The startled pilots could even see each other as they made drastic swerves at 500mph.
The Manchester-bound Dan Air 727 was bringing home holidaymakers from Ibiza when it found itself on a collision course over mid-Wales.
Pilot Captain Simon Spence was forced to duck under the path of the British Midland 737 from Dublin to Heathrow.
Dougie and I were on that Dan Air flight, returning from our honeymoon in Formentera, a beautiful island south of Ibiza. It was quite an eventful honeymoon…
On the second day I ran into the bathroom on hearing my husband’s howls, to see a naked man crouched low in the bath wailing and swearing. He had been having a shower when his new wedding ring slipped off and disappeared down the plug-hole. Despite summoning a little man to poke about and check the drains, it was never recovered.
We made friends with two other couples and as a group trounced everyone at the champagne cocktail quiz afternoons as we were the only English-speakers taking part; the Germans weren’t as clued up on Top of the Pops as we were.
To top it all Dougie and I even won the cheesy Mr and Mrs contest, due to my new husband’s ability to do the can-can, with cartwheels, and his skill with the blind-folded “put straw into wife’s ring after being spun round a lot game” ( that’s not a euphemism: stop sniggering at the back!).
Then we came home. All I remember of the near-disaster on the plane was clonking my head on the seat in front as I had been rooting in the net bag looking for a book. Dougie recalls his stomach lurching then pointing out of the window saying, “F**k me, there’s a plane”.
After the plane dived the pilot, ever the professional, could be heard over the tannoy calmly reassuring the passengers in his wonderful, lilting pilot-speak. He apologised for the evasive action, explaining that unfortunately he had been put on a collision course with another plane. As you were. Pretty cool I thought.
There was much cheering on landing: for once, the applause was appropriate.
Exciting stuff. I agree, applause would have been appropriate. Why have people started doing that, by the way?
Oh did people not cheer on landing then! How very exciting, but scarey too
Footballer's Knees and Mad House – yes they did cheer. My last sentence isn't clear. I'll change it then everyone else will have no idea what the three of us are talking about!!
Well, that would have put me off flying forever. I'm bad enough as it is. We once had a horrendous flight to England from Spain, where the turbulence was so bad the orange juice I was handing to daughter ended up all over her! The pilot was brilliant too and came on to explain exactly what turbulence was and why we were in no danger. He got a standing ovation and I almost kissed him!
I agree with Expat Mum. I would never have boarded another plane again if that had happened to me!
Expat Mum and Steve – my poor Hubby has never been a good flier anyway so this didn't help. Funnily enough after it happened I decided I'd had my near miss so I'd be unlucky to get clobbered a second time!
I think deciding you'd had your near miss is a good way to look at it. Btw did you read about the woman saved from the Titania that died on the titanic….no…. Good!!!!
I am still sniggering at the back – sorry, are you sure it wasn't a Club 18-30 holiday?
I actually took a lot of comfort from the words "The startled pilots could even see each other".
I remember a new girlfriend of mine once saying ""F**k me, there's a plane"." I then bought a house under Heathrow flightpath – very tiring!
Kelloggsville – Oh thank you for that, I didn't know…. 🙂
Troy – do you know, the best bit about blogging is reading people's comments. That last sentence was a corker!
Oh Trish I remember that Sunday, your Dad and I drove to Manchester to bring you home to Newcastle.
I will never forget the passengers' faces instead of tanned happy holiday people you were all ashen visibly shaken just about running out of the airport.
The horror of what might have happened took a long time to fade.
Fortunately it didn't put you off flying or you would have had a poor Mum's gone to blog/
luv you Mumxx
Eileen/Mum – Of course, you and Dad were there in the arrivals hall!
Love you both very much xxx
Blimey! As you say though, you've had your near miss…
Must have been terrifying though.
A lost wedding ring AND a near fatal aircrash on the honeymoon AND you're still together…so much for bad omens! Steffi looks pretty good, doesn't she?
Very Bored – I think because it happened so quickly I didn't have time to get scared. It was more the thought of 'what if?' afterwards.
Kate – Pretty amazing (still together AND Steffi!)
I'm not sure I would have ever got on a plane agian if that had been me. Still trying to figure out the straw in the ring game, mind boggling.
Goonerjamie – thankfully, hubby had straw in his mouth: I was carrying a ring in my hand. Had to guide him in, as it were, a la 'It's A Knockout'….avanti, avanti!!
I hate flying, would have hated it even more after that. But at least you have a honeymoon story that trumps most others, silver lining.
Cate – Indeed! And the newspaper cutting just to add extra meatiness!
Scary close encounter or what! did you buy him another ring?