Anyone ever been in a plane/ship/train disaster ?
Discussion
Hmmm ...
Firstly let me say I have read everything in this thread with lots of interest.
I have been in 2 helicopter crashes, been shot at, done CPR for real (unsuccessfully), crashed, burned, nearly drowned and still come out the other side.
But strangely as it might seem tonight I was responsible for 223 lives and for the first time had to declare a PAN - which is one down from a MAY DAY. So sitting here now coming down from my 'high' I had to read this thread. And despite the fact that I have more dramatic stories to tell feel I may as well get this one off my chest now.
So ... (it is really a non event but the adrenaline is still flowing).
Flying a 757 back from the Canaries and very late on in the approach we have a situation to deal with. The strong crosswinds and limited alternative courses of action (time=fuel) meant quick thinking was the order of the day. Air Traffic Control, Cabin Crew and Passengers were all brilliant. Approach and landing would probably appear almost normal to the casual observer but my heart was racing.
Still, I am at home now sitting in front of my computer with a purring cat on my lap. Phew!
Thoughts are with all you guys with stories to tell.
Firstly let me say I have read everything in this thread with lots of interest.
I have been in 2 helicopter crashes, been shot at, done CPR for real (unsuccessfully), crashed, burned, nearly drowned and still come out the other side.
But strangely as it might seem tonight I was responsible for 223 lives and for the first time had to declare a PAN - which is one down from a MAY DAY. So sitting here now coming down from my 'high' I had to read this thread. And despite the fact that I have more dramatic stories to tell feel I may as well get this one off my chest now.
So ... (it is really a non event but the adrenaline is still flowing).
Flying a 757 back from the Canaries and very late on in the approach we have a situation to deal with. The strong crosswinds and limited alternative courses of action (time=fuel) meant quick thinking was the order of the day. Air Traffic Control, Cabin Crew and Passengers were all brilliant. Approach and landing would probably appear almost normal to the casual observer but my heart was racing.
Still, I am at home now sitting in front of my computer with a purring cat on my lap. Phew!
Thoughts are with all you guys with stories to tell.
Another close shave here, me and the OH at the time decided to go into Manchester to do some shopping, but when we got there we couldn't find a parking space, so turned around to go somewhere else. Before we got back home, (about 7 miles) the IRA had re-arranged the Manchester Arndale Centre.
Turned out a friend of ours was on duty as a Paramedic that day, and was sent into the centre of the area around the bomb blast, to look for injured people. He was dreading coming across his wife and kids, who were also in Manchester that day.
Turned out a friend of ours was on duty as a Paramedic that day, and was sent into the centre of the area around the bomb blast, to look for injured people. He was dreading coming across his wife and kids, who were also in Manchester that day.
jackal said:
what happened ?
just reaching the point of no return on a flight from NY to Manchester when an engine developed a fuel leak - it was two weeks after this = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/63235.stmCoincidentally we were flying a DC10 with Continental they insisted that original plane had been grounded, hmm same plane same fault only now at 30,000ft hours from anywhere. That was the second longest flight I've ever spent, the plane was deadly silent. Over reaction? Well considering we landed safely then yes but what was annoying was we spent the next 5 hours sat in the same plane on the runway whilst they fixed the fault then sent us on our merry way. That then became the longest flight.
When you look at what happend recently in Spain I feel we got off very lightly and am amazed the company allowed the plane to fly.
R1_NUR said:
Hmmm ...
Firstly let me say I have read everything in this thread with lots of interest.
I have been in 2 helicopter crashes, been shot at, done CPR for real (unsuccessfully), crashed, burned, nearly drowned and still come out the other side.
But strangely as it might seem tonight I was responsible for 223 lives and for the first time had to declare a PAN - which is one down from a MAY DAY. So sitting here now coming down from my 'high' I had to read this thread. And despite the fact that I have more dramatic stories to tell feel I may as well get this one off my chest now.
So ... (it is really a non event but the adrenaline is still flowing).
Flying a 757 back from the Canaries and very late on in the approach we have a situation to deal with. The strong crosswinds and limited alternative courses of action (time=fuel) meant quick thinking was the order of the day. Air Traffic Control, Cabin Crew and Passengers were all brilliant. Approach and landing would probably appear almost normal to the casual observer but my heart was racing.
Still, I am at home now sitting in front of my computer with a purring cat on my lap. Phew!
Thoughts are with all you guys with stories to tell.
