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Sunday, August 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Aircraft Engine Catches Fire - Narrow Escape for Sunday morning passengers
Jan 16, 2011
It was the usual early morning flight for a close friend (who prefers to remain unnamed) from Bangalore to Hyderabad. The 7:25 Kingfisher ATR was delayed due to a technical snag. The passengers who had already boarded the flight were asked to disembark. But 15 minutes later they were told that the problem was solved and the plane was ready to take off.
About 5 - 7 minutes after take-off my friend who was reading the paper happened to glance out of the window, he saw a bright orange glow from the engine and realised that it was misfiring. It took him a moment to register what was happening and he looked at his colleague, whom he was travelling with, to check if he had seen it too. 'I thought I was imagining things. And for a few seconds didnt realize the seriousness of the situation'. he told me. But they gathered their senses and immediatey tried to get the attention of the airhostess. But when she just smiled back pleasantly at them from the front of the aircraft - they shouted out that the engine was on fire! She rushed over and by then a few of the passengers began to realise that something was wrong. There were about 35 passengers on board the flight. The airhostess immediately went to inform the pilot. The pilot switched off the engine that had caught fire and had to take the plane back to Bangalore airport on a single engine.
'For a few minutes the plane was still rising and then slowly started turning back towards Bangalore airport.' said my friend. The aircraft made its way back to the airport listing precariously as it ran into strong headwinds. 'When the plane was turning back I could feel the pressure hugely', he said. It landed with all emergency procedures and an ambulance, fire engines were already in place and the passengers breathed a sigh of relief as they realisedthat they had had a narrow escape. Many of the passengers went up to my friend and thanked him for what he'd done.
It was the usual early morning flight for a close friend (who prefers to remain unnamed) from Bangalore to Hyderabad. The 7:25 Kingfisher ATR was delayed due to a technical snag. The passengers who had already boarded the flight were asked to disembark. But 15 minutes later they were told that the problem was solved and the plane was ready to take off.
About 5 - 7 minutes after take-off my friend who was reading the paper happened to glance out of the window, he saw a bright orange glow from the engine and realised that it was misfiring. It took him a moment to register what was happening and he looked at his colleague, whom he was travelling with, to check if he had seen it too. 'I thought I was imagining things. And for a few seconds didnt realize the seriousness of the situation'. he told me. But they gathered their senses and immediatey tried to get the attention of the airhostess. But when she just smiled back pleasantly at them from the front of the aircraft - they shouted out that the engine was on fire! She rushed over and by then a few of the passengers began to realise that something was wrong. There were about 35 passengers on board the flight. The airhostess immediately went to inform the pilot. The pilot switched off the engine that had caught fire and had to take the plane back to Bangalore airport on a single engine.
'For a few minutes the plane was still rising and then slowly started turning back towards Bangalore airport.' said my friend. The aircraft made its way back to the airport listing precariously as it ran into strong headwinds. 'When the plane was turning back I could feel the pressure hugely', he said. It landed with all emergency procedures and an ambulance, fire engines were already in place and the passengers breathed a sigh of relief as they realisedthat they had had a narrow escape. Many of the passengers went up to my friend and thanked him for what he'd done.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Womanised!
The demon smiled as he sunk his pearly whites into the soft flesh of her creamy neck. This one had been so easy, almost as though she’d invited him. Things had not been the same lately. There had been rumblings, people were becoming cautious, vigilant and he’d had to lie low for a while, not take unnecessary risks. Meat from the cold storage and pigs blood were no substitute. He had gone hungry for many days and this had been a sheer stroke of luck. He had entered the night club in his usual unobtrusive manner, sat at a table in the corner, looked around and spotted her almost immediately. How could he not, she was dazzling. And her eyes! Her eyes met his and after that didn’t to leave his face for a moment. She had a steady level gaze. He walked upto her – ‘Do you believe in destiny ?’
She laughed – ‘Whose are we talking about now, yours or mine ?’
‘Ours because the stars above say they are entwined.’ He replied
‘Hmmm...The stars above have no idea what’s in store for you.’
What a woman! It was almost a pity ……. and she was definitely interested in him. Though that was not really surprising. He hid his fangs and age (all of 485 years) well behind a handsome, unlined face and very blue eyes. As these thoughts went through his head he bit deeper into her neck and his heart raced with pure joy. And then something happened … Images flashed before his mind – images of Salvatore Ferragamo bags, Jimmy Choo shoes…. Why was he thinking about these things now? The latest sales at Macy’s, oh and Bad Hair Days!! No, no, no. But he couldn’t stop himself. Something was very wrong… He didn’t feel like devouring her any more. What he did feel like was a cup of hot soup and a foot massage or even better a wonderful luxurious back rub
WHATWAS HAPPENING TO HIM???! He lifted his head and caught the look of amusement and was it disdain(?) in her face and her eyes.
She smiled, ‘Enjoy being a woman.’ His last thought as he let go - She truly was dazzling.
My winning entry at the Kala Ghoda Flash Fiction Contest
It was getting dark when the Pandava Princes returned home. Bhima, prankster that he was, shouted from the door – 'Mother look, we have brought you a surprise.' Kunti replied without looking up – 'just cut it into five pieces....',Kunti smiled in her sleep that night. She had averted a great war.
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