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.

I still have the boarding pass (they used to issue them in advance) for the July 31, 1992 Thai Airways flight that crashed on approach to Kathmandu. Circumstances changed so I flew the day before. When I read the news the following day, I was completely stunned. My life went before me and I had to reconsider everything. I'm very grateful to this day.

I know of a FTer who almost got rerouted onto one of the planes that crashed on 9/11.

I read somewhere years ago that the no-show rate for planes that end up crashing is higher than normal. Anyone know if that is true?

I don't know what it is but I don't think any of us are "exempt" from disaster. I know, however, how close I've been to a major disaster. This had nothing to do with planes but back in 1997 - the date is etched in my mind; 19th September - I travelled on a high-speed-train from Swindon, England to London. When I got home it was all on the evening news that a Swansea to London express had collided with a freight train at Southall, just west of London that afternoon. Consequently 7 passengers died and most of the fatalities occured in the First Class carriage at the very front of the train. This train would have been the next service from Swindon to London after the one I actually travelled on and I could so easily have been on it had I missed my train.

The thing that shook me the most was the fact that nearly all of the fatalities occured in the front carriage. Were I to have been on that doomed train, then I know 100% that I would have been sitting in that very carriage (coach G was a smoking carriage back then and is always the leading coach) which almost took the brunt of the collision. There were no fatalities in the Standard Class coaches. I took a while for me to dispell the fear of travelling on a British train again and now I hardly ever think of what might have been when I do travel. I'm just thankful, that's all.

If I happened to be booked on a flight that crashed and somehow I was deterred and never took it--I would take this as a sign from GOD and definitely re-think my life and change it accordingly. This would be a life changing experience let me tell you. I'm sure there are some in here that don't even believe in religion but I�m a firm believer and yes GOD gives signs to people everyday. Some people are blind and ignore it and some people see it.

God bless you all.

This whole thread is crass. What about the people who DID crash--did they do so because God was sending them condign punishment?

Well, then, isn't the answer "no, not any kind of greater sign"? (In fact, that's my personal answer.)

Why does that make the whole thread crass? What's crass about talking about the emotions and thoughts one would have from essentially a near-death experience?

I've been in three accidents (all prop planes, air-taxi types) that I walked away from, as did the all others on board. Well, "walked" may be something of an misnomer - let's say, "got" away from.

Each one could easily have had a less successful outcome. A game of inches, as they say.

Fate? Destiny? Nah - crappy winds; old landing gear struts, spit happens.

How many times have you been in a car accident, or witnessed one, or driven past one? Of course we all have and it's inevitably sobering and makes you think about what might have been or might yet still come to be. But do you swear off cars or certain roads?

Years ago my mom worked for the test pilots at Douglas Aircraft (dawn of the jet age) and was in the tower when 3 of her best friends (and family friends of ours) were involved in a midair collision with a weekend warrior in a T38 over greater LA. The guys in the DC-7 (tail sheared off) talked all the way down, talking about the airplane, the guages, their wives and kids, and at the last second managed to keep the plane from crashing into an elementary school playground.

It was not fate that spared those kids at recess. It was professionals doing their jobs right up to the last tenth of a second. I have never feared flying since then.

I don't think not boarding a planned flight, that then crashed, would convince me to take the occurrence as a sign or warning.

What I try to remind myself of often is that we are all dying - just that some of us are dying of good health, and I want to be one of those people!

Some planes crash; some cars crash; sometimes we are in control of the cars and planes; sometimes we are not! The best thing is to not be afraid and to continue living as much as we can.

JK-SFO

There is an FTer who tried to change onto a flight to 9/11 but didn't because the change fee was ridiculously expensive. They still fly.

I generally think that the airline that just had it's first plane accident in decades is the airline I want to fly.

Precisely the reason I turn into a white knuckle flyer every time I fly WN.

I wouldn't take it as a sign. However, it would make me stop and appreciate just how fragile and fast-changing life can be.

I was booked on a swiss air flight that crashed out of new york a few years ago. I was in New Orleans, and my flight to new york was delayed, so I reruted to cincinatii (if I remember correctly via DFW) and got a flight from Cincinatti to Zurich. When I landed, a bag I checked (since I was coming from a trade show and had materials with me) didn't make it, and I ended up yelling at the woman at the counter about how pissed off I was. it was only after another leg, and I got home, that I heard that the flight I was supposed to be on crashed, and the people in the airport had bigger things to worry about than my bag.