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Conference quark::human_relations-v1

Title:What's all this fuss about 'sax and violins'?
Notice:Archived V1 - Current conference is QUARK::HUMAN_RELATIONS
Moderator:ELESYS::JASNIEWSKI
Created:Fri May 09 1986
Last Modified:Wed Jun 26 1996
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1327
Total number of notes:28298

1067.0. "Close Call" by OAKISL::JUDICE (Quite indefatigable.) Wed Sep 05 1990 00:55

I have an experience to tell you about. It may be a catalyst for discussion
on what you would think/do in a similar situation, or you may have some
comments on my experience itself. Here goes:

About a week ago, a close freind and I set off on a short vacation trip
to Alaska. It was a whim, and with our [major airline] frequent flier
miles a "free" trip. Having flown probably over 300 times I thought 
nothing of the 11 hour trip except perhaps how tired I would be at the 
end of it.

As the Airbus A300 pushed back from the gate at Newark it came to a 
halt as the passengers on board, many Japanese tourists returning home
talked or read newspapers or magazines. The captain ran the big GE
engines up and then let them idle down. It was like any other flight.
Suddenly, the PA system opened up. The captain, in a voice so torn between
calm and sheer panic that I will never forget it, yelled out "Attention
attention please, our right engine is on fire, we will evacuate the airplane
on the left - FIRE on the right evacuate LEFT! FIRE on the right evacuate
LEFT!!!". There was immediate panic as passengers entered the aisles and
amazingly many tried to retrieve overhead baggage! Within seconds the
aisles were totally blocked. I was up and looked back to the right 
side and saw gray smoke billowing over the fuselage, obscuring the
windows. The crew opened one of three doors and slowly passengers either
jumped or were thrown down the slide. The captain came back over the
PA system, now screaming "FIRE ON THE RIGHT EVACUATE LEFT". Another voice
screamed into the PA "Aisle L blocked, Aisle L blocked, ASILE L BLOCKED!!!"

The aisles were totally jammed.

I looked foward, utterly resigned to  the hopelessness of the situation. 
I thought for a second about the fact that we were loaded with fuel and that
we were just a hundred or so feet from the gate, other aircraft and 
fuel trucks. I can say very honestly that I was personally very calm,
which I am happy about. I remember turning to the rear to reassure a
woman behind me who was screaming "why aren't we moving, we're going to
die" - I don't know if I believed it, but I think I was convincing. In 
the back of my mind, I remembered an incident on the ground in England
several years ago where an engine fire gutted a plane. I tried to remember
the particulars, but couldn't. 

I remember a few other thoughts I had as I tried to think about anything
except the situation I was in now. I thought about the way I had stopped
talking to someone once very close to me, after she had hurt me very
badly. I had always felt that some day, some way I would be able to let
her know that while I had been very hurt, I loved her very much. 
I realized how despite having great friends and family how alone I was
in this world. In a strange, bizzare way, for an instant my mind thought
how much more comforting this would be if there was someone to share it
with. I mentally shook my head and thought for a second how utterly ironic 
it was for someone who NEVER took vacations to "buy the farm" on my 
first vacation in two years. I know the thought of injury never crossed
my mind - I was sure it was either life or death in the next minute or two.

The aisle began to move again. Fumes from the fire entered the cabin
as I got to the doorway and jumped down the slide - a virtual freefall
ride. Dazed and disoriented, I stumbled away, looking back at this 
giant airliner, still disgorging passengers, as fire vehicles arrived
and began spreading foam everywhere. I found my freind, who I was 
separated from during the evacuation and we walked back to the terminal
in a wave of strange refuges. Dozens of ambulances (some with ominous
makings like "Mass Casualty Unit" arrived and hoards of police, airport
officials and airline employees swarmed over us. Passengers were asked
to go to the President's Club in the terminal and as my freind and I 
rode the elevator to the second floor there was a certain grim bemusement
when we looked at the passenger riding with us. He had been slightly
injured (along with 34 others) and wore a big tag with four boxes that could
have been checked off - I, II, III and an ominous "0". The "0" was black, and
had a dagger symbol. This was one of many reminders of what a close
call this had been.

I certainly hope this all hasn't been too grim. I just feel like talking
about this. I also hope it doesn't deter you from flying - it won't deter
me. I am still thinking a lot about all of this, and wondering if maybe
there was some sort of message in all of this. Maybe for me the message
is start living life to the fullest. I've thought a lot in the past 
week about having wasted a lot of time on a lot of unimportant things. 
During my brief vacation I spent a lot of time watching people, especially
parents and children, wondering why I was 34 and the father of two cats.
It's not something I had thought about at all for a long time, but I 
think a major shuffling of priorities may be in order. 

