Pengalaman Terbang MH2636

Lama sangat tak menyumbang kat halaman JSI ni... macam rindu pulak nak berkongsi cerita dengan kawan kawan.

Ini pengalaman yang tak akan saya lupakan. EVER! Pengalaman terbang dalam keadaan cuaca hujan ribut pada malam 29 Jun 2009 (9.00pm)

Karangan ini ditulis dalam Bahasa Inggeris untuk efek dramatik. HEHE.

Begini ceritanya...

"
1. Let me tell you about the weather in Labuan. When it rains, it POURS!

2. And it poured really heavily last night when I was flying back to Labuan from KL. It was the worst turbulence I have ever experienced in my years of flying. The plane had to be diverted to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

3. The plane was approaching when the pilot announced that he had to "hold approach due to unfavourable weather." That was weird. Usually, it was the head steward who made any "unfavourable weather" announcements. This time, it was the captain himself!

4. Worry loomed large on board.

5. The plane hovered over Labuan when suddenly I felt the engine blast stronger and we climbed into darkness. I suspected then that landing had to be aborted. Announcement by the cabin crew confirmed my suspicion. We were headed to KKIA.

6. At KKIA, we waited for almost one hour in the plane, waiting for clearance from Labuan to fly back.

7. After two rounds of orange and guava juice, we flew back again to Labuan and were warned of bumpy ride ahead. It WAS!

8. Approaching Labuan, we were asked to wear our seat belts in preparation of landing. The plane slowed and maneuvered down when suddenly the engine was blasted again and it climbed up.

9. That was failed attempt #1. The captain announced that it was impossible to land and was making another approach.

10. After a while, we were moving down, almost touching the landing strip when the engine blasted with full force and we were airborne again. The lights of the plane's wings were on and I could see rain drops passing by with force I could only imagine.

11. That was failed attempt #2. The captain was silent this time.

12. After about 15 minutes hovering over the dark and stormy sky of Labuan, the captain was trying another approach and descent. However, the plane shook violently and it climbed up again.

13. Failed Attempt #3. Still nothing from the captain. Worry loomed larger. I could feel the eerie silence on board.

14. Only after rounds of sharp maneuvering and heavy shaking, the plane was landed safely, with a big thud!

15, As if to convey their gratitude, some of the passengers clapped. I joined them. The full gratitude to Captain Jacob.

16. That was the experience I will never forget.

17. Two things troubled my mind though. First, when we were in KKIA how could the air tower of Labuan airport gave clearance for the pilots to fly in when they knew there was a storm? and second, how could the captain make so many landing attempts during a heavy storm?

18. I would like to suggest that pilots should limit landing attempts during heavy storms to only two since more failed attempts mean putting the passengers in long and constant fear. And we are talking about real risk and real danger here.

19. As I was finding the answers to the above in the safety of my bed, the infamous heavy downpour of Labuan continued into the night. "

dipetik dari blog saya... ;)