On Tuesday, February 21, a small Hawker Beechcraft airplane crashed into a shopping mall in Melbourne, Australia. Earlier that morning the chartered plane took off from Melbourne’s second largest airport at Essendon. The four Americans Greg Reynolds DeHaven, Russel Munsch, Glenn Garland, and John Washburn on board were on a three week trip through Australia. The friends were planning to golf on the 160 miles far away King Island, but that never happened. The pilot Max Quartermain was an Australian trained pilot owning a charter company. Shortly before the plane crashed Quartermaine reported an engine failure, but the causes of the crash are still under investigations. All five people on board died right away. Luckily though nobody was yet in the DFO shopping center when the plane crashed into the rear end of it. The mall was still closed at around 9 a.m. when the tragic accident happened. Witnesses were asked what they saw and they said there was a huge explosion that looked like a fireball. People around were under shock and had to be calmed down by officials.
Questions:
- How would you react if you witnessed a plane crashing down? What would you do?
- What would you do if you were on a plane and knew it was about to crash?
- If you were one of the officials how would you try to calm the witnesses that are under shock?
My Answers:
I would be very shocked if I saw something like that happen right in front of me. I would probably freak out but still try to remain calm. To call 911 is probably the best and the only thing you can do in that situation to help somehow.
If I were on a plane that was about to crash I would think about my family and friends and I’d probably pray to God, but I think in this situation the passengers didn’t have a lot of time to think about stuff like that. It all happened pretty fast.
If I was one of the people that were responsible for calming the people that were standing around watching what happened, then I would try to bring them out of sight of the crash and I would tell them that everything is alright. That won’t work in every single case though. I heard of some tragic accident once where kids had to witness their friend getting killed by a train and the kids where freaking out so badly that the firefighters that came to help had to sit down on them and by that force them not to move so they won’t run down there to do whatever they were trying to do in their rage of fear, anger, and sadness. If you’re in shock you won’t be able to think straight. That’s why I don’t really know how to calm down people that had to witness such a tragic accident.
Replies
Super job!!
If I saw the plane crashing down, I would probably freak out and call 911, and try to help out in any way I can. If I were in the plane, I would be very scared, and wonder if I would be killed or if I would survive, and I would definitely do some praying. If I were one of the officials, I would try to calm witnesses in shock by having them clear the area, and tell them that everything is under control, although some might know better.
I would be shocked that something like this just happened right in front of me. I would try and escape as soon as possible and stay calm as well. That would overall be terrible to witness this.
If I had witnessed the plane crash I would be shocked then immediately call the police to report the crash then try to help and see if I could save anyone from the crash. If i were on the plane right before it crashed then I would have prayed for everyone on it with me to survive then tried to maybe call my family before I crashed to tell them what was happening and that I loved them. If I were one of the officials then I would have consolidated them and told them it was going to be ok, then helped them how ever I could.
I totally agree with you. I think that it would be really nice if you were still able to call your family or your loved ones before the plane crashes. I think though that it all happened way too fast. I don't believe that they even had enough time to think about that.
I would wonder what just happened and probably just be in shock. I would try to decide if there is a chance that I can survive it by jumping out. I would probably tell them what happened and whatever they wanted to hear to calm them down.
I don't think it is very wise to spend the last couple seconds of your life trying to survive something like that. It's almost impossible and very unlikely. I would rather spend my time trying to contact my family or I would pray etc.
I like the idea with the public announcement. It might be the best thing to do, to just tell people the facts and what exactly happened. A lot of people in the comments said they would try to change the subject and that they would try to talk about something totally unrelated. But maybe your idea is good too. Just tell them the facts and do not try to treat them like they are something fragile.
Frankly, I would be completely stunned and full of fear, but my first priority is to call the police and make sure everyone is saved. Knowing the plane I'm aboard is about to crash, I most likely would be paralyzed with panic, but I would attempt to call my loved ones. To calm someone who has witnessed such a horrible accident, I would immediately take them away from the scene and to the hospital; victims under shock need to be hospitalized.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 7 Next