After circling over grey, cloudy Mumbai for a half hour, the captain announced that we were finally beginning our descent. I was flying SpiceJet flight 703 back from Varanasi and by all accounts, it was going to be just another work trip, never mind all the rain. Then, as we were about to land, I noticed we just hovered over the tarmac without the wheels touching down with that familiar thud. I knew something was amiss. When the wheels did touch down, it was too late. We were going way too fast. Then came the bump and the final jolt.

Poor visibility, incessant rain and strong winds had caused the aircraft to skid off the three-kilometre-long runway. The nose wheel had lodged in the slushy mud just beyond the tarmac bringing the aircraft to a sudden stop. Everyone on board was perfectly unhurt. But before we could switch on our cell phones and reach for our bags, the pilot advised us to remain seated, calmly explaining the situation and mentioned that the ground crew was on its way to help. So far, not all that bad, given the biblical scene of the storm outside my window.

The only thing was, we wouldn’t be taking the stairs. Instead, we would have to slide down, emergency landing-style. As is protocol, the flight attendants asked us not to take our carry-on bags on our way out. And this simple instruction, or the fact that most passengers decided to casually ignore it, was what caused the first real risk to our lives on this flight.

NEWS Operations halted at Mumbai Airport due to heavy rain and SpiceJet #SG703 incident https://t.co/t2eKJhOj5e pic.twitter.com/9P3iUHP7qI — AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) September 19, 2017

The flight attendant had to then shout the instruction again about the carry-ons so that passengers at the back of the aircraft could hear her loud and clear. And while from row 5 I could tell what she was trying to do, it sounded like a panicked cry to passengers at the back. And that is when people tried to rush and push and pull to get off the aircraft first. Within seconds, I saw humanity degrade into an abysmal pile right before my eyes. I even saw a man push a mother with a toddler out of the way so he could get off before her. It was all very hysterical—a mother’s cry on being separated from her young child; people selfishly grabbing their bags, blocking other people’s way as they tried to get off.

The slides at the back of the plane malfunctioned and tore, and this caused another little outbreak of hysteria. The slides at the back of the plane malfunctioned and tore, and this caused another little outbreak of hysteria.



But on the other hand, there were passengers who rose to the occasion and helped the flight attendants restore some semblance of order, barking instructions to over-reacting passengers. Finally, we slid off the flight, with passengers in the middle section walking on the wings and then on to the tarmac. The slides at the back of the plane malfunctioned and tore, and this caused another little outbreak of hysteria (although the entire time we were safe and sound, if not on the tarmac, then just off it). There was no smoke or fire in sight. No visible sign of danger to warrant such a response.

Workmen toiling to clear Spicejet 737 boeing trapped in mud at Mumbai Airport (20th September -2017) pic.twitter.com/YYuY1IJaRs — Sanjeev Choudhury (@intenceroselove) September 20, 2017

Even as we waited in the pouring rain for buses to come take us to the terminal building, passengers pushed past mothers with young children and elderly people to get on the first bus out of there. I wanted to be in the dry warmth of the terminal building as much as the next person but risking bad karma for that seemed like a high price to pay. Thankfully, seeing me shivering in the rain, a fellow passenger offered me the much-welcome warmth of a spare sweatshirt. As we filed into the terminal, there was a roll call to make sure all souls were accounted for and then we headed into the arrivals hall and waited for our bags. Finally, hours later, what was supposed to be a routine flight from Varanasi to Mumbai, I was out of the airport and on my way home, a little wiser about humankind.

Moral of the story:

Listen to and then follow the flight attendants’ instructions. They are there to help you.

Don’t panic for no reason. It impairs judgment.

Fasten your seatbelt at all times. Because you don’t want to be woken up by a particularly nasty air-pocket.

In case of an emergency, do not reach for your belongings. Just get off the flight. None of your personal effects, however precious, is worth your or anyone else’s wellbeing.

As told to Raj Aditya Chaudhuri

Read: Is it safe to fly in the rain?