Anyway, I appreciate you listening, and I truly hope you don't have to
go through a close encounter to start thinking about life. 

Lou 
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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1067.1Wow!MLCSSE::LANDRYjust passen' by...and goin' nowhereWed Sep 05 1990 13:4720
    
    Lou,
    
    	What a scarey experience for you and your friend.  I'm glad
    you both made it through mostly unharmed.  The memory will always
    be with you and I'm sure the next time (if there is a next time)
    you get on a plane, it'll be difficult.  However, not impossible.
    
    	As for your thinking about your friend with whom you have not
    spoken with, I understand that feeling a lot.  I have some friends
    which I wish I could clear up some misunderstanding which happened
    about 4 years ago.  However, I have tried to make amends, but they
    have not recriprocated. 
    
    	My advice to is to write a letter to your friend and tell her
    how you feel.  Not that you expect anything from it, but just how
    you feel.  Maybe it'll help you.
    
    
    						jean
1067.2It will always be a reminderCURIE::DONCHINWed Sep 05 1990 16:0030
    Lou,
    
    I can just picture the scene as you described it and am amazed at how
    situations like this bring out the best--and the worst--in people (I
    can't believe the bozos that tried to retrieve their luggage!) I was on
    a People Express (aka Cattle Express) flight several years ago that
    took THREE attempts at landing before it could be done (the weather was
    rainy and windy, and we had to fly around twice--after being as close
    as 50 yards from the ground--before the pilot could land). I remember
    the people crying and vomiting all around me, while I was calmly trying
    to say goodbye to my loved ones (who weren't on the plane and wouldn't
    have heard me, but I was hoping they'd know somehow).
    
    I will never forget that experience, but time has dulled my pledge to
    always let my loved ones know how much they mean to me, and to tie up
    those loose ends. I think that people are never prepared for death,
    although the terminally ill, who obviously know their time is near, may
    be more organized. You just have to periodically thank g-d for what you
    do have and work to keep it and obtain what you really want.
    
    I'm very glad you gave us all the details about the incident too
    because it helps to know what you should and shouldn't do in this type
    of a situation.
    
    I'm sorry to ramble on for so long, but I'd like to end by saying that
    I'm very glad that you made it through this horrible situation and that
    I hope that you and your loved ones never have the misfortune to
    experience something like this again.
    
    Nancy- 
1067.3NRADM::PARENTIT'S NOT PMS-THIS IS HOW I REALLY AMWed Sep 05 1990 17:5232
    Re .2
    
    Go-arounds are not unsafe maneuvers in an aircraft....in fact they are
    frequently done in the interest of safety.  The aircraft landing ahead
    of yours may not have cleared the runway in one or more instances, or
    the pilot may have encountered windsheer and didn't want to risk
    landing, or he/she may have been dissatisfied with the approach.
    In any event, it was probably more prudent on the pilot's part to
    go around and try again than try to salvage the landing. (A frequent
    lament I share with my pilot friends is the success of the flight 
    tends to be measured wholly by the last few feet on landing.)
    I am surprised the flight crew didn't make announcements explaining
    to the passengers why they were going around.
    
    To the base noter, perhaps it might help you get over the frustration
    of being in such a horribly helpless situation by turning some energy
    on the air carrier.  I was appalled that the cabin crew didn't 
    intervene when people were trying to take their luggage out of the
    overhead compartments.  Have you considered writing a letter to the
    airline sharply criticizing their lack of control in the situation
    and demanding to know what steps they plan to take to ensure their
    crews will give adequate emergency deplaning instructions in the 
    future?  Copies to the FAA and NTSB would also be in order.
    
    Fortunately the source of the fire was outside the aircraft not
    inside.  Had there been toxic fumes from burning material in the 
    cabin this story may not have had a happy ending.
    
    Evelyn
    
    P.S.  Although I am a pilot myself, I am a real "white knuckler" 
          when it comes to flying the airlines....so I do sympathize.
1067.4NAVIER::SAISIWed Sep 05 1990 18:486
    re .3, yes, a friend of mine is in flight attendant training school
    right now and they are put through evacuation drills in which the
    attendants are supposed to direct the whole evacuation.  The absence
    of mention of any of the attendants in .0 made me wonder if they
    had already left for the flight terminal.
    	Linda
1067.5TINCUP::KOLBEThe dilettante debutanteWed Sep 05 1990 19:4121
    I think that *almost* dying is a rebirth and possibly even a gift.
    Nothing is clearer at these times than the real truth of our existence,
    that we are in fact, quite mortal.

