When you don’t want to be part of the news!
What started as a routine flight from Doha quickly turned into a nightmare 2 hours later. One moment, I was comfortably scrolling through the channels to decide what to watch; the next, the plane dropped unexpectedly – just a free fall for about 10 seconds. The cabin filled with gasps and screams, as passengers and crew were jolted out of their seats while food was being served. For a few heart-stopping moments, we were all acutely aware of our fragility.
Thankfully, the pilots regained control, the air crew continued the service (Thank you Qatar Airways – you have awesome staff!) and we landed safely 5 hours later.
Our flight made the news, and while the headlines focused on the turbulence and the injured passengers, they couldn’t capture the personal turmoil and fear that each passenger experienced.
The incident was a stark reminder of how quickly life can change and how little control we sometimes have. I have reflected over this in the last 24 hours since this incident and have 4 learnings:
1. Life is unpredictable – cherish every moment and make the most of it.
2. Be prepared – while we can’t foresee every challenge, being physically and mentally prepared for unexpected situations can make a difference. Also, wearing a seat belt helps – in a car, in a plane and wherever else they are provided!
3. Empathy and Support – human connections are always useful but they are priceless in moments of crisis. The camaraderie and support among passengers and crew during and after the incident was heartwarming!
4. I don’t want to be part of the news when I am flying! I’d rather have boring and uneventful flights.
Pic – I took this pic just after takeoff. It shows another plane that had just taken off (and is unrelated to the incident). Hope that plane had a safe and uneventful flight!
