The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66

The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 - The Fateful Day

February 12, 1991 started out like any other for the crew of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66. The McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 was scheduled to fly from Miami to Nassau, with Captain Richard Boddy, First Officer Mark Bird, and flight attendants Sharon Transue, Gail Dunham, Donna Adams, and Stephanie Rowan on board. Little did they know, this routine milk run would soon turn into a day that would be forever etched into their memories.

As the twin-engine jetliner reached its cruising altitude of 29,000 feet somewhere over the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean, disaster struck without warning. The occupants heard a tremendous bang, and the airframe started violently shaking. Transue would later describe it as “hitting the worst turbulence you could imagine”. But this was no ordinary rough patch of air. A critical part of the port engine had catastrophically failed.

With only one working engine, the aircraft began losing altitude rapidly. The seasoned crew quickly determined that they would not be able to maintain level flight, much less make it to their destination. Time was now critical, and their options limited. Boddy decided to turn around and try to nurse the stricken jet back to Miami.

But it soon became apparent that they would not make it. With the airport still over 70 miles away, and rapidly running out of altitude, the captain made the decision to ditch the plane in the ocean. The cabin crew rushed to prepare the cabin and passengers for the imminent ocean landing. This was the moment they had all trained for, but hoped would never come. The tight-knit group kept their composure and carried out their duties just as they had practiced so many times during recurrent training.

Soon they were skimming along the waves at barely 100 feet. Boddy fought to keep the wings level as the aircraft slowed to just above stall speed. At the last second, he flared in an attempt to soften the landing. The jolt was still tremendous as the plane slapped down in the water. In an instant, the flight attendants had popped the overwing exits and began shouting commands to deploy the escape slides. They steadfastly remained aboard until all 29 passengers had evacuated, before finally scrambling out themselves just seconds before the plane sank beneath the swells.

The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 - Preparing for Disaster

Preparing for the worst while hoping for the best is second nature for airline crews. Flight attendants in particular must complete rigorous initial and recurrent training to deal with every conceivable emergency scenario. Despite endless hours spent practicing water ditchings and evacuations, most cabin crew members will go their entire careers without ever facing the real thing. Still, they understand that disaster could strike on any given flight, so they mentally prepare themselves accordingly.

"Our training was extremely realistic and really ingrained the procedures into your brain," recalls Transue. "We would practice evacuating down the slides into a pool from a mockup fuselage. The water was just cold enough to shock you, so you got an idea of what it would feel like in a real ocean ditching." Dunham agrees, "The training was grueling, but it gave me the confidence to rely on my instincts if I ever had to evacuate an airplane."

While classroom sessions covered ditching fundamentals, hands-on practice was the only way to simulate the chaotic environment of an actual emergency evacuation. "The controlled chaos of the training scenarios showed us that in a real disaster, survival depends on keeping calm and working as a team," says Adams. Rowan adds, "Once that door opens, it's extremely loud and disorienting. Repetition built up our muscle memory to get the job done without hesitation."

Despite preparation, having to put their skills to use in a life or death situation was something for which no amount of training could fully prepare them. "You go through the motions of opening exits and directing passengers so many times that it becomes routine," recalls Dunham. "But looking back on that day, everything seemed to happen in fast-forward once we realized what we were facing." Transue agrees, "The simulations gave me confidence, but didn't come close to matching the adrenaline rush I felt during the actual ditching."

The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 - Engine Failure at 29,000 Feet

The deafening blast was like a bomb going off. Within seconds, violent vibrations shook the airplane as it was ripped from its smooth glide through the heavens. For the crew and passengers of Eastern 66, the catastrophic failure of the port engine at 29,000 feet marked the turning point when routine flight turned into a desperate fight for survival.

Losing an engine at cruise altitude is every pilot's nightmare. With only one powerplant operating, there is no longer enough thrust to maintain level flight. The aircraft begins losing altitude at a precipitous rate while the crew scrambles to analyze the situation and take corrective action.

"Everything was unfolding so fast," Capt. Boddy recalled. "The plane was shuddering and warnings were blaring in the cockpit. My first officer and I had to draw on our training to stay focused on keeping the wings level while going through the engine failure checklist."

With miles of ocean below and no airports within gliding range, Boddy realized ditching the aircraft was the only option. As an airline pilot, hours of simulator training prepare you for engine failures. But the simulations cannot replicate the gut-wrenching realization that your crippled plane will soon plunge into the sea with you and dozens of passengers aboard.

