I dreaded flying over the Andes Mountains. What would happen to the plane? Ever seen the film, Alive? It was however, not the mountain range that evoked fear amongst passengers on this flight......
The towering snow-capped Andes surrounding Santiago rise to over 18,000 feet. A short flight to Buenos Aires that evening meant clearing them.
Cricking my neck to view their intimidating heights from the departure lounge, my mind began working overtime considering the illogical, the irrational, the imponderable and the unthinkable.
What if the plane failed to ascend rapidly enough? Santiago is very flat.
An 8pm flight meant the mountains became invisible - what if the pilots altometer was broken?
How close would the plane fly to these jagged pinnacles of death?
The heavily Spanish-accented pilot announced on the intercom that we would rise to 35,000 feet, some re-assurance, although unusual for a flight of only 2 hours.
The meal was shockingly bad. Dry, white-breaded sandwich of processed ham was my main. Dessert was a soggy, sweet, cracker concoction with a tasteless attempt at caramel. (which was actually dulce de leche) This is in business class by the way.
A nervous passenger (if you failed to guess) I asked to be moved after constant knocks from a child behind sent the ice cubes in my drink onto my crotch.
The flight was generally smooth and the Captain spoke once more to confirm our time of landing. This announcement occured as we began our descent.
Something wasnt right though. The airhostesses moved quickly up and down the aisle in an flustered, agitated manner. They were discussing things amongst themselves.
The cabin lights began flickering. I remained calm, although my palms began to sweat. Knowing the engine system was separate to the electronics, I controlled my thumping heart beat and breathed in deeply.
A larger air hostess with pale skin began talking in Spanish on the intercom phone. She chatted quickly and looked perplexed.
Some of the passengers at the front were looking noticeably worried.
A red light went on above the doorway to where the airhostess was sitting. What was going on?
The plane, now in descent, was dropping at strange angles. The nose began in a down position and then came to an up position several times.
Was something wrong with the plane?
The airhostess who had not left the phone began waving an emergency card over her now, hotly flushed face.
We came through the clouds and buildings became clear below. With the lights still flickering like strobes we continued to descend and buildings became larger.
There was no announcement from the Captain or the airhostesses. I looked at my watch. We were on time. It was only 5 more minutes till landing.
We were very low and I gripped my seat hard as the landing wheels made their loud clunk down.
Its all over I thought. We are just about on the tarmac.
As the purple lights of the airport guided us, I breathed in deeply once again............
Without warning the jet engines ROARED into full thrust. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The planes nose instantly shot skywards. Our bodies pushed hard back into our seats. UP UP UP we went...
What on earth was going on?
I gesticulated to the airhostess who was buckled into her seat. Using the thumbs up I said, everything ok? She didnt respond.
An English speaking businessman opposite me said they had aborted the landing and were trying again.
We circled very low to the ground.
As we apporoached a final time, the plane squared up and touched down.
Safe.
No-one offered an explanation except the gentleman opposite me.
Its most likely the Co-pilot training, he said, also looking a little unnerved by the whole incident.
The pilot never said a word. However I shall be writing many in my letter to LAN airlines. Bastardos.
