When Plane Goes Crazy

First of, I encountered the weirdest experience yesterday. I had been a long day. I am to take a plane to go back to KL from KT. My flight was scheduled to depart at 9.20 pm on the 12th of June.

First scenario:
Unfortunately, a day before my flight, which was on the 11th, I received a SMS from Air Asia telling me that it was retimed to 10.35 pm instead of the original time. I just accepted what they got to offer since I can’t do anything to make the flight earlier.

Second scenario:
So, I went to the airport around 9 pm. I boarded the plane at about 10.30 pm. Soon, the plane gathered its momentum, picked up speed and took off leaving Sultan Mahmud Airport behind. During the “took off” period, the smell of ‘smoke’, or I can say ‘chao hoi da’ (Hokkien) smell began to fill the air inside the aircraft. I never really bother to care though about what is going to happen next, only to wish deep inside my heart to reach the destination faster.

After about 10 to 15 minutes of flying, the lighting inside the aircraft still had not on despite the fact that the plane was stabilized (It is quite unusual). Curiosity crept in me as the lights on the emergency exit flickered on. Cabin crews were running along the middle of the aircraft. Not long after that, about 11 pm, the pilot announced through the speaker, “Cabin crews please be seated for landing”. I was like ‘Huh!’ (Jaw dropped). I sensed the passengers aboard had the same feeling like me.

I felt the plane maneuvered to turn back. By looking out in the dark, I saw that the plane was actually hanging very low in the air. It was slightly above the sea. Perhaps, I guessed if we were to crash, the sea would probably be the safest place. I am also thinking of my laptop and stuff being wet if we landed on the sea. To my relief, we touched down again at the Sultan Mahmud Airport. Safe and sound!

As the plane came to a halt, some people started to stand up to retrieve their luggage. I even heard one of the cabin crew saying, “Pak Cik, sila duduk”. Some people on their handphones which were then being dismiss off the action by the crews on board. We waited patiently. The captain announced that there were smoke, and they were currently looking for the source.

Around 11.30 pm, we were ordered to leave the aircraft, and wait in the departure hall as the searching of the source continued in the cabin. In the departure hall, people were talking as if the place was a night market. I sat there looking around doing my usual ‘people watching’; there were a group of teenagers about my age just back from Redang Island, men and women of the business having a trip to Kuala Terengganu, families of three most probably came for vacation, “Mak Cik and Pak Cik” as well as couples.

At 12 am, the flight was officially cancelled. It would be replaced the next morning (this morning in my time of blogging). Then again there were frenzied as people enquired more at the counter – some asking for refunds, some trying to get the new flight itinerary.
I called my parents to come fetch me, and I am back again to my house. How ironic!

Scenario 3:
This morning, when I was on my way to the airport (again), I saw the group of teenagers waiting outside Permai Park Inn with a lot of other people. I knew it because the guy was using the same bag as I am during my time in campus (the orange Reebok bag). I guessed the not local passengers were accommodated there. Today’s flight was very full. After reaching LCCT, I took a cab back to my house. Wow, what a start to my new trimester of Gamma year.

***

This incident totally caused me to delay my first intended post.

Quote of the day:

"Since it's my last day, so I can eat a lot."

-Kelvin to his mother at the 'Gerai Makanan' two days back which was then being 'choi'-ed in a Chinese superstition kind of way by her-

(the 'eat a lot' means the Malay food in Terengganu, the 'last day' means my last day in KT)

The moral of the story is: Think twice before considering Air Asia. Be careful when boarding AK6337.