Postado Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:02 pm
Back in the days of the 707, a transoceanic flight was well out of sight of land when there was an announcement over the PA system.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. We've just had to shut down one engine due to a malfunction. There is no reason to be alarmed as we are perfectly capable of continuing the flight on the three remaining engines, although we may be a little late arriving in New York."
There was a slight murmur from the pax, but they remained calm and the flight continued. A few hours later:-
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain again. Unfortunately we've had to shut down a second engine which will necessitate us descending to a lower level, and again we will lose some more time meaning we will be somewhat late arriving in New York. Sincere apologies for any inconvenience and would those with connecting flights please inform an air hostess. There is no reason to be alarmed however and we will continue onwards to New York"
There was more mutterings in the pax cabin but mostly people were reasonably calm.
Some minutes later:-
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain again...I'm sorry to say but we appear to have lost the third engine and we will be commencing a fairly rapid descent...please fasten your seatbelts and obey all instructions from the cabin staff, thank you."
By now the cabin was fairly noisy as people began asking what was going on. The hostesses went through the cabin checking everyone's seatbelt was fastened. Tension began to mount. Just a few more minutes went by when:-
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain speaking yet again...well, we have now lost all four engines and the aircraft is now gliding towards the sea for an emergency landing."
There was a slight pause, then "Passengers on the left side of the aircraft seated at window-seats will observe a small orange liferaft on the surface of the water...and I am speaking to you from that liferaft!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. We've just had to shut down one engine due to a malfunction. There is no reason to be alarmed as we are perfectly capable of continuing the flight on the three remaining engines, although we may be a little late arriving in New York."
There was a slight murmur from the pax, but they remained calm and the flight continued. A few hours later:-
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain again. Unfortunately we've had to shut down a second engine which will necessitate us descending to a lower level, and again we will lose some more time meaning we will be somewhat late arriving in New York. Sincere apologies for any inconvenience and would those with connecting flights please inform an air hostess. There is no reason to be alarmed however and we will continue onwards to New York"
There was more mutterings in the pax cabin but mostly people were reasonably calm.
Some minutes later:-
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain again...I'm sorry to say but we appear to have lost the third engine and we will be commencing a fairly rapid descent...please fasten your seatbelts and obey all instructions from the cabin staff, thank you."
By now the cabin was fairly noisy as people began asking what was going on. The hostesses went through the cabin checking everyone's seatbelt was fastened. Tension began to mount. Just a few more minutes went by when:-
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain speaking yet again...well, we have now lost all four engines and the aircraft is now gliding towards the sea for an emergency landing."
There was a slight pause, then "Passengers on the left side of the aircraft seated at window-seats will observe a small orange liferaft on the surface of the water...and I am speaking to you from that liferaft!"