NidalM Photography / Blog / Photo With a Story / A Photo With a Story: Fly!

A Photo With a Story: Fly!

Posted by NidalM on Oct 25th, 2009 | 60 comments

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but sometimes it’s fun to hear a story behind a photo.

It was the summer of 2007, and a major turning point in my life. In a bewildering start to the year, I had been accepted at the University of Michigan to pursue a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering. Having said goodbye to family and friends, I was en route to a new life. And I had no idea what to expect. Certainly not the events that were about to unfold.

My flight plan for entry into the United States involved a stop in Amsterdam, where I would transfer to a Northwestern Airlines jet for my transatlantic voyage to North America. Settling into my window seat after a particularly invasive background check by the airport staff (I was told to expect these), I looked around the passenger cabin.

The man beside me had already cracked open a can of beer, despite it being only 7am. The couple in the seat behind us were all over each other. Decidedly beyond the ‘get a room’ stage, and making slurping noises. ‘Hmm’, I thought to myself, ‘definitely not Saudi’.

The plane taxied to the runway as I sat red faced (well, as red as a brown man can get!) at the first-time, first-hand exposure to both sex and booze. This was the beginning of the weirdest flight I have ever taken.

As we got to our runway, the plane seemed to seemed to turn off. And it just stood there for 15 minutes. Finally, as the passengers in the cabin started to take notice of the delay (even the happy couple behind me stopped to look out the window), the captain came on the intercom. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologize for the delay, but it seems we have run into a paperwork issue with this flight. To resolve it, we’ll need to taxi back to the gate”.

It was a beutiful day in Amsterdam. Sadle we were stuck for hours at the gate.

It was a beutiful day in Amsterdam. Sadly we were stuck for hours at the gate.

Delaying a flight and causing a plane to taxi back? Wow, that’s some serious bureaucracy. If anyone actually thought the problem was paperwork related, their beliefs in the respectability of the airline industry was quickly shattered when, after taxiing back, airport staff disassembled the plane’s right engine.

A good 2 hours later (if this was ‘paperwork’ then it must’ve been a whole term paper) we finally taxied back to the runway, with what we assumed was an operational right engine. Already interested in photography, I pulled out my trusty point-n-shoot and started snapping away pictures as the plane took off. As the plane bumped around a little too much as it gained altitude, I realized this would be anything but a normal flight…

Our original flight plan was pretty straightforward. AMS -> DTW. A monkey could've been the cartographer.

Halfway through the flight, as the attendants came to pick up the remnants of the barely palatable in-flight meal (I was given plastic utensils, as my neighbors used nicer metallic ones!), the pilot chirped back onto the intercom. We were halfway across the Atlantic and something was wrong.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have lost power from our right engine. The plane can still operate with just one engine, but we are diverting this flight to the closest airport which would be Montreal”.

Utter silence in the cabin.

I’d imagine the couple behind would be holding each other very tight at that point. A Boeing 737 has two engines. Losing thrust to one still means the aircraft can land safely. Lose both and you get out and push.

To someone who had so far never been in a plane longer than 2 hours, the next 4 or so hours of this flight were the most terrifying ever. I remember, quite embarrassingly, closing my eyes and saying (several) silent prayers. In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have been so scared. I mean, honestly, what are the chances of both engines failing in the same flight?

Our new route had us a few thousand miles short of Detroit.

Well, since I went on to complete my Master’s degree and become a very lovable photographer, you can already guess that this story didn’t end in disaster. The plane limped its way to Montreal, where we landed safely and spent the next 8 hours waiting for another Northwestern jet to fly over from Detroit to come pick us up.

Our only consolation: $10 in food stamps at an airport where people blatantly refused to talk to you in any language but French.

Well, I guess I did have at least another consolation. On getting to my uncle’s place in Ohio (albeit 12 hours late), I discovered this gem of an image. Taken high above the skies of Amsterdam…

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Fly!

Of course the result of all this is that I can no longer fly on a plane without constantly checking on the engines every few minutes… Not that this helps in any way, but it’s also the reason for me never being able to sleep on a plane…

Tags: airplane, sky, travel

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Chiara

Eh alors? Vous avez un probleme avec le francais, hein? (sorry, computer jinn refuses to let me make the proper accents)

That said, great story and pics as usual!

