I can't stop laughing about you debating whether to be freaked out or proud of yourself for going to the worst case scenario. We are days away from boarding a plane for a two month house/petsit in Hawaii in the middle of the winter. Thanks go to you two again for introducing us to TrustedHousesitters. The risk is definitely worth the adventure!
Yikes!!! We have to put special battery labels on packages we process. NOW I’ve got a great story to illustrate why it’s necessary!!! So glad y’all survived this scare. Much love to you both.
"A passenger’s lithium battery pack had overheated. It had slipped down between two First Class seats, eventually setting one on fire." This is why they now make an announcement that if your phone or computer slips between the seats, call the flight attendant for help instead of trying to retrieve it yourself. Sadly, I would bet that 99% of people would still try to get it themselves; people are just not good at following instructions. (Though maybe we could cut that to 50% if more people understood the danger!)
Oh wow, I always wondered why they say that about flight attendants retrieving devices between the seats. I sure wouldn't want to reach down there! Thanks Brent for telling your story, I get it now - yikes!
Wow what a story!!! Ages ago, I was on a red-eye from Los Angeles to Chicago. As we ascended over the Pacific, I looked out the window at the moonlit ocean and saw the engine catch fire! I quickly looked around to see if anyone else saw but everyone was asleep. When I looked back out the window, the fire had self-extinguished, much to my relief. The engine power went out and the plane tipped gently to one side. Then the pilot announced we would be turning around for a malfunction. What an understatement! Thankfully we were already in process of making a u-turn over the ocean. Upon our wobbly landing, with a full fuel tank no less, we were met with a bunch of fire engines. Thankfully it was unnecessary.
I can't imagine anything more frightening than to be smelling smoke while being high in the sky, not knowing if this was the big one, but I did love this piece. Especially the ending, where you say you would have no regrets. And throwing Bilbo and Frodo in there...nice touch!
I had a friend who flew with me the first time I flew from Los Angeles to New York City, forty-five years ago. He freaked about EVERYTHING in the plane—the sound of the engine changing, the plane banking, any turbulence (he puked when we dropped a thousand feet or so abruptly). Turned out my friend, who was one of these very macho guys who loved guns and knives, smoked cigars and drove a second-hand Cadillac, had an intense fear of flying.
I didn't freak out on planes because thanks to Dad being in the Army I'd flown across the Atlantic three times, and flew from Los Angeles where I went to college to San Diego where my family lived about a dozen times (it was cheaper than the train back then), though I've come to hate flying in the U.S. thanks to all the Homeland Security Theater! they put us through these days. (Flying within Europe or Australia, or from Europe or Australia back to the U.S., is by contrast a very pleasant experience where Federalized Mall Cops don't humiliate you just so you can get on a plane.)
He also, as I quickly found out, had an intense fear of New York City, especially in 1980, and couldn't for the life of him understand why I was like Frank Sinatra—opening up my arms and singing "New York, New York"! (He really thought I was out of my mind when I later told him I used to go to Times Square to see movies at the grindhouses there—despite having accompanied me to San Diego's "rough downtown" theaters in Horton Plaza several times.) For me, New York City was the home I had never been to before, and I adjusted quickly to how different it was from Southern California.
How interesting. We are all strange contradictions, aren't we?
I SHOULD be more afraid of flying than I am. I guess I always remember how much safer we are in a plane than on any freeway. But it's not about logic, of course.
Holy shit when we went to Japan in November my phone fell between my seats and I couldn't reach it, and I was worried if I moved the seat it would crush the phone and set fire to the battery! The flight attendant had to come over and help me out, taking the entire seat apart for about 20 minutes with a flashlight while everyone around us was asleep (or probably not after that). SUPER embarrassing.
Entertaining story, educational points. Great article! But it left me wondering how you will feel if you smell smoke from an overcooked airplane dinner on an upcoming flight. 😬
This was a great read Brent. I really enjoy your stuff. I always think I’m going to die on a plane before I get on and once it lands, I think, “okay, I got a second chance!” And I like to think that the death of smacking against the ocean is instant, of course, my eyes would be closed during the whole thing!!
Ok, no matter what kind of benchmark you use, smoke on a plane is NOT cool. I sway towards the "don't worry, it's fine," corner, but if confronted with it happening to ME, I might feel differently. Makes a great story though--afterwards.
I’d rather be in a burning plane over the Atlantic than around the MAGA Cult and ICE murderers back in the U.S.
It's a fair point.
I can't stop laughing about you debating whether to be freaked out or proud of yourself for going to the worst case scenario. We are days away from boarding a plane for a two month house/petsit in Hawaii in the middle of the winter. Thanks go to you two again for introducing us to TrustedHousesitters. The risk is definitely worth the adventure!
oh how exciting! Two months is a serious jaunt! And a great escape from dreariness. Are you working remote now or retired?
Have a great flight and enjoy that weather!
Yikes!!! We have to put special battery labels on packages we process. NOW I’ve got a great story to illustrate why it’s necessary!!! So glad y’all survived this scare. Much love to you both.
Thank you! Yes, I SERIOUSLY underestimated how deadly these things can be.
