An Adventure in the Air

Editor's note: A British Airways pilot narrowly averted disaster on Thursday by landing a plane of 136 passengers safely after the airliner flew only feet above cars on the street. AC on Friday asked Content Producers to submit their first-person stories of airplane near-misses.

I was about 7 ½ yrs old back in 1982 or 1983 & I was going to fly from Mississippi to Connecticut for a visit with my grandparents. I was so excited and a little scared because I was going to fly alone. Times were different very different in the early 80's and it was common for young children to fly alone.

The flight there went well. I remember feeling special because a pretty stewardess got to escort me onto the airplane; I got to visit the pilot and even received a special pin of wings to pin to my shirt. I can't forget to share that I even got the window seat! I was glad I didn't have to fight my little sister for it!

I had a wonderful visit with my grandparents and soon it was time to fly back home. I don't remember being scared as I got back onto the plane. I met a boy who was also flying by himself and we talked some before the flight took off. But not long into the flight something went wrong.

I remember hearing an announcement about losing an engine. Even at the young age of 7 I knew that an engine was important. I also seem to remember hearing us losing 2 other engines too. I am not positive about this but kind of remember hearing how our plane had only 1 working engine out of 4.

I was taken from my seat to sit with a man. The little boy who was also flying alone got paired up with another adult also. The man I was sitting with talked to me some and told me how we were going to land in Washington DC.

A stewardess got up and showed us how we were sit for the emergency landing. We were told to put our heads between our legs like touching our toes but to grab our ankles or to brace ourselves on the seat in front of us. I remember trying each one out and I liked touching the seat in front of me better so I could see what was going on around me.

The man next to me explained how the landing may be bumpy or we may hit hard. That scared me some but I don't remember it being bumpy at all.