Well This is Frightening…

I won’t be flying anytime soon. I said a few weeks ago it’s not safe now to do.

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Heartlander · 80-89, M

If I can address the comparative safety between flying in an airplane and driving a car, the usual comparative about flying being far safer is only partially correct. Yes, as measured in miles traveled, flying is safer; BUT if measured by time in an airplane Vs time in a car, the auto is safer. At least that was the case a few years ago, the last I checked. Judging from the finer details in most life insurance policies with wording like "except when acting as a member of a flight crew" the car is probably still safer.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Heartlander I’ve been in car wrecks and have been on a plane in an emergency landing and the time it takes to turn a plane around after smelling an unusual odor and getting it back to the airport is just about long enough to have a heart attack and die from the damned stress. Getting too old to take that risk.

Heartlander · 80-89, M

@cherokeepatti Did they ever determine the cause of the odor.? If it smells like dirty socks it's the water separator in the air conditioning system freezing over. If it's like burnt rubber it's likely some electronics component overheating. If it smells like WD40 it's a high pressure hydraulic leak. The last two, and anything else could be good cause to land ASAP. .

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Heartlander They wouldn’t tell us anything. When they first announced they were turning back they said that the flight attendants smelled an odor and it was stronger than the normal take-off flight odor you smell when a plane takes off. We were sitting towards the back and could smell it as well. Some were speculating that it could have been a hydaulic fluid leak….and that could be bad considering we were flying from Dallas to Las Angeles. So we turned back. Foamer trucks with lights flashing met us as we landed. I think they have to do an investigation before they release a cause. It sure didn’t take long to get us boarded on another plane, and they put on a good show for us checking it over while we were waiting. Only took 30 minutes and then we were well on our way.

Heartlander · 80-89, M

@cherokeepatti There is always a risk of something in the cargo compartment burning or leaking. Even if an act of sabotage, I don’t feel confident that that information would be released to the public.