I once had an adventure to make an airport transfer in Paris because Air Canada doesn't know Casablanca and Paris are in 2 different time zones. Like an idiot (a quoi pensais-je?) I told a Paris cab driver to hurry between airports–which he obligingly did at 130 km/hr through the city traffic. All of which is to explain why I was so overstressed and tired that I fell asleep as soon as the plane lifted off for Montreal (that's Montreal, to you–imagine an accent on the “e”). I woke up to hear the pilot announce that we would be landing in London shortly (London! Mais qu'est-ce que c'est que ca comme trajet?)–a rather novel route, to say the least. He then went on to explain that we would fix the problem there, and then be on our way (un probleme? on avait un probleme?). Some nerve, thought I, waiting til now to announce a problem in that calm captainy voice. Meanwhile, the 2 young gentlemen next to me kept looking at me in amazement. I voiced my indignation in typical Gallic fashion to which these 2 French-Canadian members of the Canadian Olympic luge team answered that the captain had indeed announced “le probleme”, and that in order to land in London he would need to lighten the plane by dumping fuel, which he did. Being an engineer and all you probably recognize fuel + air + friction = fire ie 2 streams of fire, one from each side of the plane. And I had slept through it all! No pics! LOL

Et voila! Your post was great and inspirational!
Souma

mais c'est pas un petit problem, alors! O,O
and @Nidal: cant blame you for being so scared. i know i wouldve been.
biscuitinabasket

Although not engine troubles, we went through some horrific clouds on the way back from Bombay; I have never been that scared ever! saying that, these planes are built to last worse(I think)!
Chiara

LOL Non, plutôt un gros problème! I really should get more rest before flights. I once slept through the landing and de-planing in Paris, and would have woken up in Zurich, if a conscientious stewardess hadn't awakened me with a “Vous allez à Zurich n'est-ce pas?” to which I was just awake enough to mumble “Non, à Paris” and hear “Mon Dieu, j'espère qu'il y toujours la passerelle” before she went running to make sure there was still the walkway up for me to de-plane from–or do they make sleepy passengers parachute off the plane onto to the runway? LOL

NidalM–for a safe, sleepy flight, here is what you do: plan your flight for right after major exams, career making or breaking presentation and closing up accommodation; run on adrenal until after takeoff; leave your seat belt on so no one annoys you about it; and voilà you wake up “on the other side of the pond” as the Brits say, in no time!
Khalid R.

Not to be pedantic, buddy, but that's not a Boeing 737. That was an Airbus A330, and they're usually certified to fly up to 180 minutes on one engine. But hey! At least your engine didn't catch fire mid-flight! That's happened to me.
Khalid R.

Not to be pedantic, buddy, but that's not a Boeing 737. That was an Airbus A330, and they're usually certified to fly up to 180 minutes on one engine. But hey! At least your engine didn't catch fire mid-flight! That's happened to me.
Khalid R.

Not to be pedantic, buddy, but that's not a Boeing 737. That was an Airbus A330, and they're usually certified to fly up to 180 minutes on one engine. But hey! At least your engine didn't catch fire mid-flight! That's happened to me.
Khalid R.

Not to be pedantic, buddy, but that's not a Boeing 737. That was an Airbus A330, and they're usually certified to fly up to 180 minutes on one engine. But hey! At least your engine didn't catch fire mid-flight! That's happened to me.
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I stand corrected. I definitely don't know my airplanes

That said, we were up in the air for longer than 3hrs after the announcement.. so perhaps the engine wasn't completely dead? (Read: The dutch didn't completely screw it up ;P)

Got any pictures of the fire?
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I think I should put in “English Only” somewhere on my blog ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Still doesn't work for me! Every time I do manage to fall asleep, I'm up within 20min. I once stayed up almost 4 days straight (shooting a Comedy Tour day and night). They put me on a business class flight on the way back. It was 1am. And I stared out at seat in front of me the entire time through. ;S
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Still wouldn't stop me from saying an involuntary prayer ;P
Souma

you'll need to accept me the way I am, love
Chiara

Pourquoi? Per ché? Porqué? ??????
Chiara

NidalM–that was for you. Souma, I understand parfaitement! LOL
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Aap log mujhe itna tung kyun karte hain?

(Thats transliterated urdu for you) ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Well French IS the language of love… how can I resist you're charms… swoons.
Souma

You sure this isn't so I'd get you Dibyaza when you're in Jeddah? tout pour l'amour de bonbon
@Chiara: vous etes tellement gentille cherie
owais1289

my experience last year was different but yet terrifying…. i was flyin from islamabad at 3 am to dubai…..after sprinting on the runway for a rough 15-20 every1 felt a sudden forward thrust…. i look outside and smoke comin outta both right engines…..i m sure every1 was shouting different forms of shahada ….then after a loud thud into the grass we came to a stop….as soon as we stop we the ppl on the ryt side saw rushing PIA 747 landin!…..as soon as it passed pilot annonced with extreme anger tht the sleeping air traffic controller didn't inform him of the incoming plane and gave us the green light to takeoff….it was our skillful ex-USAF pilot who saw the lights of the 747 and managed to turn into the grass…we were all deboarded and the plane was checked for 2 hrs and then we left…..but i was the worst flight of my life….
Chiara

!!!???????? ?? ???

Parce que nous en sommes capables!!!!
Because we can!!!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

“!!!???????? ?? ???”
Huh?!

I understood the french there but not the arabic :s
Chiara

PS that was English transliterated to Urdu Nafta'liq script
I wouldn't have needed this PS but the computer jinn decided not to type except in nafta'liq script anymore on that comment!

