Thank You Captain...

Thank you Captain…

Saturday 18th January 2014 – a date I am not gonna forget easily.  OK – so day begin pretty early or should I say Night ended pretty soon when I departed from Pune at 2 AM for Mumbai; as I have to catch flight to Varanasi…


It’s one of the shortest trip I was making to Varanasi – 24 hours and back (btw that’s the minimum one way travel time; if I would have taken service of Indian Railways’ - considering no delays in Foggy weather of North – Love Fog BTW- reminds me of some dear ones… )


Ok so at Terminal A1 awaiting Air India’s flight AI 695; not that great Terminal I would say as my mind was comparing it with “Exclusive T2 Terminal” pictures that every News channels was showing; just wonder every news channel has it and then also its “Exclusive”. Flight was on time though Information Board was lazy and showing it Delayed – may be effect of a Chilly morning; or it was miffed that why the board is not upgraded to T2 Terminal level ;)


Boarded Flight; I am always unlucky when it comes to getting “lucky” co-passenger on nearby seat and this time was no different – how predictable God has become… come on God ;)
A Cool and confident voice of our Lady Flight Captain welcome us on board and informed that our journey time is 2 hours; little did I knew that it’s not the just the voice which is cool and confident…   and we began - smooth take off; had delicious Breakfast while watching “Chennai Express” and 1.5 hours out of 2 hours Flight time went in to a ziffy…


After few minutes Flight starting descending towards Varanasi Airport and suddenly felt I am travelling on Pune Roads!!– Turbulence ahead but it was kinda ok; have experienced it before and was not that worried… Inflight Entertainment Screen in front of me showed Altitude as 1200M and counting down…


Zero Visibility from window at least; as it was mix of Fog; Rains and Thunderstorm – in short perfect recipe for a bad landing…  Altitude Now was 400… 250… 100 and then suddenly we zoomed up as Captain aborted Landing midway and zoomed up to clearer Sky. I was like hmmmm ok;  Aircraft Circled around and Captain tried second landing and it also met with same fate and I was again hmmmmmmmm ok – though the hmm duration increased this time.


I am one of those over-positive lots who always get too optimistic with things… no doubt I was worried but had a feeling ki we will land… its ok. Passengers were worried lot by now and started to get impatient; all eyes on screen ahead and ears on any announcement from Flight Deck (as if they are gonna announce the Winner of KBC); but Captain had more priority tasks at hand and announcement could have stayed and it did stayed…


Aircraft again took a circle and Captain decided to try landing one more time… hats off to lady –she is one of the Brave Ones I should say… Attitude at 900M… 800… 600… 400 and suddenly there was a loud sound or should I say Big Bang near the Wings with a big flash of light and sparks all over… All my Over-confidence turned in to Fog and vanished. Aircraft was shaking like my i10 Car when I drive it on pot ridden roads of Pune; see that’s the reason they don’t repair roads so that one can feel at home even at 400 Meters above ground.


Actually lightning had struck on one of wings; by this time panic has struck passengers and aircraft; we all thought there was a blast in Engine and those 2 minutes we were sure; sure that this is it… and we are crashing down!! It was just horrible; a near death experience I can say… people started shouting \ crying and what not. It was utter chaos and we were prepared for worse… Pictures of Sheetal and kids flashed in front of my eyes with HD Quality Display…


But in a flash; HD display was interrupted by sudden zoom of aircraft to a speedy ascend and we were feeling like a speedy roller coaster moving upwards in full speed; we were literally pushed back in to our seats and in nick of time our Lady Captain has moved us out of the charged up clouds and windy area in next 2 minutes…


She again announced in her cool and confident voice that we are safe now and wind speed was too high; if we would have stayed more in that area the tail wind would have disintegrated the tail of aircraft. Luckily the lightning which struck aircraft did not do much damage. Aircraft was low on fuel and Captain decided to heading towards Lucknow… city of nawabs; city of friendship J


Aircraft stayed in Lucknow for 1 hour till Varanasi weather improved; we refueled, got technical snag repaired and again moved towards Varanasi… it was not turning into a Hindi Movie Climax; there was pin drop silence in aircraft and people were really tense to head back to same zone and we again started descend to Varanasi Airport but…


Seems our aircraft number (AI 695) was not liked by Weather God; as soon as we reached Varanasi weather god turned Nasty again and we were hit by same turbulence… Captain tried 2 landings and it was touch and Go for both times where she has to abort landing at 100M… suddenly i started hating number 100 L kyaa chal raha hai…


She announced that “We are trying it last time and keep your fingers crossed”; I could have crossed my hands; legs everything – just get the dam plan down on tarmac baba!! This was going to be our 6th landing attempt we encircled again… 1000M… 600… 400…200… 100; and touchdown….. And she did it this time… a big noise again but of Applause; of cheers; of joy; for many it was re-birth!!


A Lady always gives birth but today we witnessed the Lady captain giving re-birth to 100’s of us by saving our lives… by giving a feeling of joy which is gonna stay with us forever. She kept her cool; her confidence and her wits intact and in the process kept us intact…


Captain It’s not your voice but it’s you who is really cool!! When I narrated this to one of my friend; he said – “Cool lady hotey huey bhi she managed it” – I said she managed it because she was a Lady!!


Thanks you Captain!! – We owe it to you!!