04-10-2005, 09:50 PM
The Fateful Flight
I tried to concentrate on the colorful buttons on the black control box in front of me. I held the steering handle tightly in order to avoid jerking of the plane. I could not help myself from thinking that the lives of more than three hundred people’s lives were depending on me. A single silly mistake could result into a great disaster.
I could not think anymore and took the microphone and started to contact the control tower. It was my fifth try. And just like my initial four attempts, this one also failed. I put the microphone by my side. My eyes surfed the whole cockpit but they did not notice any sign of living beings. Just a while ago my co-pilot had fainted like some other passengers and cabin-crews who ate fish for supper. So he was taken away from the cockpit. Fortunately, I am a vegetarian and did not eat fish and stayed fit physically but my mental state did not support the entire condition – I was scared. I was all alone thinking of a way to get out of this horrible storm.
The harsh buffets of wind were hitting us from every direction. The airplane was engulfed in the dark sea of thunderclouds. Even the heavy drove of the engines was covered by the hectic noise of the raging storm.
I was not able to concentrate on flying for long. My head was spinning like a multicolored top. I told the head airhostess to get some aspirins for me. She gave me the pills and a glass of water. She did not say anything but her facial expression clearly showed that how scared she was. I tried to reassure her that very soon I would be able to land safely. I was not confident enough myself but I was remembering my trainer’s words, “You make the failure complete, when you stop trying.” I did not stop trying!
I tried my best to control the plane from performing aerobatics in the air. It seemed as if the huge aircraft was changed into a paper plane that was continuously changing its direction because of the force given by wind. The storm obviously did not have any intention of concluding its violence.
The storm’s nature became a little better. Slowly, it came to a halt and I felt very relieved. I took the microphone once again and contacted the control tower. This time my luck favored and I received the signals. I told the authority to get ready the airstrip as fast as they could. For the almighty one’s sake, I managed to land safely.
I took a long vacation to get rid of the nightmare I had had before landing the plane. It surely took much time to make me feel comfortable again to fly.