Souma–Il nous insulte dans sa langue maternelle (et paternelle)!
Chiara

Of course you understood the French–it was followed by the English!
Ou bien tu parles plus la langue de l'amour que tu n'admets!
Chiara

Merci ma belle!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

It is certainly possible. Everyone knows I'm extremely skilled at LOVE ;P
Chiara

Hmmm… no really… I'm not sure what to say to that one that wouldn't be haram in some way or other… most go off to think in multiple languages! LOL
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Also, theres the risk of corrupting my impressionable little mind ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

dude, thats intense 0_0

glad you're ok…! now i got more things to worry about when flying
Chiara

Little mind as in young, right?

Never mind.

The answer awaits on Tara's blog ( taraummomar.blogspot.com), 2 posts hence. Be prepared to blush! (and comment!). Should be up Oct 30 or before, so that you can recover from your red-facedness before your Comedy night–or you really will look odd behind the camera!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

wow.. I'm actually a little scared now 0_0
Chiara

Très bien!
Chiara

Part I is up already–I would love your opinion, and that of your readers on the important topic of Blogging & Ethics. I have linked your blog in the post. Part II –da da da DAH–will be up in a few days!
http://taraummomar.blogspot.com/2009/10/bloggin…
http://thespills.wordpress.com/ qa

I slept through a 14 hour flight. Like straight through it. when coming back form khi to Toronto.
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

LOL! Now THAT was one funny conversation!

Chiara – you make me wanna learn french. I can say just a few basic sentences and one not-so-polite one.
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

lol, poor you.

Alhumdulillah you are okay Owais. That's some experience!
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

Funny post. I've travelled a lot but never had any major issues with my plane. Alhumdulillah for that. At most, we've had turbulence which I find interesting – don't ask me why. Only time I hate it is when I'm in the plane's restroom. lol.

Is the last pic of a mixture of clouds and snow or just clouds that look like snow/ice. I can't tell. But I remember flying over Canada once and seeing snow from the plane. It was an awesome site, mashaAllah. I have pics but they are lost somewhere at home. It was way before the days of digital camera.
Chiara

Laquelle?
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

lol, you are gonna get me in trouble! If you've ever listened to English songs there's an old one by All Saints called Lady Marmalade. Sung by loads of other people too. You can check out the lyrics. I never knew the meaning until MUCH later. LOL.
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

Why did I think you wanted to know the rude one? O.o

Bro Nidal – plz delete the post!

The others are:
- Merci (learnt in France at a ticket counter)
- Bonjour (a chef in France who was very either to teach)
- Cest la vie (also from a song)
- je t'adore (can you believe I learnt this from comics?)
- je t'aime (taught online!)
- Bon voyage (duh!)

Yep, I think that's the extent of my french.
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

eager* not either. Freudian slip. Je suis désolé
Chiara

I'm going with clouds. We will see what the photographer says.
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

Damn I meant sight.

Chiara – I'm starting to think it's clouds too.
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I'll go with the philosophical answer of “It can be whatever you want it to be” ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I have a restroom turbulence story too! And no its not dirty ;P

Was on a plane from Detroit to Tampa, FL. Was using the restroom just as the pilot announced we were coming in for a landing. I got done with what I needed to do and made to leave the restroom.

Just as I opened the door, the plane was hit by a massive jerk. And by massive I mean enough to knock me off my feet if I wasn't holding onto the door.

The poor girl sitting in front of the restroom grabbed onto the seat in front of her and looked at me with utter horror. I looked back, nervous myself, smiled, and said “Thank God I wasn't peeing when *that* happened”.

She started laughing and calmed down. We landed safely ;P
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

And I'm going to go with the Bollywood response, “Nahiiiii”. (noooo)
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

All your interesting stories are starting to involve girls. LOL.
Chiara

As the only born and raised Canuck among the 3 of us, I am reaffirming cloud over snow. Sometimes philosophy leads to walking about in stockings and summer shoes when there is snow on the ground. Don't ask me how I know LOL
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

And the more I stare at the picture, the more I feel they are clouds.

Chiara – ever took pictures of standing in summer shoes on snow? If so, please share.
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Ah to be 23 and single
Chiara

And irresistible! (I know you are too modest to say it yourself ) –feel free to delete if it makes you too red-faced (and less attractive LOL )
Chiara

Trust a woman who knows her snow–it's clouds!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

Thank god I wasn't peeing when you said *that*
Chiara

Yes indeed. Multiple times, while traveling through Italy at Christmas time, and surviving my first winter on the French (or any) Riviera. A;so acquired my first and only case of bronchitis, which is how I met…check your email! LOL
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

Of all the things. *rolls eyes*
Chiara

Indeed! You were so shocked you went all Deutsch on us, Liebling, in the uncorrected version (you can't hide from Disqus!).
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

U mean the “got” right?
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

Waiting…
Chiara

Da!
http://halfthedeen.blogspot.com/ Single4now

Disqus rules!

I think I'll have to register to this site. I make too many mistakes while typing as well. Damn you parapraxis!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

No! I edited it! 'Got' will not smite me down for typos will he?

Damn it Disqus has doomed me.