We'll never forget Christmas 2014 thanks to our journey through three times zones and an unexpected landing in New Mexico.
The day started in the Central time zone as we started our journey back to California. There were so few people at the Memphis Airport that the TSA employees were super chatty about their Christmas plans. It almost seemed like they weren't really paying that much attention to screening luggage and carry on bags.
We flew from Memphis to Atlanta (time zone two) and had a two-hour layover that gave us time to eat a relaxing lunch. We boarded the plane for Los Angeles to head home for Christmas night.
Does this sound like a routine flying day to you? Yes, it was a normal/boring day. It also goes to show you how a day can turn from boring to scary in an instant.
We were flying on a Delta Airlines 767. A large plane filled with 200 people heading home to Los Angeles as well as a variety of folks on their way to Northern California, Paris and a handful of other destinations. We were already past Albuquerque when the Captain came on the loudspeaker and announced we needed to make a emergency landing in Albuquerque due to "a security issue that needed to be taken care of immediately". He also mentioned we needed more fuel for the flight home due to doubling back to Albuquerque. We would be landing in New Mexico in about 20 minutes so we were advised to "sit back, relax and prepare for landing". We were also asked to stay in our seats and not get up until otherwise told by the flight crew.
You could see the instant "oh crap" look on the faces of the passengers.
I was three rows in front of Dana and Zach. I couldn't see them but knew I wanted to check on them. Before I could get up, one of the flight attendants came by my seat. I was next to a kid in his early 20's who politely asked the attendant how long the stop was going to last. The attendant looked at us and said "it all depends on how long it takes to get it off the plane".
"It"??????
I don't normally talk to strangers next to me on a plane but the kid and I launched into a conversation about "it".
***Was there someone on board with a gun or bomb?
***Were we being hijacked? Would we end up in a tropical destination or a dictatorship?
***Did someone call in a bomb threat?
***Was someone threatening to shoot us out of the sky?
***Did some threaten to fly the plane into a building?
***Will our flight be another mysterious disappearance?
***We flew out of Atlanta so was it a drunk rapper causing the problems?
All I knew was I needed to check on Dana and Zach. I got up acting like I was heading to the bathroom and made a beeline to their row. There wasn't much time to talk since we were about to land. We made sure each of us was okay and said "I love you" to each other. I headed back to my seat to await the landing.
The flight attendants strapped in for the landing and dropped their smiles as they settled into their seats in the back of the plane. It was the first time I saw them show concern about the situation.
Family members were holding hands across the aisle and parents did their best to keep their kids calm and quiet.
The plane touched down and the pilot reminded us to remain in our seats. Everyone did just that as they turned on their cell phones to update loved ones. Dana and I texted back and forth as I filled her in on the phrase "it all depends on how long it takes to get it off the plane".
We were seated WAY in the back of the plane which added to the stress of the situation. We had no idea what was happening in the front that was causing the emergency landing. All we could see was a flurry of activity and people moving up and down the front aisle of the plane.
It turns out a passenger in first class was being disruptive and making threats on the plane. One of the attendants told us they gave the passenger three or four warnings before the pilot decided to take action and make the emergency landing. The authorities boarded the plane and arrested the disruptive passenger. They took him away for questioning by the FBI. According to various news websites, he was investigated but not charged with any crimes. The same flight attendant also shared the fact the passenger seemed wasted on drugs and completely out of it.
Can you see me waving at you from the plane?
After the passenger was removed from the plane, the pilot came on the loudspeaker and filled us in on the situation. He gave everyone permission to get up and walk around while the plane was being fueled and prepared to fly to Los Angeles.
I've been stuck on planes where no one could get out of their seats during emergency stops so it was a nice change of pace. Once when I lived in Memphis, I was flying back to town in a plane that had to make a emergency stop in Nashville. The stop was so bumpy and terror filled that I walked off with my carry on luggage and proceeded to the rental car companies. I rented a car and drove back to Memphis. If Albuquerque wasn't so far from Los Angeles, I would have done the same thing and rented a car to get home.
After a 90 minute wait, we were finally able to take off for home. Almost.
Our plane had to taxi to the other side of the airport to find a runway big enough for the plane to depart. It turns out that Albuquerque doesn't get planes that large on a regular basis so they weren't sure if we could safely take off from the airport.
Once we were in the air everyone was still on edge. There were so many people that missed their connecting flights, as well as Christmas dinner with their families, that the entire flight was filled with a grumpy group of people.
I don't think I've ever been so happy to see LAX (third time zone). We were one of the last passengers to get off the plane because we wanted to give people with connecting flights a chance to get started on finding new flights. Hardly anyone said "thanks" or "Merry Christmas" or "sorry you had to deal with the crazy guy" to the flight crew. The three of us made sure to thank the entire flight crew as we left the aircraft. Their holiday was just as messed up as the passengers. They also had the extra stress of having to remain calm for our benefit as well as the whacked out guy making threats.
It was 10pm by the time we got off the plane, got our bags, waited for the shuttle to the parking garage, found our truck and made it home to Sherman Oaks. We started our day at 8am Memphis time. I'm not sure how many hours that works out to thanks to the time zone changes. I do know we were too tired and strung out to open presents last night. We ate pizza and went straight to bed after we got home.
It was definitely an adventure that makes you appreciate your family. Here's hoping that New Year's Eve (and Day) are much calmer!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment