'A Sudden, Terrible Stillness'

Thank you for your intelligent telling of your ordeal. God was looking out for each and every passenger on that plane. It will be a Merry Christmas for the crew and passengers of 1404.

My first thought as I finished reading this story was "Thank God everyone got out o.k." I was shocked to read such negative comments about the man grabbing his bag. Think about it....taking a second to grab a bag at your feet while you are waiting to enter a crush of panicked people exiting a burning plane or taking that second while you are waiting to just stand there in shock. I bet the people who benefited from the use of his cell phone didn't think him a horrible person. Wake up, people, and stop focusing on negative things. The most important point of this story should be the miraculous survival of everyone on the plane. Try giving thanks for a miracle rather than trying to make something negative. Your life will be much happier for it.

I'm glad everyone got out. As a mother who often travels with a toddler alone this is my fear...if something happens how do I get my son and myself out. I will just continue to pray and believe that God will take care of us as he did flight 1404.

thank God still lots of people alive. but ['people] we really need to know what went wrong

I have to assume that the author of this article is an experienced writer. His descriptive language seems to be intended for a manuscript. No, it was something to remember; just not in such a descriptive-language way. And, he mentioned taking his bag (with cell phone) with him when he exited the plane. I have always heard that you leave your bags, etc., on the plane when you have to make an emergency exit. But, of course, when a member of the flight deck is on his cell while lying on a stretcher, I guess such rules are thrown out the hatch, as it were.

I can't believe people. They seem to always need something to ***** about. Great article! You never know how you're going to react until you are there. I was in a car accident once, and my first coherent thought after was when I went to take a sip of my coke. The thought "I spilled my drink" was the first thought I actually had before I realized what had happened. Was my coke important? no. Did I have any control over what I was thinking? No. Did I grab my purse before I got out of the smashed car? Yes. Didn't realize that one, either.
Glad you're okay, Jeb. You got one h e l l of a Xmas gift this year!

Why are these comments so filled with hate? You don't have all the details of what occurred. Read JTilly and Mrs. JTilly's response before you comment.

Just be happy that everyone made it out with their lives!!

Why can't we all just be happy that everyone made it out with their lives!!!

You can hear the hateful tone in the comments. Some are too hasty to judge without all the facts. What's wrong with this world?

What about the man who blocked the aisle trying to get his overhead luggage

What about the passenger who blocked the aisle trying to het his luggage out of the overhead

I can't believe the idiots who posted are focusing on the fact that Jeb took his bag with him. Think about it - how big could the bag have been - it only held his cell phone, a sweater, and a jacket. Most likely the bag was right in the seat with it. He didn't say he stood up and grabbed it from the overhead compartment, he said he managed to grab it and take it with him which was a smart move. No different than a woman grabbing her purse and taking it along - it is an instinctive move. Again - what idiots hone in on one sentence in an article describing a terrible experience which the passengers survived.

This jerk must be a reporter for some small town paper and now he is trying to make a potential diaster into a creer move and the basis for a lawsit

I can't believe the idiots who posted are focusing on the fact that Jeb took his bag with him. Think about it - how big could the bag have been - it only held his cell phone, a sweater, and a jacket. Most likely the bag was right in the seat with it. He didn't say he stood up and grabbed it from the overhead compartment, he said he managed to grab it and take it with him which was a smart move. No different than a woman grabbing her purse and taking it along - it is an instinctive move. Again - what idiots hone in on one sentence in an article describing a terrible experience which the passengers survived.

This jerk must be a reporter for some small town paper and now he is trying to make a potential diaster into a creer move and the basis for a lawsit

Hambrain, The author of the story was a passenger, not a journalist. We all don't have degree's in Journalism. I doubt that you would be able to describe an ordeal any better. BTW your name is appropriate.

what's really a shame?people that are so quick to judge.