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Read other letters about this article
People, if you have a question, don't post it here, spawning crazy new rumors and myths, just write to me directly. There's a link at the end of every column.
Hutman asks: "So... Why didn't we jettison the fuel?"
Proabably because the type of plane you were on did not have a jettisoning system. Not all do.
>>> In another one, an entire engine suddenly shot noisy, "foom"-ing flames out the back for several seconds before dying, at which point all the lights went out and the pilot made a dramatic turn back toward our departure point. <<<
A compressor stall. Pretty harmless, actually. This phenomenon was covered in either of these columns..
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2005/08/12/askthepilot149/
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2002/09/13/askthepilot10/
>>> Are airlines required to publicize the number of near-miss scenarios that occur <<<
In all likelihood these weren't near misses. Not by a longshot.
- Patrick Smith