"A passenger’s lithium battery pack had overheated. It had slipped down between two First Class seats, eventually setting one on fire." This is why they now make an announcement that if your phone or computer slips between the seats, call the flight attendant for help instead of trying to retrieve it yourself. Sadly, I would bet that 99% of people would still try to get it themselves; people are just not good at following instructions. (Though maybe we could cut that to 50% if more people understood the danger!)
In fairness, how are we supposed to know? You're right -- we don't understand the danger.
Oh wow, I always wondered why they say that about flight attendants retrieving devices between the seats. I sure wouldn't want to reach down there! Thanks Brent for telling your story, I get it now - yikes!
You're welcome!
Wow what a story!!! Ages ago, I was on a red-eye from Los Angeles to Chicago. As we ascended over the Pacific, I looked out the window at the moonlit ocean and saw the engine catch fire! I quickly looked around to see if anyone else saw but everyone was asleep. When I looked back out the window, the fire had self-extinguished, much to my relief. The engine power went out and the plane tipped gently to one side. Then the pilot announced we would be turning around for a malfunction. What an understatement! Thankfully we were already in process of making a u-turn over the ocean. Upon our wobbly landing, with a full fuel tank no less, we were met with a bunch of fire engines. Thankfully it was unnecessary.
Oh my! That sounds even more terrifying!! I wonder wahat would've happened if the rest of the plane had seen it? Panic?
AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN SIX HOURS OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN? LOL
Never mind, I don't wanna know, I don't think.
You make a great story out of an awful misadventure! So glad this incident had a happy ending.
Me too! We wouldn't have met otherwise LOL
Whoa! Scary story!!!!!
Hehe yes!
I can't imagine anything more frightening than to be smelling smoke while being high in the sky, not knowing if this was the big one, but I did love this piece. Especially the ending, where you say you would have no regrets. And throwing Bilbo and Frodo in there...nice touch!
Thank you! Yes, it was...unsettling.
I had a friend who flew with me the first time I flew from Los Angeles to New York City, forty-five years ago. He freaked about EVERYTHING in the plane—the sound of the engine changing, the plane banking, any turbulence (he puked when we dropped a thousand feet or so abruptly). Turned out my friend, who was one of these very macho guys who loved guns and knives, smoked cigars and drove a second-hand Cadillac, had an intense fear of flying.
I didn't freak out on planes because thanks to Dad being in the Army I'd flown across the Atlantic three times, and flew from Los Angeles where I went to college to San Diego where my family lived about a dozen times (it was cheaper than the train back then), though I've come to hate flying in the U.S. thanks to all the Homeland Security Theater! they put us through these days. (Flying within Europe or Australia, or from Europe or Australia back to the U.S., is by contrast a very pleasant experience where Federalized Mall Cops don't humiliate you just so you can get on a plane.)
He also, as I quickly found out, had an intense fear of New York City, especially in 1980, and couldn't for the life of him understand why I was like Frank Sinatra—opening up my arms and singing "New York, New York"! (He really thought I was out of my mind when I later told him I used to go to Times Square to see movies at the grindhouses there—despite having accompanied me to San Diego's "rough downtown" theaters in Horton Plaza several times.) For me, New York City was the home I had never been to before, and I adjusted quickly to how different it was from Southern California.
Fascinating what we are afraid of what we aren’t.
How interesting. We are all strange contradictions, aren't we?
I SHOULD be more afraid of flying than I am. I guess I always remember how much safer we are in a plane than on any freeway. But it's not about logic, of course.
Well said!
Thank you.
Holy shit when we went to Japan in November my phone fell between my seats and I couldn't reach it, and I was worried if I moved the seat it would crush the phone and set fire to the battery! The flight attendant had to come over and help me out, taking the entire seat apart for about 20 minutes with a flashlight while everyone around us was asleep (or probably not after that). SUPER embarrassing.
WHOA! So at least you knew how dangerous it was! Now you REALLY know lol
Entertaining story, educational points. Great article! But it left me wondering how you will feel if you smell smoke from an overcooked airplane dinner on an upcoming flight. 😬
Michael is wrong. TRIGGERED!
But honestly, this was such a SPECIFIC smell -- chemical/plastic -- that that is what I would be more alarmed by again...
HUNGRY! LOL LOL
HA HA! That’s the only correct answer. It’s also an accurate description of my current state!
"They burned dinner" walked so "it’s probably just the wiring" could run. 😂😂😂 So glad all was well in the end!
LOL thanks, me too!
This was a great read Brent. I really enjoy your stuff. I always think I’m going to die on a plane before I get on and once it lands, I think, “okay, I got a second chance!” And I like to think that the death of smacking against the ocean is instant, of course, my eyes would be closed during the whole thing!!
Thank you!
Yes, I try not to think about those things too much. LOL
lol right!! Now onward!
The fact that you take off your shoes on a plane was the scariest part of this story.
Hey now! I was wearing slippers.
Ah! Good information. I’m back to being frightened about the fire. Thank you.
Don't be! Crews are very well trained to handle these very rare events.
Michael missed your (very funny) joke.
Ok, no matter what kind of benchmark you use, smoke on a plane is NOT cool. I sway towards the "don't worry, it's fine," corner, but if confronted with it happening to ME, I might feel differently. Makes a great story though--afterwards.
Yes! Definitely AFTER! LOL