While cruising at 40,000 feet, the airplane shuddered,
and Mr. Benson looked out the window. "Good lord!" he screamed,
"one of the engines just blew up!" Other passengers left their
seats and came running over; suddenly the aircraft was rocked
by a second blast as yet another engine exploded on the other
side.
The passengers were in a panic now, and even the flight attendants
couldn't maintain order. Just then, standing tall and smiling
confidently, the pilot strode from the cockpit and assured
everyone that there was nothing to worry about. His words and
his demeanor seemed to make most of the passengers feel better,
and they sat down as the pilot calmly walked to the door of the
aircraft. There, he grabbed several packages from under the
seats and began handing them to the flight attendants.
Each crew member attached the package to their backs.
"Say," spoke up an alert passenger, "aren't those parachutes?"
The pilot said they were. The passenger went on, "But I thought
you said there was nothing to worry about."
"There isn't," replied the pilot as a third engine exploded.
"We're going to get help."
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