Nice result! Had the pleasure of being on a plane sent to take off too soon after a 747 hand just landed or took off. Either way we were caught in its wake which resulted in a sharp change of direction with cabin crew knocked onto their arses and luggage out of overhead bins - only time I've seen a stewardess say the words oh sFirstly let me say I have read everything in this thread with lots of interest.
I have been in 2 helicopter crashes, been shot at, done CPR for real (unsuccessfully), crashed, burned, nearly drowned and still come out the other side.
But strangely as it might seem tonight I was responsible for 223 lives and for the first time had to declare a PAN - which is one down from a MAY DAY. So sitting here now coming down from my 'high' I had to read this thread. And despite the fact that I have more dramatic stories to tell feel I may as well get this one off my chest now.
So ... (it is really a non event but the adrenaline is still flowing).
Flying a 757 back from the Canaries and very late on in the approach we have a situation to deal with. The strong crosswinds and limited alternative courses of action (time=fuel) meant quick thinking was the order of the day. Air Traffic Control, Cabin Crew and Passengers were all brilliant. Approach and landing would probably appear almost normal to the casual observer but my heart was racing.
Still, I am at home now sitting in front of my computer with a purring cat on my lap. Phew!
Thoughts are with all you guys with stories to tell.
t!Few years back was having a few quiet beers in "The Three Greyhounds" when the boozer over the road went "Bang"
That was "The Admiral Duncan" that the mad nail bomber targeted.
Front windows gone and lots of glass everywhere, was not a pleasant day.
Being brought up in Central London in the 70's and 80's (like a fair few other PH'ers) I have been close enough to plenty of IRA incidents, but that was the only time i was ever in physically in the blast area.
That was "The Admiral Duncan" that the mad nail bomber targeted.
Front windows gone and lots of glass everywhere, was not a pleasant day.
Being brought up in Central London in the 70's and 80's (like a fair few other PH'ers) I have been close enough to plenty of IRA incidents, but that was the only time i was ever in physically in the blast area.
Flying from Orlando to Gatwick back in 1996 on Laker Airways when the plane developed engine troubles.
It was kept very quiet from the passengers however we could hear everything the flight crew were saying/sobbing to each other and we could also see on the screens in the headrest infront of us that the plane had be turned around which they neglicted to tell us. Eventually they let on that the Pilot wasn't happy about something and wanted to get back to Orlando as we hadn't yet passed the point of no return.
Anyway when we finally landed they declared that it was a loose bit of covering by the engine and we'd be back in the air in no time at all...which ofcourse we would have believed if we hadn't been watching them unload all of our cases whilst a group of engineers stood on ladders by the engine shaking their heads and calling colleages over to take a look at whatever the problem was.
Laker Airways were superb about the whole thing. Once we were off the plane and re-united with our luggage we were told that we would be on the spare plane and on our way as soon as possible but unfortunately that wouldn't happen until 10am the next morning which was a 14 hour wait. I began preparing myself for a night of mayhem in the airport terminal when they announced that the whole flight had been booked into a variety of 4 star hotels FOC and Dinner, Breakfast and anything else we buy upto a value of $40 per person would be covered by them.
Pretty nice I thought!
It was kept very quiet from the passengers however we could hear everything the flight crew were saying/sobbing to each other and we could also see on the screens in the headrest infront of us that the plane had be turned around which they neglicted to tell us. Eventually they let on that the Pilot wasn't happy about something and wanted to get back to Orlando as we hadn't yet passed the point of no return.
Anyway when we finally landed they declared that it was a loose bit of covering by the engine and we'd be back in the air in no time at all...which ofcourse we would have believed if we hadn't been watching them unload all of our cases whilst a group of engineers stood on ladders by the engine shaking their heads and calling colleages over to take a look at whatever the problem was.
Laker Airways were superb about the whole thing. Once we were off the plane and re-united with our luggage we were told that we would be on the spare plane and on our way as soon as possible but unfortunately that wouldn't happen until 10am the next morning which was a 14 hour wait. I began preparing myself for a night of mayhem in the airport terminal when they announced that the whole flight had been booked into a variety of 4 star hotels FOC and Dinner, Breakfast and anything else we buy upto a value of $40 per person would be covered by them.
Pretty nice I thought!
Was at my folks place in Torrevieja in Spain about 4 years ago, had a chinese at about 10:30 pm which was across the road from a burger bar/kebab place (narrow spanishy street).
Woke the next morning with a reporter standing next to the table I was sat at not 8 hrs previous reporting on the news that ETA had bombed the burger place! No fatalities but very weird all the same.
