The first flight that one takes remains a cherished memory.
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Air travel has become common these days; one can find travellers from every stratum of society waiting patiently for their flights at all our airports. That not only reflects the overall development of the economy, but also the trickle-down effect which provides opportunity for all to enjoy the fruits of development. As John F. Kennedy famously said, a rising tide lifts all boats!
Airports are crowded and noisy unlike in the past when one could see only the well-heeled strolling around. The usual air travellers then consisted of affluent businessmen and corporate executives, with an occasional senior civil servant thrown in. Contrast it with the present, one can see that a large section of the travellers comprises ordinary businessmen, families from the middle class, tourists and even migrant workers.
First flight
My first experience of air travel was on my way to join the National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie after the well-earned success at the Civil Services Examination. My father smilingly paid for the flight in recognition of my efforts at cracking the exam, which was a tough nut even in those days. The cost of travel from Madras to Delhi by a Caravelle plane was about half the monthly salary I would make in the prestigious Service. Yet, the memory of that flight remains with me even after some sixty years! Watching the heavenly clouds passing below was such a thrilling experience. In fact, I felt let down when the pilot announced the landing at Palam after three hours of flight; I felt that it was too short for the money I doled out!
Later, while in the government, air travel became frequent, and the work took me to several airports in India and abroad. It became routine, but nothing ever gave me the thrill that I felt during my first flight! Nevertheless, there are a few flights that I remember.
One that sticks to memory is a flight from Bombay to Bhubaneswar for an official visit to a remote factory. The Indian Airlines flight was to take some four hours with a halt in between; but due to inclement weather, it could not land at the destination. Instead, it flew straight to Calcutta, as the city was called then, and offloaded the passengers. Since there were no more flights that evening to Bhubaneswar, the airline officials offered to reimburse the passengers who wished to go by taxi all the way. And many did. Since I had travelled on a voucher, I had no choice but to wait till the next day for a special flight to arrive. After considerable delay, a small 21-seater took off with the remaining passengers, but had to return to the airport soon after take-off due to a mechanical problem. Finally, after repairs, just a handful of us, the weary and desolate leftovers, flew to reach Bhubaneswar after a solid 24 hours’ delay. To my pleasant surprise, the driver, a cheerful Sardar deputed by the Undertaking was still waiting for me at the airport, all patience and smiles!
Concord, the unforgettable
Another memorable trip was by a Concorde supersonic aircraft from Paris to London, covering the entire journey in less than four hours, at twice the speed of sound. One did not feel any discomfort at the supersonic speed except for the periodical thrusts when the engine developed secondary combustion. It was a narrow aircraft with only four seats in each row, resembling a boat somewhat! A pity that Concordes were discontinued after one of them crashed; and a great experience lost forever!
Another flight which cannot be obliterated from my memory is one which almost ended in a major accident. My wife and I were on a flight from Dallas to Washington DC, with a halt in between. We were returning after attending a wedding. But just before landing at Detroit, we were told that there was a storm passing by and landing was uncertain. Fortunately, we landed safely, but our connecting flight had been cancelled. We were worried about staying overnight and obviously looking perplexed when a kind official from the airline offered help by accommodating us in a late-night flight to Washington DC. When we thanked him profusely, he smiled and mentioned that when he saw us looking worried, he wanted to help. He was a kindred soul from Pakistan.
The flight was full. We were sleepy and waiting to land when a most unexpected announcement came in a grave tone: there was an emergency because the landing gear had failed to descend. The pilot announced that we would be landing on an apron, with fire engines standing by all around. Meanwhile, the aircraft would circle the airport to exhaust maximum fuel. All of a sudden, there was a deathly silence. Most passengers started praying, some in tears, some embracing each other, and a few like us braving our fate with abandon. A few minutes passed, all waiting for the worst, and then the miracle happened: the booming voice of the captain cheerfully announced to thunderous applause that the truant landing gear had miraculously come down! Power of prayer, indeed!
In retrospect, I keep wondering why my wife and I were among the few who did not feel alarmed; maybe our belief in karma was profound!
The good thing is that in spite of an occasional disaster, the recent tragedy at Ahmedabad included, the enthusiasm for flying does not get diminished. As they say, more people die on roads than in air! After all, convenience and comfort take the cake!
indu.sethumadhavan@gmail.com
Published – November 23, 2025 01:24 am IST
