It was reported recently that an emergency message was mistakenly activated on-board a British Airways 747, instructing passengers flying from London to Hong Kong to brace for a possible crash into the sea. It was attributed to Pilot error.
According to The Sun, the 275 passengers on the British Airways flight heard the message:
This is an emergency. We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water.
The terrified passengers prepared for the worst as they headed over the North Sea.
The cabin crew reportedly ran down the aisles of the plane to reassure them the message had been played in error.
One passenger, Michelle Lord, 32, told British tabloid:
People were terrified. We all thought we were going to die.
Another traveller said:
I can’t think of anything worse than being told your plane’s about to crash.
BA explained the message was an automatic one that had been triggered by a computer. A spokesman said:
We would like to apologize to passengers on board the flight for causing them undue distress. Our cabin crew immediately made an announcement following the message advising customers that it was played in error and that the flight would continue as normal.
Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident, but it is a good argument for having a change of underwear in your carry-on luggage!
[The Sun]
