Six Seconds To A Disastrous Ending
By skysuccess
@skysuccess (8857)
Singapore
September 27, 2011 10:43am CST
That's right!
That was how close it was for more than 600 passengers when 2 planes from Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair arriving from New York and Taiwan to Hong Kong respectively nearly had a head on collision.
It was reported that both planes strayed into the same altitude head-on paths while circling in wait for bad weather to clear for their landing in Hong Kong. Thanks to:
1. The advance warning system's timely alarm at the control tower.
2. The alert staff's timely intervention at the control tower.
3. Alert pilots at both cockpits who reacted accordingly to avoid a head-on crash.
In midair, at normal cruising speed it takes an aircraft 6 seconds to cover 2000m and as such, if it had not been for the above - I cannot imagine what the consequences could have been.
6 seconds. How close can it be? Can you imagine?
Ref:
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20110927-301863.html
3 responses
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
28 Sep 11
CTHanum,
My exact sentiments.
I hate to imagine what the consequences might have been otherwise. Due credits to all parties including the Divine intervention as well. I could not ignore this because 6 seconds is literally no joke.
Let's hope that this will be the last.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
30 Sep 11
CTHanum,
Let me assure you that the passengers in both jets would be the last to know and don't be surprise as they will probably take the brief 6 seconds of jolt as turbulence.
From experience, passengers are not told at least on real time to avoid panic attacks and eventually pandemonium inside the cabin. On the part of human error, I believe the control tower is partly responsible for the near fatal drift during their circling above the airport for the weather to clear.
Still, kudos to them for the recovery.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
28 Sep 11
emjay86,
Close call indeed.
Likewise, I am really glad that it did not end up the other way for I just could not be what it would be like when Hong Kong airport is considered to be one of the most busiest airports in Asia.
Let's hope that this would be the last.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
27 Sep 11
I was told that the take off and landing of planes are more dangerous than while the planes are flying. Anything can happen in split seconds within that period of time. The pilots of both planes should be given a pat on the back for their brilliance in avoiding a head on collision in such a bad weather. I never enjoy travelling on planes as I feel that I am walking on eggshells and no guarantee that I come home in one piece.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8857)
• Singapore
28 Sep 11
zandi458,
Well, if the flight carries you to either one of the world's busiest airports in the West or East coast, then you would know that every part of the flight prior to the take off or landing would be the most dangerous part of the flight.
I hate to say this but for both flights to stray into each others' altitude was really unthinkable and I could not believe how it would have been at the aforementioned airports. Other than the all the mentioned factors, I wonder if God had been at play during that small 6 seconds window. No telling, I suppose.
However, please do not let this discourage you from flying because it is really safe if you get what I mean.
However, please do not let this discourage you from flying because it is really safe if you get what I mean.