Plane Emergency Landing

[Connor]

Here's an article I saw today, quite interesting!! Any thoughts?

http://travel.aol.co.uk/2016/12/28/flig ... 0308139_uk

[Brian]

I guess my immediate reaction is to wonder what sort of scenes there must have been on board to make the situation qualify as an "emergency". After all, they were pretty close to their final destination, and an unscheduled landing costs the airline quite a packet. There must have been quite a discussion about it between crew and passengers before the decision was taken...

[Lee]

Interesting article.

I'd imagine that if only one person (or even two) found themselves in dire straits and unable to wait, the airline crew might have been able to provide some sort of solution, even if it were only a bucket/bowl behind a curtained-off area. To actually make an unscheduled stop at vast expense would indicate that a number of people were in a desperate situation. That sounds unusual as in my experience many travellers try not to use airline toilets if they can avoid it.

What is fascinating though is that if a passenger had been in such trouble that he/she had to reveal that they simply couldn't wait any longer, I can't believe they'd still be hanging on by the time arrangements had been made to divert, land, disembark etc. I'd bet there was definitely one pair of wet pants!!

[Fred]

Perhaps there was an influential passenger onboard. Placing a container for emergency pees anywhere in the tight quarters of a plane would be difficult, and the indignity would be grounds for lawsuits. The solution to the problem probably placated the PR department, but the accountants will have fits when the bills come in.

[Connor]

Interesting article.

I'd imagine that if only one person (or even two) found themselves in dire straits and unable to wait, the airline crew might have been able to provide some sort of solution, even if it were only a bucket/bowl behind a curtained-off area. To actually make an unscheduled stop at vast expense would indicate that a number of people were in a desperate situation. That sounds unusual as in my experience many travellers try not to use airline toilets if they can avoid it.

What is fascinating though is that if a passenger had been in such trouble that he/she had to reveal that they simply couldn't wait any longer, I can't believe they'd still be hanging on by the time arrangements had been made to divert, land, disembark etc. I'd bet there was definitely one pair of wet pants!!

This is what I thought too Lee, landing, taxiing, disembarking, can all take quite a while. Can easily be waiting a good 15-20 minutes after touchdown before the doors are even opened. So I wonder if there were any wet pants and seats?

Even if the toilets are working, things often get in the way - seatbelt signs, other passengers, dinner service, queues, so getting to a toilet on a plane isn't always straightforward - anyone here have any of their own experiences or sightings?

[burstingguys]

And can you imagine the scene at the first toilets in the terminal? Granted, they are generally designed to meet the needs of disembarking passengers but I'd imagine that more than a few guys still had significant waits.

[Fred]

Even if the toilets are working, things often get in the way - seatbelt signs, other passengers, dinner service, queues, so getting to a toilet on a plane isn't always straightforward - anyone here have any of their own experiences or sightings?

What is interesting is that experienced travelers and those with medical issues usually plan ahead for the possibility of inaccessible toilets on planes, and the ones who find themselves in trouble are most often those who spent the waiting time before takeoff in an airport bar - commonly young males.

[Brian]

[...]
Even if the toilets are working, things often get in the way - seatbelt signs, other passengers, dinner service, queues, so getting to a toilet on a plane isn't always straightforward - anyone here have any of their own experiences or sightings?

Yes, I've seen a few desperate guys on planes even though I don't often fly.

One incident that sticks in my memory was on a short flight from Berlin to Amsterdam in 1999, which would have been only about an hour's flying time. I was in the aisle seat, travelling alone, the seat next to me was unoccupied, and the window seat was taken by a young American guy, maybe around 25 years old, who boarded only shortly before we departed when everyone else had long been seated. I think he had probably been on a connecting flight which had arrived late and he had had to rush to make his connection. We took off, and about half an hour into the flight I was aware that he seemed very uncomfortable and ill-at-ease. He also had his legs crossed despite the cramped, economy class seating. I pretended to doze in my seat but carried on watching him.

Finally he undid his seat-belt. I continued to apparently doze. But he was looking straight at me, and so finally I opened my eyes properly and looked back at him. The expression on his face was a picture of apologetic anxiety. Looking really discomforted at having to disturb me, and very nervous, he said: "Do you mind if I go to the bathroom?"

Now, I must admit I briefly considered replying "yes, I do mind". But no, I got up and let him out. The picture of sheer relief on his face when he returned two minutes later and I let him back into his seat has remained imprinted on my memory ever since.

The thing is, he almost left it too late. Right after he returned, the fasten-seatbelt sign came on ready for landing. And of course, with everyone from that moment confined to their seats, it was a good further half hour before we arrived at the pier and could disembark the plane. I often wonder what would have happened if the guy had left it a bit longer before plucking up the courage to disturb me so that he could go and pee, and if he had missed the chance completely. I also wonder what he was thinking while desperate but still sitting there - was he trying to work out if he could just hold on until we landed? Or was he hoping I'd "wake up" so that he wouldn't have to rouse me from my apparent slumber?