Woke the next morning with a reporter standing next to the table I was sat at not 8 hrs previous reporting on the news that ETA had bombed the burger place! No fatalities but very weird all the same.
We live just at the end of Biggin Hill runway with a field between the end of our garden and the runway. A few years ago a DeHavilland Vampire crashed during the air show. We had just left the field but heard the impact and were the first on the scene. I was only about 13 at the time but my dad and uncle recovered the remains of the pilot.
Also about eight years ago I was out on my dad's boat at Southampton, having just left Town Quay passing the river Itchen a sea plane crashed ahead of us. Apparently it was a demonstration flight and the mayor and a number of other people were killed. We helped to recover a few survivors before we were ordered to stay back
Also about eight years ago I was out on my dad's boat at Southampton, having just left Town Quay passing the river Itchen a sea plane crashed ahead of us. Apparently it was a demonstration flight and the mayor and a number of other people were killed. We helped to recover a few survivors before we were ordered to stay back
odyssey2200 said:
We sailed into ZeeBrugge about a month after the Herald Of Free Enterprise disaster.
Seeing the ship on TV does not prepare you for the sheer size of the thing laying on its side in the water.
What it must have been like to be on it is unimaginable.
Interesting.Seeing the ship on TV does not prepare you for the sheer size of the thing laying on its side in the water.
What it must have been like to be on it is unimaginable.
Me and a load of mates sailed into Zeebrugge about 2 weeks before the Herald disaster in a force 8 gale. I've never been so sick in all my life. If you stood on the top deck, you could see the ship really pitching and rolling.
About a mile out of port they opened the bow doors and there was a little water coming over the doors. Didn't think much about it at the time, then 2 weeks later it all came in to focus.
EDIT: Went in to the newsagent on West Quay at Canary Wharf on the day of the bombing there, because I parked my car just up on Marsh Wall. Was walking up Broadgate when I heard the bang and thought it was building works. Got to Canary Wharf and it was bedlam. Couldn't get the car for a few days.
Very sad - the guys who ran the newsagents were your typical, friendly happy go lucky blokes. They didn't deserve to die like that.
Edited by GregE240 on Tuesday 21st October 12:08
When I was very young (we're talking pre-school here, would've been 4 at the oldest) I was sitting on the back of a bus that was involved in a pretty big motorway smash with a lorry. I'm not sure if anyone was killed but there were definitely some pretty nasty injuries, as all I remember of it was being escorted off the coach by my Mum, who was shielding my eyes from the mess at the front of the bus, and the driver being stretchered into an ambulance. I seem to recall it made the local paper at the time (mid-late '80s).
chukka64 said:
Was one of the first on the scene at Lockerbie. Words cannot express the carnage. Whenever I'm asked about 'how they looked' I use the following. Imagine someone being sat down minding their own business when a explosion tears a hole in the side of the aircraft. The aircraft disintegrates in flames and they fall 6 miles through the air and bounce across the Scottish hillside or land in trees, on fences, on houses etc etc........thats what they looked like.
It is an image that will live with me and I'm sure many others for the rest of my life. Military counselling at the time was a case of 40 people sitting in a lecture room with one, very ill at ease, counsellor asking "right then, anyone got a problem with that?". Strangely, nobody said a word.
This was all just a couple of days before my 18th birthday.
Editted to say, some of the 'press' on scene were a 'kin disgrace. I don't know who they were or who they were reporters for. I know at times that soldiers and the press have had their differences. However, shoving a recording device in someones face and asking them if they were enjoying themselves presumably to provoke a reaction is just not on.
There were looters having a field day up there, my patrol found cash, pharmaceuticals (sp?) and most harrowing, wrapped up christmas presents etc. Everything was bagged and tagged. I saw only one guy take anything and that was a guy, who previously didnt smoke taking a pack of 'gallouise' ciggies off a body and sparking one up with the comment "guess she won't miss them".
Four members of my family were on flight 103.It is an image that will live with me and I'm sure many others for the rest of my life. Military counselling at the time was a case of 40 people sitting in a lecture room with one, very ill at ease, counsellor asking "right then, anyone got a problem with that?". Strangely, nobody said a word.
This was all just a couple of days before my 18th birthday.
Editted to say, some of the 'press' on scene were a 'kin disgrace. I don't know who they were or who they were reporters for. I know at times that soldiers and the press have had their differences. However, shoving a recording device in someones face and asking them if they were enjoying themselves presumably to provoke a reaction is just not on.
