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For anyone that knows me, it's a well known fact that I am terrified of flying. You've all heard the story of my first ride in an airplane and how I embarrassed my brother because I cried for two hours in a state of panic. He got up and switched seats with my sister, who wasn't at all thrilled to be seated next to her own hysterical sister either.
They all tell me, "You know you have a greater chance of getting in a car accident driving to work this morning than you do of crashing in an airplane." But it doesn't ever make me feel any more at ease.
I was again feeling uneasy when I saw video of Asiana Flight 214 crash landing at San Francisco International Airport this weekend. To my surprise though, all but two of the passengers survived.
Although thoughts ran through my head on how and why this accident happened, I found it incredible that most of the passengers and crew survived. After reading some of the stories, I realized that quick thinking and the courage of those onboard could have diverted this possibly large disaster.
Flight attendants were hailed as heroes, passengers knowledgeable and aware. It had been obvious that attendants were properly trained and that most passengers had actually listened to the beginning flight instructions.
I commend the courage of the flight attendants, who put the lives of their passengers before their own. They ushered passengers off the plane in a calm manner, assuring them everything was okay. One story I read even stated that a 100 pound flight attendant put a scared young child on her back and exited the plane to safety with him.
But flight attendants don't have to be the only brave ones on the flight.
For those who are frequent fliers or just enjoy flying, consider being seated in the emergency exit row, not because you want more leg room but because you want to help in case of an emergency. Believe it or not, people seated in this row have to fit specific criteria outlined by the airline and be ready to assist in the unlikely event of an emergency.
Courageous men and women put this freaked out writer at ease. I would hope that in the case of any emergency, there would be brave and courageous people who would rise from the rest and become heroes to those, like me, who always fear the worst.