A Scary Flight and Learnings for Life.
The flight home from Delhi last evening ran into bad weather and had to be diverted to a neighboring city. Spent a couple of hours waiting inside the plane parked on the termac till conditions improved and the flight finally took off for my home city and i reached home in the early morning hours of today in place of yesterday night.
It is not unusual for flight landings to be bumpy at this time of the year at my home city. These are premonsoon times and the summer heat causes low pressure pockets and evening thunderstorms.
But yesterday was different. Firstly I hadnt taken the usual beer that lulls me to sleep and enjoy the swaying motions before landing. I had taken a black coffee which kept me awake and alert. Secondly, the storm was too severe and the plane was tossing around like a leaf. Not just up down, but sideways as well. I was seriously worried and thanked the pilot personally for the decision to divert and not to land.Even the pilot admitted he had never seen anything so severe and even much larger planes on international flights , which can take turbulence much better, chose to divert.
Such tensions also give an excellent opportunity to socialise. Usually we dont talk a word to strangers on flights, but yesterday everyone had so much to say to each other. Sharing past experiences, discussing jobs and careers and getting acquainted, showing phone screens with news of other diverted flights and the storm updates.
Life gives us new experiences just when we think we know it all. 😇
It is not unusual for flight landings to be bumpy at this time of the year at my home city. These are premonsoon times and the summer heat causes low pressure pockets and evening thunderstorms.
But yesterday was different. Firstly I hadnt taken the usual beer that lulls me to sleep and enjoy the swaying motions before landing. I had taken a black coffee which kept me awake and alert. Secondly, the storm was too severe and the plane was tossing around like a leaf. Not just up down, but sideways as well. I was seriously worried and thanked the pilot personally for the decision to divert and not to land.Even the pilot admitted he had never seen anything so severe and even much larger planes on international flights , which can take turbulence much better, chose to divert.
Such tensions also give an excellent opportunity to socialise. Usually we dont talk a word to strangers on flights, but yesterday everyone had so much to say to each other. Sharing past experiences, discussing jobs and careers and getting acquainted, showing phone screens with news of other diverted flights and the storm updates.
Life gives us new experiences just when we think we know it all. 😇
56-60, M
