what we felt during that 25 minutes.
Annette Haron
Annette- Exactly! People just don't "get it" and I honestly hope they never will have to. It's a terrible thing to go through.
Jennifer it is very early in the morning that I am typing this. I have been having trouble sleeping since our flight. It is not very often that you think you are going to die. Not to mention a plane. I to was afraid to fly. Terrified to fly even more now. My husband has had to wake me out of dreams of me falling out of the sky, screaming clear (not sure what it all means). My mom says I need to move forward. So with all my thoughts and prayers to the survivors of flight 507. Live life to its fullest because it is true when you never think it could happen to you. I want you to view the analogy on the ksee 24 blog I left. Maybe it will help those who do not know about jet engines a clue into my world of technology.
To the "Flying Pinto", did your engine BLOW UP in mid air and vibrate the plane that you thought it was going to crack apart? I doubt it so please don't try and compare your experience with ours. My wife and I were on that plane and I've been trying to understand what she's been going through ever since. Prior to this the scariest time in my life was when I was a cop and shot at, 45 times. I'll admit back then I screamed like a little girl as I yelled on the radio and crawled as fast as I could. Flight 507 takes the cake though. Why, because when the explosion happened and my wife started crying, there was nothing I could do for her. As she cried about our 2 yr and 2 month old kids I became upset because there was in fact nothing I could do for her. I'm not that religious but I found myself talking to God and asking him to take me and let my wife live. The thought of my kids having to be raised without one of us started making me angry.
Going back to what I was first saying, since then my wife has been having nightmares and waking up screaming. She couldn't sleep at night and I saw how she started to get short tempered with our kids and me. She refused help until recently and is now on meds. As a former Marine and cop I can deal with what happened. Does it scare me when I think about it, hell yea. Prior to this flight our lives were great. Now I'm having to take time away from work to be at home to help my wife out.
So to those that weren't on this flight, please don't try to compare your experience with ours. Had I not been on this flight I would have been a non-believer as well, but I was so believe me this would have scared the hell out of any of you.
If you were on this flight please call me. Steve Cornwell, Attorney, 431-3142.
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