'A Sudden, Terrible Stillness'

Transparency from the Airline, FAA and NTSB is what we ALL expect when an accident occurs. NOT an airline going into Image Damage control. This is great news that everyone is alive. Let's all hold our conclusions until we hear the truth. We have 2 pilots who should know what happened. IF there is a hint of a cover up to protect an airlines image or legal implecation, then we NEED the news to hold everyone accountable....NOT the TRIAL lawyers.

In the event of an emergency survival instincts kick in and part of that is to grab whatever you think is going to help you and your loved ones stay alive. You don't think, you just grab. But later, you are thankful for the jacket that keeps your wife warm. The most insignificant item can become a lifesaver in an emergency. Think of the movie Castaway.......... Do not judge unless you have walked in another persons shoes.

God was with everyone on that flight. It was a Christmas gift to passengers families and friends.

The one thing I didnt like was the author saying "Augering in" I hate that term. I hear my friends joking at times seeing a aircraft landing and jokingly saying "Auger" and I hate it.
I am an aircraft mechanic and I am sad to see an aircraft incident but am very happy with this outcome no deaths is a blessing.

Mr. and Mrs. Tilly: Thank goodness you are fine. Re: silly criticisms: Do not dignify any of the criticisms posted here with any more responses. They don't deserve it. And try to keep in mind that it appears that the percentage of morons on this forum appears to be very small; the vast majority of posters understand that your actions were entirely reasonable and are just glad you are OK.

OMG!! The pilot was talking on a phone while laying on a stretcher!!! Let's put aside the enormous stress that he/she went through, IN SECONDS , to try and calculate how to SAVE their passengers and the fact that they were probably the last one to leave the aircraft because this is part of their job description. What are you thinking SANTORINI- that they are privileged -are you insinuating that they shouldn't be on the phone. They probably were answering the beginning of thousands of questions as to what went wrong. Just BE THANKFUL --ALL OF YOU- THAT HUMAN LIVES WERE SAVED!!!! As for Mr Tilley- thanks for the information and your descriptive tale -which is what it only is -your recollection. I prefer to read the Captain's and First Officer's account for the facts. What is missing from this story is what went on in that cockpit--that is where you will find your true HEROES!! Congratulations to all who are responsible for saving the lives on this flight and countless others through clearheaded , selfless thinking. This is what they are trained for. I know first hand. We will probably find out that it was a defect in the aircraft or the weather and that the crew worked together efficiently and effectively. The proof is in the survival rate. Man against machine . In this case , a mammoth of a machine. Again--BE THANKFUL! To all the crew and passengers of Flight 1404, especially the pilots--may GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Let us not forget that God's guiding hands made the difference. Not one life was lost in this accident. Only the day before this crash my sister-in-law escaped death in a head on auto accident. These things tell me that accidents are likely but when lives are spared let's give God thanks.

OMG!! The pilot was talking on a phone while laying on a stretcher!!! Let's put aside the enormous stress that he/she went through, IN SECONDS , to try and calculate how to SAVE their passengers and the fact that they were probably the last one to leave the aircraft because this is part of their job description. What are you thinking SANTORINI- that they are privileged -are you insinuating that they shouldn't be on the phone. They probably were answering the beginning of thousands of questions as to what went wrong. Just BE THANKFUL --ALL OF YOU- THAT HUMAN LIVES WERE SAVED!!!! As for Mr Tilley- thanks for the information and your descriptive tale -which is what it only is -your recollection. I prefer to read the Captain's and First Officer's account for the facts. What is missing from this story is what went on in that cockpit--that is where you will find your true HEROES!! Congratulations to all who are responsible for saving the lives on this flight and countless others through clearheaded , selfless thinking. This is what they are trained for. I know first hand. We will probably find out that it was a defect in the aircraft or the weather and that the crew worked together efficiently and effectively. The proof is in the survival rate. Man against machine . In this case , a mammoth of a machine. Again--BE THANKFUL! To all the crew and passengers of Flight 1404, especially the pilots--may GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

To Lisa, The Tillys and all the other survivors-Thank God you are all alive and are able to celebrate the Holidays with your loved ones . It could have ended up much more tragically than it did. This is what we should all be focusing on here. Happy Holidays All. Remember to hug all your loved ones and be grateful knowing that they are safe this Holiday season.

Until you have been in the situation like they were, yuo cannot understand what it is like, I don't care how well the story is told. As a survivor, myself, of a helicopter crash where the man sitting in front of me was killed, I feel qualified to comment. Jeb did the right thing and has already qualified his decision in this thread. Taking something that was within reach was absolutely the right thing to do. In our case, there were only 8 of us onboard, one dead on impact and three with critical, life-threatening injuries, two with non life-threatening injuires and two of us with bumps and bruises. By taking the time to grab the stuff we had, the two of us who had minor injuries, were able to care for the rest while rescue teams assembled and came to our aid. This is truly a miraculous story with, thankfully, a happy outcome for what could have been 110 fatalities.

