On Friday, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet experienced a harrowing incident, prompting an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. The reason for the landing was a door-sized hole that broke off from the airplane’s body. Among the 177 passengers on board was Emma Vu, a former collegiate swimmer. Vu described the terrifying ordeal, saying, I just really thought I was going to die.
Vu recounted the events leading up to the emergency landing in detail. She had fallen asleep while the plane was still on the tarmac, but was abruptly awakened by a sudden drop in altitude. I woke up because the plane was falling, and I knew it was worse than normal turbulence because the masks came down, and that’s when I started to freak out, Vu said.
As the gravity of the situation sank in, Vu desperately reached out to her family and friends through text messages, expressing her fears that she might not make it. I was texting my family and friends too, and I just really thought I was going to die, she revealed.
Fortunately, Vu’s background as a collegiate swimmer came to her aid during the ordeal. Having competed at the Division III University of La Verne in California, Vu attributed her ability to maintain composure to her intense training. I think having swimming and growing up doing such an intense sport did help my mind control to take control of my thoughts to stop freaking out, she explained. For example, when I saw attendants handing out oxygen tanks, I was like, that cannot be me. Those tanks need to go to people who need it.
Implementing techniques she had acquired from swimming, Vu practiced deep breaths and mindful breathing to calm herself down. These strategies, honed from her swimming days, played a crucial role in helping her cope with the anxiety-inducing situation she found herself in.
Following the emergency landing, Vu proceeded to the guest services area to make further travel arrangements. While waiting in line for an hour and a half, she struck up a conversation with a fellow swimmer who offered her much-needed comfort. Although she couldn’t recall his name, Vu remembered that he was a sprint freestyler from Riverside Community College, near her own alma mater, La Verne.
The interaction with the fellow swimmer provided Vu with a source of solace and made the waiting time seem more bearable. Later, when she arrived at the gate to board her rebooked flight to Burbank the next morning, she noticed a group of swim bags. It turned out that she was traveling alongside Oregon’s All-Star swim team. Vu felt a sense of normalcy returning to her life as she engaged in conversations about her swimming history, all the while keeping her traumatic experience the night before to herself.
As news of the emergency landing spread, passengers like Emma Vu recounted their horrifying experiences on the Alaska Airlines flight. The airline is investigating the cause of the door-sized hole that broke off during the flight, ensuring the safety of future passengers. Despite the terror and anxiety endured by those on board, stories like Vu’s showcase the resilience and strength individuals can draw upon in times of crisis, while reminding us of the importance of remaining calm in the face of fear.
