Melvin's blog

Nshima & Curry

Melvin's  Blog

Nshima & Curry

HIJACKERS INCREASE FLYING WORRIES

I’m not afraid to fly. Really I’m not. I’ve flown
at least six times in the last decade, more
often than I’ve traveled by train, bus or horse
and buggy. And not once during those
flights have I ever used a sick bag, not even
after eating the airline food.

But I must admit that I’m always disturbed by
news that a commercial airplane has
crashed, killing many people -- even though
more people die every day in car accidents.
The media doesn’t tell us much about the
death toll from car accidents, partly because
such accidents occur in different places at
different times, unlike plane crashes, which
usually occur off the coast of New York. At
least it seems that way.

You never see a newspaper headline that
screams: "250 People Die on Nation’s
Highways -- Again!" But if more than two
people die in a plane crash, it’s national
news. CNN would probably call it "Breaking
News." They may even interrupt Larry King.

"We interrupt this show to take you live to
New York, where a small plane has crashed,
killing the pilot and two passengers. It’s the
worst plane crash in the United States since
yesterday."

If I were afraid to fly -- and I’m not -- I’d also
be concerned about hijackings, especially
after the recent one involving an Indian
Airlines Airbus. Five hijackers kept 155
passengers in captivity for eight days. Can
you imagine spending eight whole days
aboard a cramped plane with 154 other
people, all nervous and sweating, and no
one able to take a bath?

I’m not a strong man, but if I were in such a
situation, I wouldn’t just sit there and accept
it. I’d have to take some drastic action. For
example, I would try my best, no matter
where I was sitting on the plane, to take a
breath only once every 15 minutes.

The hijackers wouldn’t need to blindfold me,
because I’d always have my eyes closed. I’d
spend every moment either sleeping or
praying. "Dear God, please make the
hijackers realize that it’s far better to love
than hate. And please make them realize
that it really stinks in here."

The hijackers killed a young man returning
from his honeymoon and got away with
their terrible crime. We know little about
them, aside from their names: Chief, Burger,
Doctor, Shankar and Bhola. And there’s
even a theory among Indian Airlines officials
that those names aren’t real. Imagine that.

Fortunately, such hijackings can be
prevented, especially if the airlines follow
these simple tips:

--Do not allow anyone named "Burger" to
board a plane. If he doesn’t hijack the plane,
he’ll make passengers hungry for real food.

--Watch out for suspicious passengers,
such as those acting strange or carrying
guns and grenades.

--Do not allow five hijackers to board a
single plane. Try to limit each flight to a
maximum of one or two hijackers. It would
be easier to overpower them.

--Try to buy planes with bigger windows, so
the police can shoot hijackers from outside.
You rarely hear about trains and buses
being hijacked. The windows are too big.

Next time I fly, I won’t complain if I’m
searched thoroughly at the airport. In fact, I
want everyone to be searched, even the
pilots.

But I’m not afraid to fly. Really I’m not.

                                             Don't forget to visit Melvin's funny blog!