There were looters having a field day up there, my patrol found cash, pharmaceuticals (sp?) and most harrowing, wrapped up christmas presents etc. Everything was bagged and tagged. I saw only one guy take anything and that was a guy, who previously didnt smoke taking a pack of 'gallouise' ciggies off a body and sparking one up with the comment "guess she won't miss them".
They were murdered 20 years ago this December.
I wish I hadn't read what you said about what some of the people did at the scene. Lets hope people they love aren't murdered in cold blood. Especially 8 & 9 year old girls & their parents.
chukka64 said:
Was one of the first on the scene at Lockerbie. Words cannot express the carnage. Whenever I'm asked about 'how they looked' I use the following. Imagine someone being sat down minding their own business when a explosion tears a hole in the side of the aircraft. The aircraft disintegrates in flames and they fall 6 miles through the air and bounce across the Scottish hillside or land in trees, on fences, on houses etc etc........thats what they looked like.
It is an image that will live with me and I'm sure many others for the rest of my life. Military counselling at the time was a case of 40 people sitting in a lecture room with one, very ill at ease, counsellor asking "right then, anyone got a problem with that?". Strangely, nobody said a word.
This was all just a couple of days before my 18th birthday.
Editted to say, some of the 'press' on scene were a 'kin disgrace. I don't know who they were or who they were reporters for. I know at times that soldiers and the press have had their differences. However, shoving a recording device in someones face and asking them if they were enjoying themselves presumably to provoke a reaction is just not on.
There were looters having a field day up there, my patrol found cash, pharmaceuticals (sp?) and most harrowing, wrapped up christmas presents etc. Everything was bagged and tagged. I saw only one guy take anything and that was a guy, who previously didnt smoke taking a pack of 'gallouise' ciggies off a body and sparking one up with the comment "guess she won't miss them".
My dad was as well.It is an image that will live with me and I'm sure many others for the rest of my life. Military counselling at the time was a case of 40 people sitting in a lecture room with one, very ill at ease, counsellor asking "right then, anyone got a problem with that?". Strangely, nobody said a word.
This was all just a couple of days before my 18th birthday.
Editted to say, some of the 'press' on scene were a 'kin disgrace. I don't know who they were or who they were reporters for. I know at times that soldiers and the press have had their differences. However, shoving a recording device in someones face and asking them if they were enjoying themselves presumably to provoke a reaction is just not on.
There were looters having a field day up there, my patrol found cash, pharmaceuticals (sp?) and most harrowing, wrapped up christmas presents etc. Everything was bagged and tagged. I saw only one guy take anything and that was a guy, who previously didnt smoke taking a pack of 'gallouise' ciggies off a body and sparking one up with the comment "guess she won't miss them".
He has some horrifying stories (of which I won't share on here as they are far too upsetting, even more so for people involved.) as he was one of the first air crash investigators on the ground there.
On a lighter note, he was chatting with an FBI guy there who had a Canon digital camera (a test unit)and a satellite internet link to send the pictures back to Langley, straight away.
My dad said he was absolutely mesmerised by it!
Nicol@ said:
20 years ago this coming Tuesday, I was set to go on a cruise ship around the Med. on a school trip. It ended up being the only and shortest cruise of my life.
I was due to be on this ship the following week, also on a school trip - it was rearranged on a different ship some weeks later but I decided not to bother!En-route to Goa landed in Bahrain....on landing tyre blew (don't which one and couldn't've given a fck!)....that was a bit scary but plane stopped OK and managed to taxi to dock...
Flew to Mallorca two years ago and flew through a storm, plane had a bit of turbluance which was OK, but then it just dropped, people in the isle were thrown off their feet and over head lockers opened...and then it was over, as quick as it began....but the plane was silent for the remainder of the flight!!!
Landed at EMA this year on way back from Antalya...pilot landed about halfway down the runway and REALLY had to anchor on, so hard the drinks trolley flew out of its holder at the back and spilt its contents....he made a sharp left off the runway whilst still breaking hard.....scary but funny....
Flew to Mallorca two years ago and flew through a storm, plane had a bit of turbluance which was OK, but then it just dropped, people in the isle were thrown off their feet and over head lockers opened...and then it was over, as quick as it began....but the plane was silent for the remainder of the flight!!!
Landed at EMA this year on way back from Antalya...pilot landed about halfway down the runway and REALLY had to anchor on, so hard the drinks trolley flew out of its holder at the back and spilt its contents....he made a sharp left off the runway whilst still breaking hard.....scary but funny....
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