Mr and Mrs Tilly,
I know it would be impossible to erase this horrible experience from your memories of Christmas 2008. But I hope that the most beautiful memory you have will be of the deep lasting love you have for each other and the Christmas miracle that everyone survived.
Lorrie, from Caribou, Maine

While it is true that the author should have left without any belongings, it is also silly to be ranting over the taking of the bag. They are all alive, they survived what could've been a horrible tragedy. Let's focus on that people! So he took a bag, ok, wrong but not so wrong that the only thing that there is to say is "fool what were you thinking" I for one am happy that he and everybody else made and also happy that if he hadn't the last thing he would've heard were the loving words of his wife.

Merry Christmas and I am happy you all made it.

I wonder how each of us would react to facing possible death. Here, the passengers "erupted into cries and prayers." The author's wife over and over said, "I love you, Jeb!" Jesus said, "Forgive them Father, they know not what they do." I know how I would like to react, but I'm in the comfort of my home. However, I wonder how I would actually react in the moment???? Merry Christmas!

JaTrusa, are you a moron? Why are you posting a complaint on an inconvenient time where an airline couldn't accomodate you, they lost your luggage and you "didn't even have a toothbrush!" ? And this is relevant, because.....??? Dork: Read what the author has gone through, mull it over in your peabrain, do some comparison, and then, if you can, comment accordingly.

It seems that now a days if there are no deaths, it doesnt make a good news story.
All these "minor" accidents should be a wake up call to the industry & the government which oversees it.
In August, I was on a flight out of Las Vegas heading to JFK. As we excellerated down the runway for take off, the right engine "exploded", followed by flames shooting out of the engine. The plane shook as the engine made a load whining noise that sounded like death. The plane did come to a stop on the runway, and the fire was extiguished quickly.
I felt like i had cheated death. What if this had happened 200 yards further down the runway? What if the fire did not extinguish? I called family members back in New York to tell them what had happened, and tell them we were OK, in case they saw it on the news.
The pilot deemed it as a "catostrophic engine failure", with no apoligy. A new plane arrived at the terminal about 4 hours after the incident. But, there was no crew to fly it. So we waited an additional 5 hours (totaling a 9 hour delay). We each recieved a $7 food voucher for the 9 hours we spent at the terminal. When we finally took off (with shattered nerves), the flight attendent apoligized for the delay. But the way it was said as if we were just delayed an hour or two. Not that we were all in a near tragic accident, followed by a 9 hour delay. This was made even clearer when the attendent asked me to pay her for the sandwich she was handing me, followed by the comment: " you did get a food voucher, didn't you"?
By the way, this story did not even make it to any news outlets in New York. It was a local Las Vegas story only.
I did receive a $100 voucher from Delta to use on a future flight. Gee, thanks

JaTrusa, are you a moron? Why are you posting a complaint on an inconvenient time where an airline couldn't accomodate you, they lost your luggage and you "didn't even have a toothbrush!" ? And this is relevant, because.....??? Dork: Read what the author has gone through, mull it over in your peabrain, do some comparison, and then, if you can, comment accordingly.

If the phone or bag was takeable; I would take it.

edward

I appreciate the article from the passenger on flight 1404.I had a very similar experience in 1975 0n a DC-10.I was one of 138 crew on our way to Saudi Arabia.On takeoff roll a flock of seagulls were injested into engine number two.The aircraft burst into flames and crashed at the end of the runway.Only two exits could be used because of fire.As a flight attendant I knew when where and how to evacuate.You have less than ninety seconds to get out alive.You leave everything behind because your bags could impede an evacuation.My advice to anyone who flies is to say to yourself anytime you board an aircraft,"If I were in a plane crash today,how would I survive?"Always look to see where the four closest exits are.How many rows away are you..if you had to leave a smoke filled cabin.
I had topnotch emergency training.Listen to your flight attendants.Every aircraft is different.Know how to get out alive.
The crash of Overseas National Airways was an unsurvivable plane crash but knowing what to do if the very worst happens saved my life and could save yours.

Some flaws in the arguments about the carry-on, as being no big deal: As someone already mentioned, while chuting, control of the bag could've been lost and that could've represented an obstacle to the next evacuees (trying to slide past, or over, the bag). So it's valid to condemn the grabbing of the bag for that reason.

Next, anyone who flies knows how tightly-confined airline seat rows are these days: it's cumbersome at best to exit one's row without a bag let alone with one of any size. Just try to recall how passengers, bent over as they mind their heads, usually hang their carry-ons over the top of the seatback as they wait to enter the aisle. So, there again, it is valid to find grabbing the bag to be an odd priority in exiting a burning plane.

Selfish? Sure. Stupid and rude? Sure. But let's not criticize a flight attendant for not taking the bag away. No, in an emergency, flight attendants have to hope that idiots won't love their cellphones more than their lives (and those of others). FA's just have to get the line moving...and as prepared as they are, they're human, too---unlike the superhero author.