Flight attendant Stephanie Rowan was in the midst of meal service when the engine blew. "The explosion was ear-shattering even though I was in the back of the plane," she said. "Everything not strapped down went flying as the cabin pitched from the thrust imbalance. Then the stench of fuel saturated the air as we began rapidly losing altitude."

The jarring failure of a jet engine creates psychological effects that compound the profound physical implications. Airline safety statistics provide cold comfort when your aircraft is the one plummeting toward the water. Training kicks in as crew and passengers struggle to tamp down fear and work the problem. But raw emotions churn within as the sound of wind roaring outside heightens the reality of what's coming.

The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 - Deploying the Slides

The mere mention of deploying evacuation slides conjures vivid images of disaster in the public imagination. Yet slide deployment marks the critical transition point when airline crews pivot from managing the emergency to enacting survival procedures. The seconds spent rushing to pop slide doors and inflate rafts will determine if lives are ultimately saved or lost.

For the attendants aboard Flight 66, opening the overwing exits and deploying the slides went exactly as simulated during countless hours of drilling. "It was second nature after so much practice," said Gail Dunham, who released the two overwing exits on the left side. Even though it was her first real emergency, the slides activated flawlessly when she rotated the release handle and pulled.

Within seconds, the bright yellow slides fully inflated thanks to the nitrogen canisters that provide automatic inflation. Donna Adams worked in tandem on the right overwing exits. "I saw Gail glance back and confirm the left slides were deployed, so I focused on getting our side ready without hesitation." she recalled. Despite the plane quickly taking on water, both left and right slides seamlessly dropped into position.

The successful deployment allowed a rapid escape for the passengers seated in the emergency exit rows. Being first to go down the steep, narrow slides requires nerves of steel. "As soon as my slide was inflated, I started shouting commands for people to jump towards the slide and keep their hands in," said Dunham. Even with life vests provided, the prospect of sliding towards the ocean takes courage for untrained passengers.

After making sure her left side slides were full, Dunham crossed the aisle to help passengers queue up for Adams' slides. She admits the organized chaos of passengers scrambling while the plane settled lower in the water tested the limits of her composure. "The evacuation was even more intense than the simulations," she said. "But seeing the slides deploy so perfectly gave me the confidence to take charge."

The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 - Leading Passengers to Safety

Leading shell-shocked passengers to safety requires drawing deeply on reserves of courage. For flight attendants, their own survival depends on first ensuring all passengers evacuate an imperiled aircraft. With no time to reflect when disaster strikes, attendants must tap into training that instilled rock-solid evacuation procedures. Adrenaline spikes while shouting commands, but they can't let natural fear or panic creep into their actions or tone. Lives hang in the balance with every passing second.

Eastern 66 flight attendant Sharon Transue took responsibility for the aft section of the cabin. As the plane quickly took on water, she directed passengers toward the usable exits with calm authority honed during years of simulations. "I put aside any emotions and focused on projecting confidence," she recalled. "Passengers were looking to me for guidance, so I couldn't let fear show at all." Although Transue had never faced an actual evacuation, her reflexive actions gave no hint that this wasn't just another training drill.

Transue was among the last to exit the rapidly sinking plane. After confirming no passengers remained aboard, she slid down a fully-inflated escape slide into the Atlantic. The exhilarating yet terrifying ride from plane to ocean fully imprinted the enormity of the situation. Transue admits once her feet splashed down, the façade of composure finally cracked momentarily. "I said a prayer of thanks, took a deep breath, then turned to help with the life raft," she said. With emerging leadership skills honed through airline training, Transue shook off the initial rush of emotion to continue assisting passengers.

The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 - An Unforgettable Experience

Some events imprint themselves into memory, never to fade even after the passage of time. Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 indelibly marked six lives on February 12, 1991. Though decades have passed, stark recollections of dodging disaster remain fresh for the crew members aboard. Surviving a near-tragedy has a way of forever altering perspective.

"That flight changed all of us. You don't go through something like that and just move on unaltered," reflects Capt. Richard Boddy. His life path shifted as he coped with emotions from averting far worse carnage. Boddy would take early retirement from Eastern just one year later, unable to recapture the passion for flying he once held.

