It was fine 2nd May 2019, Thursday morning
but quite different from other days as I was going to catch the domestic flight
in KSA, Dammam to Yanbu to meet my parents. I was going to travel alone within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The ticket is an already book from Flynas
airlines. I was excited to explore my trip. All preparations for shopping to
packing are complete, and I got ready before time. I performed my prayers,
settled everything in the house for other family members so they would not feel
any problem in my absence. Now I wanted to talk to all my close ones desperately
before leaving the house and keep messaging them to share my excitement about
my trip and to make wishes before traveling.
I messaged one of a close friend to call me
whenever she gets free. To tease me, she wrote that she had already given her
best wishes yesterday and now she is not free enough. It disappointed me and I
wrote her in my desperation that there are so many airlines that are stopping
because of financial issues and crashing because of maintenance issues…. Still,
are you sure that you don't want to talk to me before taking off? A very next
moment I receive her call and she scold for talking such negative things. We
talked for 5 minutes and I felt charged. Now, it was time to leave for the
airport.
On being Indian and spending so many years in
this kingdom, I am so much comfortable with climate, atmosphere, people,
language that it becomes a second home for me. I was damn excited and my mood
was on cloud number nine, feeling like a bird that is setting her wings before
flying.
I got dropped at the airport before an hour
and after all formalities of check-in of airlines; they sent me for boarding.
I find welcoming crew members with afternoon
wish they showed me my seat 14 D. At first glance of flight’s passengers’ I saw
at my right-side one Saudi girl, her age seems around 17-18, a Philippine man
around 25-30 at left side with distance, on back 4-5 Indian men in total flight
seems going on official tour as they were in office’s uniform, a teenager girls
group on school tour and rest are Saudi families with children. There is no
familiar face at all. Still, I was feeling so happy to absorb this new
traveling experience of mine.
I settled my hand-baggage in the
baggage-cabin and sit on my seat. After a formal announcement, aircraft moved
towards the runway, I was trying to see outside as it's already 30 minutes and
the flight is not taking off. After a few minutes they announced that there is
some problem in the engine and they are checking it, they would take the flight
off when everything would be fine, so they told passengers' to remain seated on
their seats and keep patience during that. The airplane flies back to the
airport and some checking by experts started.
After an hour of restless, we were happy that
aircraft is perfect now and we are going to take off in a few minutes.
Everything seems normal till now.
I informed my close ones by messaging about
the takeoff before putting my mobile on flight mode.
In a few minutes, we were in the air
surrounded by beautiful white cotton-like clouds. It is so pleasant and calming
moment, I slowly close my eyes to absorb that ecstasy and to relax in this two
hours air journey.
Suddenly, I heard screaming of people around
me and opened my eyes. I saw crew members are rushing towards a few passengers,
giving them water and requesting them to keep calm.
One air hostess is telling Philippine man
seating my left side, to take breath properly and try to stay calm, girl next
to me is praying by opening her palm. It is panic, anxiety and stressful
atmosphere around me. Few were asking questions and few were going through
panic attacks like breathing problems and screaming out of fear. Few started
reciting Almighty’s name and Ayats, which is to recite before death. I realized
that our aircraft is on a roller-coaster ride and nothing is normal inside.
A male air hostess started announcing to tie
seat belts, remove shoes, remove sharp things around ourselves, close
baggage-cabin, showing us all exits, and fold your body by keeping head down
and hold neck by your hands from behind and be ready for a crash landing.
‘Crash landing’ the word bangs in my head…
I called to one of the air hostesses who seem
gentle with everyone and rushing close to me; I saw her name on the batch
Victoria.
I asked, ‘why our aircraft needs the crash
landing?’
She said, there is some problem in engine
because we can't fly further and so we came back to Dammam Airport where we had
takeoff but because tires are not opening while trying to land so we have to go
through crash landing, now keep your head down and hold your neck' She gave me
instructions like a soldier on duty.
I looked at her surprise that life is equally
important for her still she and other crew members are performing their duty
instead of screaming to see death close to them.
The voice of the male air host is
overpowering the atmosphere to tie for seat-beat, bend the body, head down, and
hold the neck, I followed all instructions. Screaming of passengers is creating
a horrifying atmosphere inside the aircraft, but I don't want to hug death in
such a fearful way.
Now my all family members, friends, people of
my life started flashing in my mind and I bid goodbye to them silently from
inside. And felt this is the time to join Almighty in a few minutes. I looked
around fearful people and then outside the window by which I can see falling
towards land. I prayed to my Almighty for forgiveness and started reciting
slowly those words that are told to recite before death, and I become ready to
surrender myself for my end chosen by my airlines.
Now all crew members went to their seats and
tied their seatbelts, and that male air host is still shouting and instructing
the passengers' to bend for their body, head down, and hold your neck. I give
the last look to the outside the window where we are close to land.
Suddenly, we heard an announcement.
‘Dear passengers, please relax airplane’s
tires are now open and we are ready for normal landing within a minute’. The
announcement was pleasant to hear but not believable, as all passengers are still
shouting and screaming in the same state of mind.
Flight became close to land and with a high
sound of bang tires of flight had touched the land and now it is running on the
runway.
Ah… I am still alive! I smiled with this
thought and thanked Almighty for his kindness.
Now those who were screaming out of fear
started clapping and thanking God and also congratulated each other for
surviving from an accident.
The flight stopped, and I again started
thinking about so many people in my life whom I love and I can meet again. I
want to call everyone and to say thanks for your love and prayers that kept me
safe and calm in the panic period.
Now it's time to get down from the flight and
absorb all that shock by which we went through. It adds one more adventurous
and hilarious chapter in my life's book, and I am happy that I am alive to
narrate that.
Now few passengers wanted to go back instead
of traveling again, few were demanding another aircraft for the same journey,
but airlines make them waiting till their next announcement. I called all my
loved ones to tell about my wellbeing.
After 8 hours of waiting, the same aircraft
is ready after fixing the software problem; almost 80% of passengers took their
money back and went. I was a bit confused to travel again with that defective
aircraft, I called my friend and asked, 'Should I go back home or travel
further?'
‘No one dies before death, so don’t worry and
go ahead,’ she said and laughed.
Her love and words gave me energy and boosted
my confidence, I trusted Almighty and all those prayers which always travel
with me so I stayed strong to travel by the same aircraft.
I saw the same crew members more gentle and
humble and the few brave passengers who had flown again with the same aircraft,
giving best wishes to each other.
This time I traveled safely and reached my
destination with more joy, more love, more life and with more positivity for my
loved ones, and more wisdom in my new life. I wish all a pleasant journey of
life, be fearless, love and enjoy every bite of life. Stay blessed.
