Originally Posted by Delta Hog
Thankfully, we've no major US crashes since the New York American Airlines crash in late 2001. But this morning, as I was furiously switching around my flights for the next couple of days, something occurred to me . . . what if I'm switching onto a plane that crashes? (Well, bad news, obviously).
More complex question, what if I'm switching off a plane that crashes? Would I forever think, "wow, that was close"? In any major crash, there have to be many people who had intended to be on that flight but weren't for one reason or another -- if you are/were one of those people, would you take it as some kind of sign? For instance, depending on your viewpoint, a sign to do something different with your life -- or a sign to do what you're doing, more intensely? Some kind of redemption from somewhere? Or, would you think it's just luck of the draw and you are one of many who are "exempted" from any disaster?
Me? I'm the cynical realist type who doesn't believe in fate or signs . . . but would be curious to hear how others see things.
I didn't take it as a "sign" to do something different with my life, but it did freak me out for awhile. I was on the aircraft that turned into AS 261 later the same day. The plane had one more safe takeoff/landing cycle after I got off, and then, kaplooey. Watching bits of the plane floating in the ocean I had gotten off of, earlier the same day, was too much. I didn't go on another MD80 for over 5 years. A lot of people said it was a sign I was going to live a long time, etc. I just figured it wasn't my time, and wondered why the plane decided to give out 8 hours after I stepped off.