First Officer Mark Bird found his faith deepened after staring down mortality. "I got into my Bible trying to process it all, and asked God for guidance to make sense of it," he explains. His newfound spirituality led Bird to become a lay minister after ending his aviation career. He derives fulfillment supporting church members weathering their own crises.

For Sharon Transue, the experience empowered her to inspire others. She became one of Eastern's first Wings of Hope volunteers, visiting hospitalized children with fellow attendants. "We'd let kids explore the cabin of an empty plane, tell flying stories, and give them wings," she recalls. Her creativity and empathy in crisis translated into fulfilling youth in need.

Flight attendants Gail Dunham, Donna Adams and Stephanie Rowan also paid it forward by volunteering as mentors for new hires at Eastern. They shared lessons that couldn't be gleaned from manuals or classroom lectures. The wisdom gained from surviving disaster gave them credibility no amount of seniority could bestow.

The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 - Learning from Tragedy

Tragedies imprint themselves into memory, forever altering the lives of those involved. While the emotional toll can be heavy, lessons often emerge that inspire growth. Many find meaning by using hardship as motivation to create positive change.

Flight attendant Gail Dunham drew strength from surviving disaster to become an Eastern Air Lines mentor. She helped new hires tap into their own courage during training drills. Dunham shared how overcoming self-doubt while evacuating Flight 66 proved every crew member has reserves of inner resolve. Her insight shed light on how to gain confidence when faced with emergencies.

Former First Officer Mark Bird found renewed purpose through spiritual growth after staring down mortality. He went from piloting airliners to shepherding church members through adversity. Bird helps guide others wrestling with questions of faith following crises. His ministry illustrates how we each process trauma differently based on our beliefs.

Sharon Transue funneled post-crisis emotions into service, volunteering with fellow crew members. She brought joy to hospitalized children by introducing them to the magic of flight. Transue’s kindness helped young patients cope with health challenges. Her example shows how small acts of compassion make a difference in times of trauma.

Psychologists find that finding benefits from hardship promotes resilience. Reframing struggles as life lessons can aid healing and personal development. Survivors often report gaining perspective, deepening relationships, and strengthening problem-solving skills. Post-traumatic growth requires time for self-reflection to emerge.

Flight 66 reshaped career paths and mindsets. The crew’s drive to pay forward comfort mirrors patterns seen in others overcoming adversity. By sharing their journey, they help normalize grappling with loss. Healing is not linear, but connections with those who relate can smooth the jagged path. Their story continues impacting lives decades later.

The Day the Sky Fell - A Flight Attendant's Account of Eastern Air Lines Flight 66 - The End of an Era

The ditching of Eastern 66 marked the beginning of the end for the iconic airline. Just over a year later, on January 18, 1991, Eastern shut down for good after 62 years of continuous service. The shutdown meant thousands of employees lost jobs, while air travelers lost a pioneering carrier that modernized commercial aviation.

Eastern holds an outsized place in airline lore as one of the "Big Four" U.S. airlines that dominated the industry for decades. Its passing left a void unlikely to ever be filled in quite the same way. When an industry pioneer fades into history, nostalgia inevitably sets in for the good old days. However, the circumstances allowing Eastern to thrive also led to its ultimate demise.

Deregulation enabled nimble upstarts like People Express to undercut Eastern's fares through lower cost structures. Locked into fixed overhead and union contracts, Eastern struggled to adapt its high-touch, premium service model to an unfettered competitive environment. By the 1980s, Eastern bled cash as it fought a war on two fronts - battling unions at home while rivals ate its lunch.

The stage was set for Frank Lorenzo to swoop in as a corporate raider, acquiring Eastern through the Texas Air holding company. He brute forced concessions from unions, purged staff, and stripped away Eastern's polished service reputation. Lorenzo earned lasting enmity from employees who saw him as ransacking a cultural icon while enriching himself through financial engineering.

Eastern's rank and file fought fiercely to save their jobs as the end neared. But dysfunction and mistrust between management and labor guaranteed a slow, painful demise. On its final day, over 5,000 flights operated to safely return planes and passengers before Eastern vanished into the history books. Its shutdown marked the end of an era both for the airline industry and generations of travelers who passed through its gates.

For crew members like Sharon Transue, the grounding of Eastern meant starting new chapters. She recalls mixed emotions as the airline that molded her work ethic faded away. "I was sad to lose my Eastern family, but took pride in my wings until the very end," she said. Out of Eastern's ashes, Transue's grit ensured she would fly again for another major airline.