[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

flying from Jeddah to Heathrow. Plane had to make an unplanned stopover in Dubai to pick up a body. As we took off from Dubai, 2 tyres exploded. Needless to say: every adult got totally wrecked having been told by the pilot that it was going to be an emergency landing situ at Heathrow.

747 and not full - (this way in the late 70's) Everyone was shunted into the centre seats - with kids (I was about 9 or 10 at the time) being placed in the middle with adults around them to protect them.

Brace position for landing, bent over, pillows and blankets around heads etc, with Adults leaning over to protect the kids. One very drunk expat took off his Rolex and handed it to me as a good luck charm, and if we landed okay, he told me to keep it. (think my father took it of me and gave it back to the guy when we landed)

coming into Heathrow........ landing strip totally empty apart from a line up of ambulances and fire engines all along the side - speeding along as the plane was about to land. Not one other aircraft was to be seen on the ground.

Landing was scary as hell. Inside of the plane was a wreck - the false roofing fell to bits. Overhead lockers opened up and stuff came tumbling down, the interior after landing had stuff stewn everywhere - and we got to slide down the chutes.

As a kid, It was a scary adventure. If it happened now: I'd literally sh!t myself.

Yikes! I have no fear of flying, I love it in fact, but I think that sort of experience would change my feelings somewhat!