Emergency Landing
Last night I was on a red-eye flight to Tampa to visit my mom. Forty-five minutes into the flight, I was sound asleep and thought I was dreaming when I heard the announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have an issue in the cockpit. The crew is smelling fumes, so we are going to turn around and head back to Los Angeles.” I thought I was dreaming. The cabin was dark and quiet, as most red-eye flights are, but the lights went back on, and I woke up to one of my fears—an emergency landing!
Reality Sets In
I got out of my seat and asked the flight attendant if I had heard correctly. One reason I did this was to see the level of fear on her face. I used to be a flight attendant, and if there is one thing I will never forget, it was my emergency landing training. I was hired by American Airlines at the age of nineteen. I worked for them for only nine months before being offered a job in Japan. Flying was much different back then, but I still remember the protocol. She said yes, we were turning around and heading back to Los Angeles.
These situations are never fun. Crazy thoughts went through my head, such as “What if we do not make it back safely?” But then I got my phone out and spent ten minutes trying to connect to the internet (which seemed like an eternity). All I wanted to do was reach out to my kids—not to alarm them but to let them know what was happening. I also needed to let my mom know that she would not be picking me up at my scheduled time. My thoughts were love-centered, and for some reason, it brought a calm over me. I felt okay, nervous but okay.
I heard the guy behind me ask the flight attendant, “Ma’am, can I have a Chardonnay?” I felt empathy and compassion for him because that would have been me in another time: “Let me get a drink to not feel any of this.” Instead, I sent out texts, which I knew would get no response since it was the middle of the night. Nevertheless, I wanted the people closest to me to know I was thinking of them in case something happened. Then I prayed.
Emergency Landings Bring Out the Best and Worst
We landed safely back in Los Angeles. United Airlines absolutely followed the correct protocol by bringing us back to have that aircraft checked. People were texting me, “Oh no, that is a bummer!” to which I replied, “No, it is a blessing! I am on the ground safe, and I will just take the red-eye tomorrow night.”
Here is what I observed, which I was able to do only because of the work I have done over the past few years. Some people were confused and did not know what to do. Some were angry that their schedule was messed up. Some were demanding. Some were hungry, asking for food. Situations like this bring out the good and bad in people. I could see the anxious feelings, and I could feel the energy. I decided that when in doubt, do nothing! I asked to be put on the exact same flight for the next night, and I left the chaos.
United Airlines was doing its best to get a new aircraft and put passengers back in the air. The problem was that the in-flight crew could not go back up in the air, so they had to find a new aircraft and a new crew. It could take hours, and it was two in the morning. Nothing was open, not even the United Club lounge, so I opted to leave and be grateful for the experience. I also did not want to fly with all this chaotic energy. I decided to get a good night’s sleep and fly out the next day.
Anytime an airline turns around to get the plane back on the ground, it is an emergency landing. Preparation is in place for such events, and communication between the cockpit and the flight attendants is crucial. They have to appear calm and collected so the passengers do not freak out. What a job!
My Emergency Landing Showed Me What Matters
Earlier in the day, I posted a video in which I talked about a motivational mindset speech I had just watched. The coach said, “What if I offered all of you a million dollars right now. Would you be happy?” Of course, the room answered yes! Then he added, “What if I gave you a million dollars, but you will not wake up?” The room went silent. No one wanted the money anymore. Interesting, right? No amount of money or fame is worth not waking up. That is a morning mindset. When we wake up, be thankful!
I can tell you my thoughts when we were told we were going back to Los Angeles. The aircraft was experiencing a problem, but I was focused on love and gratitude. I thought only about my kids and my closest friends. I think we need these reminders to show us what is important.
When we landed back in Los Angeles, I noticed how everyone deals with emergency situations differently. Everyone is doing the best they can with the tools they have. Not everyone will get the wake-up call, the message, or the profound example of what is important.
I am not patting myself on the back. I would have been ordering a vodka on the rocks and been angry for the inconvenience in my past life. Today I am grateful for all of it, even this emergency landing.
