A dramatic scene took place at Denver International Airport, on July 26. An American Airlines jet suddenly stopped on a runway during takeoff. It was forced out after a small mechanical fire. The Boeing 737 MAX 8—Flight 3023 en route to Miami—was carrying 173 passengers and six crew members. Denver Fire Department said that a suspected landing gear problem caused the emergency.
Danielle Fette was a Fort Lauderdale resident, and a former trauma unit nurse, on the flight. She described chaos and sheer panic that erupted. “I felt the plane pull left and I smelled the burning brakes,” Fette reported. Travel + Leisure. “I could hear the people in the back of the plane, screaming, ‘The plane is on fire. We’re all going to die. Get us off the airplane.
While all passengers were safely evacuated using inflatable slides—one person was reportedly transported to the hospital with minor injuries—Fette learned some valuable lessons as both a passenger and a health care provider. She’s eager to put these new skills into action. “I’m trying to avoid instilling fear. Fette remarked that the pilots had handled everything extremely well. “I just want to share what I’ve learned with others in the hopes they will be more prepared.”
Do not waste time getting your luggage.
In the time it took for the emergency doors and slides to descend, Fette observed terrified passengers trying to grab luggage from the overhead bins. Some even pushed children out of harm’s way. “You just never know what your reaction will be in such an eerie situation,” Fette told T+L. “The trauma nurse inside me kicked in and I wanted get off as quickly as possible and make space for everyone else.”
Wear sneakers whenever possible.
Fette was the first person off the plane. On the tarmac, she observed some passengers trying to get out of the plane in flip-flops, or other open shoes. A few even lost their shoes while going down the emergency slides. She credits wearing socks and tennis sneakers with helping her exit the plane quickly.
She said that wearing closed-toed shoes in certain circumstances can prevent burns, because the runway was extremely hot. “I wear socks and my running shoes every time. In the past I wore them for comfort. I was often late and had to run around the airport. “I didn’t think it would be useful in an emergency,” Fette stated. “My family will never again wear Crocs and flip-flops.”
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Bring your essentials with you.
Fette, a frequent traveler, keeps her ID, cell phone, battery pack and medication in a crossbody bag that she keeps in the pocket of her front seat so she can grab it quickly and get out. She did this when she ran off the plane instead of trying to grab her bag from the overhead compartment. She said, “I saw people grabbing their bags and pushing children aside in panic.”
Pre-flight rituals are important.
Fette also pointed out that she wishes she used the restroom and had a snack before boarding the flight—something she now plans to do every time. She explained that they were kept in quarantine for a long time while we waited for buses and for our luggage. Her tip is to label your carry-on luggage with your contact details so that airline officials can retrieve your belongings.
Take the exit-row disclaimer very seriously.
She urges passengers, if they are considering a seat in the exit row, to think twice. She said that she would often choose an exit row seat to have more legroom. “But now, after this experience I’m wondering if I can really open those doors.”