    The wonderful thing about surviving is that you have the chance to
    start over and use the truths that you have seen. liesl

    From the "The way of life" translations of Lao Tzu:

	    Which means more to you,
	    You or your renown?
	    Which brings more to you,
	    You or what you own?
	    And which would cost you more
	    If it were gone?
	    The niggard pays,
	    The miser loses.
	    The least ashamed of men
	    Goes back if he chooses:
	    He knows the both ways,
	    He starts again.
1067.6A lesson for all of usSAHQ::THIGPENWed Sep 05 1990 20:208
    It's unfortunate that it takes situations such as yours to make us
    aware of how blessed we are to have our loved ones and friends.  I'm
    sure that we all could be more loving and kinder to those special in
    our lives.
    
    Just glad to hear that you survived such a frightening experience.
    
    Dianne
1067.7Keep on GoingHENRYY::HASLAM_BACreativity UnlimitedWed Sep 05 1990 21:0425
    Just a thought, Lou, about contacting old friends... a sense of
    completion with the relatioship is wonderful when you can do so.
    In some cases, however, it can open old wounds and do more damage
    than good.  An example close to home is the completion I would like
    to have with my first husband who is legally insane and very violent.
    I *could* contact him, but what point would it serve?  It would
    certainly bring back horrifying memories of brutality and pain.
    It would disrupt the lives of family members who would prefer not
    to have any contact with him, etc.  The point here is that some
    situations are best left alone--completion or not.  It's up to you
    to weigh what is really important and when it's time to keep moving
    ahead.  Sometimes letting go is the hardest part.  Sometimes it's
    also the best thing for everyone.
    
    I'm glad you made it, Lou.  It's good you have another fresh start...
    
    Wishing you well,
    Barb
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
1067.8time to move onSWAM2::SIMKINS_GIFri Sep 07 1990 17:1828
    Definitely a scary experience.  Glad you are o.k.  I would just like to
    say two things:
    
    1.  Did you consider writing the airline and FAA to notify them of the
    reality of trying to get off a packed airplane with a group of panicked
    people?  Who would ever think people would hold up the aisles to get
    their baggage and endanger other's lives (at the time they probably did
    not consider this)?  This should be brought to the airlines and
    authorities attention and maybe they can make it standard to include
    "exit immediately, do not attempt to retrieve your baggage" or
    something like that.  We never hear this side of this sort of tragedy
    and it could have caused others to die in other airline tragedies and
    no one knows.
    
    2.  As someone who also was at the hands of someone who I loved very
    much and they did the hurting, as time goes on and you become more
    objective, so maybe you will always be hurt but if you care can you
    accept them anyway?  Can you forgive them?  Can you do this and accept
    that they may not respond or give you anything in return?  Then again
    it may give them peace of mind.  I didn't take the time to do this with
    this person.  They died 7 years ago.  Now it is too late.  And now it
    seems so foolish all the bad feelings that went on.  Were they really
    that important?  Not to me anymore, not when it comes to the finality
    of no turning back, no chance to ever tell the person you forgive them,
    to go on with their life and to wish them well in their endeavors.
    
    Thanks for the interesting story.  Good luck
      
1067.9Feeling better after getting this out!OAKISL::JUDICEQuite indefatigable.Fri Sep 07 1990 17:4423
    
    Thanks, everyone, for the interesting comments...  
    
    To answer a couple of questions, there were definitely no announcements
    about leaving luggage behind. It truly amazed me that people would even
    *think* about luggage, especially since if they looked backward they 
    would see that we were on fire! Had there been smoke in the cabin I 
    can't imagine what would have happpened. I don't think the crew was
    really in control of the situation, but as I said, the pilot sounded
    like he was REALLY scared about what was going on!
    
    I agree that a letter to the airline, FAA and NTSB is in order. I
    didn't mention the airline name before (although if you saw this on
    the news last week you know which one it was). I didn't think it was 
    relevent to the story though, but if you want to know, I'd be glad
    to comply. 
    
    As I've thought more about this and listened to you readers, I've
    also realized that it makes the most sense to channel energy towards
    positive things - and not go reopening old wounds, even though it seems
    in some ways like the right thing to do... 
    
    Lou