Lightning encounter 2
With my father working at TWA, and I a poor college student, there existed an opportunity for my girlfriend (Deanna) and I to travel somewhere quite distant for near free. Since we had never been to Europe, Spain was randomly chosen as our destination. To get there, we would fly as standby passengers, and there would naturally be a few minor inconveniences that we were happy to accept.
Among other things, you couldn’t choose where you sat, or know if there was a seat for you at all. You had to wait at the gate until the last minute before the plane left to see if any paying passengers had neglected to show. If so, tickets would be hurriedly passed to us like a rugby ball, and down the concourse we would run to see if fate had a kind seat assignment in store.
Sitting in JFK airport, we waited for the chance to catch the night flight to Spain. It seemed fate was relatively gracious, as there were seats for us both, just not together. One seat was nestled comfortably in the center of business class, while the other was directly above the right wing turbine of the 767. A loud seat that was clearly vacant for a reason.
While Deanna enjoyed her business class refreshments, I got to know my fellow “cattle car” buddies toward the back. Directly to my left sat an older woman with a sharp wit and confident smile. She used to be a stewardess in the early DC-10 days – long ago when only single women could hold the job. To her left, was the isle, then a large serious looking young bartender from LA who didn’t talk much. We shared light conversation as the plane taxied, lifted off and climbed steadily toward the sky. In the darkness, my window view produced only glimpses of a wing illuminated by its colored pulsating marker lights.
An hour slipped by as I read my magazine. The lights were dim, the cabin was quiet. The strong, constant hum from the two huge turbines spinning lulled most to sleep, and the rest were on the way. I was one of a few that couldn’t rest. From my window, I thought I spotted a soft flash of light in the distance. The pilot (in a bored sort of tone) requests that everyone be seated as there could be some turbulence ahead. I stared out my small window into the black night sky. Not even the stars were could be seen. Then, another flash in the distance; soft, but possibly closer than the last. As a native Kansan, strong lightning storms have always fascinated me. They carry an energy beyond what can be seen - an energy that you can smell and feel in the pit of your stomach. I set down my magazine and focused out the window to catch another glimpse.
It was at that moment, that the entire cabin was filled with a blinding light. Though I have no way of knowing for sure, I believe that I was the only person on the plane who actually saw the bolt of lighting. In fact, I didn’t just see it, I saw where it went; right under the right wing and directly through the center of the turbine. Anyone who didn’t immediately wake up from the flash was quickly roused as the plane violently shook, slowed and began to drop.
It was at that moment, that I witnessed something I hope to never see again. A perfect cylinder of bright flame shot from the rear of the turbine as far back as I could see. I sat with wide eyes as the turbine continued to burn.
Being the son of a TWA turbine mechanic, I grew up with a strong understanding of aircraft mechanics. I distinctly remember the huge TWA posters Dad would give me when I was young. The drafting cutouts clearly illustrated what would spin and in what order. He would tell me about new aircraft, new safety features, new problems that they found. With great curiosity, I would ask “what if” scenarios, and he would answer with great candor.
For example, long ago I asked “what happens if the engine catches fire?” First, sensors notify the pilot immediately of the situation. The pilot can then activate the fire extinguisher within the engine itself, quickly dousing the flames. The downside, of course, is that turbines run at an extremely high temperature. The compressed gas within the extinguisher is quite cold, and when released causes very hot, very precisely milled aluminum engine components to shatter and shoot out the back causing a different problem altogether.
But the extinguishers didn’t turn on. The fire persisted. On it burned.
The tight lipped bartender across the isle broke my desperate stare at the time bomb below me. “Hey man... HEY… MAN! What is that?” he nervously asked while pointing toward my window.
I told him “it’s nothing. Just lightning. man. Everything’s cool.”
His reply was sharp; “LIGHTNING IS NOT RED, MAN!!!”
The older woman next to me reassured him that everything was fine. Sitting so close to the window, I was a bit surprised that she couldn’t see what was just below the wing. Her voice was so calm and reassuring, even I felt a little relieved.
BOOM!
A deep tone explosion plastered me back to the window. It was so strong, I could feel it in my chest.
BOOM!
Another one. This is it. This is where it ends. The pilot clearly could not extinguish the flames and I had a front row seat to the end of my life.
BOOM!
Such an empty feeling. There were so many things I had not yet done. So many things I would never experience. It wasn’t fair that this was it. This is as much life as I could be granted? THIS WAS ALL? I wanted to vomit, but was too scared to.
BOOM!
Then, at the peak of my panic came a wave of intense peace. Like I had been pushed up a tall terrifying hill and fell off the other side into some form of fatalistic acceptance. There was nothing to be done. My breathing became more regular. My muscles relaxed. I then realized that I was the lucky one. Right next to the engine, I would be blown or burned the quickest, and suffer the least. Heck, those poor suckers up front are going to hit the Atlantic Ocean like a lawn dart.
BOOM!
And that’s when I saw Deanna. Sitting up front with the rest of the lawn dart crew. As the plane dipped and shook, and all the other passengers clenched their seats, she had her hands in the air like it was a roller coaster. I could even make out her distant, gleeful “weeee!”
BOOM!
That was the saddest feeling of all. Worse than the realization that my life would soon end, was knowing the fate that awaited my best friend. Those last moments were terribly dark.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The last explosion was far stronger than any before it. I closed my eyes tight - but instead of a violent finish, the plane stopped shaking, leveled out and resumed a smooth upward climb. I was to later discover that the small explosions I had felt was the pilot roughly hitting the throttle, forcing out the fuel that the lightning had ignited inside the turbine prematurely. It seemed to have worked.
The captain mustered the best “calm voice” he could and told us that the light outside was just lightning and that we had nothing to worry about. Everything was fine and he was sorry for the turbulence.
The fasten seat belt light was gone and everything was back to normal. While the stewardesses prepared to distribute refreshments, I hopped up to have a word with the crew. As closely and as quietly as I could, I asked the attendant, “you are aware that the light was something more than lightning, correct?” Her superficial smile immediately left her, and she replied in a very serious tone. “Yes. Everyone is aware of what just happened.” As long as everyone knew, I sat down. The same stewardess that I spoke with pulled her cart to our row of seats. She asked me “can I get you something?” and opened the bottom drawer of the cart which contained the cans of beer not meant for the cattle car section. I pointed at the tangibly larger, green can in the drawer; Wicked Ale. She gave it to me, served the older woman to my left and the LA bartender. Before she had handed him his 7up, my beer was gone and she handed me another – which, was finished with the same haste.
I looked down at my violently shaking hands and promptly sat on them. I didn’t want any passengers to know what had happened. I just smiled and calmly replied to the conversation that came my way.
The older woman quietly sipped her Ginger Ale and read one of her many books protruding from the enormous handbag at her feet. Sensing my uneasiness, she leaned over toward me and whispered “I know the engine was on fire.”
WHAT? Noooooo. I don’t know what you are talking about. Pssshh….
She raised her hand and said “look honey. I have been around a long time. If this was my time to go, my bags are packed.”
And with that, I sat in silence for another 10 hours of flight. Contemplating questions that I have yet to answer.
