So yesterday afternoon I hung around Durban airport for 3 hours until my Mango flight took off. It turned out to be a bit strange. I’ve never had such a flight.
Before we took off, the captain announced we would be flying through bad weather – thunderstorms and lightening were en route and there would be turbulence for most of the flight.
Oh joy!
As the plane took off, the wine from the left engine was almost deafening. I was seated in row 5, so looking out the 5th window. The lady behind me commented, “that sounds really bad” and we weren’t even properly airborne yet! The cabin lights were turned off, which is usual practice. Normally a few minutes after take off, the lights come back on, the seat-belt light is turned off and the air-hostesses start moving about the cabin. There was none of that.
Even when we got to cruising altitude (and the dreadful engine wine finally stopped), the cabin lights remained off. No one moved. There was this strange, un-natural silence and a palpable tension. Eventually the captain came on and said the inclement weather would last until Port Elizabeth and it was still advisable to keep seat-belts fastened. Still the cabin lights remained off and the air-hostesses did not move.
We waited for bad turbulence. Every time the plane jolted slightly I imagined it would be the start of something bad. We were waiting for a sudden drop, for extra shudders for the unpleasant shaking of being buffeted by strong winds. None of it came.
Finally 40 minutes into the flight, lights were switched on and the balance of the in-flight announcements were made “Ladies and gentlemen – this is a none-smoking flight. Please note that the toilets are fitted with highly sensitive smoke detectors…etc”. Then they said the in-flight food service would commence. There was an audible change of vibe. People started to move around – air-hostesses appeared and everyone relaxed.
The captain again came on announcing that they had flown around the bad weather and that if we looked out the window we would see the lights of Port Elizabeth. Instead of flying their usual route inland, they were hugging the coast. It took more time this way, so we would be late.
I didn’t care! Better late than turbulence.
As we approached Cape Town, again the captain spoke. There was some cloud and there may be some turbulence (I was beginning to not believe him) – they should be on the ground by 9-30pm and the plane would land on autopilot!
What a strange flight. We were all waiting for a bad thing to happen.
The plane landed perfectly – a very smooth flight altogether, except we were led to believe that it wouldn’t be, so we sat tensely waiting for bad things to happen.
What a lesson.
I think we go through life waiting for bad things to happen, but we need not be afraid.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
#61 of 1000 thanks is to say ‘thank you’ for a good week, safe flight, on time, no complications – it all worked out – arrived at the airport, paid R191 for parking and drove home. 🙂
These are the days!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