Pete Lippman
Play-by-play of airport ordeal
On August 11, Libby and I were returning from our third overseas vacation trip this summer (Costa Rica, Puerto Vallarta and Cozumel). We were projected to land at LAX on Mexicana Airlines flight 910 at the normal time of 8 p.m. Our Airbus A320 landed on time, but we taxied around to a location I had never seen before. Then we waited. Something was not right.
8:15-When the plane stopped, everyone got their carry-ons and we were ready to deplane. There was great joy in Mudville.
8:20-An announcement by our Captain (in Spanish only) contained two words I understood-“una problema.” Everyone sat down. A Spanish-speaking passenger told us that a computer glitch (how do you say that in Spanish?) at Immigration caused a backlog of people to be processed through Immigration. Maybe a one to two hour wait on the plane.
8:21 – 9:30-Completed three Sudoku puzzles, read the airline’s magazine, drank water, talked to my wife, decided not to contact anyone, thought hopeful thoughts, and wondered “What the hell is going on?
9:31-The woman next to me called her husband. He said our “problema” affected 8,000 people and created a 4 to 5 hour delay. Not good news. No report from our Captain (didn’t matter because it would have been in Spanish anyway).
9:35 – 10:15-Two and one half hours since landing. No further reports. Read the US Today newspaper. Every article. Walked up and down aisle for 15 minutes. Still no news.
10:16-Informed that maybe we would be going in about 45 minutes. Excited. Turned out to be baloney.
10:17 – 11:45-Crowd was turning ugly. Babies crying, kids screaming, adults cursing. I suggested the National Guard should be called. Then I remembered they were in Iraq. Probably wouldn’t be called back. Airplane out of water. Restrooms still OK. Lights went out. Tried to sleep. No way. Someone suggested we call President Bush and request amnesty. I knew that wouldn’t work. Maybe the Red Cross could help.
11:46 – 12:10-This is ridiculous! Four hours, 45 minutes of confinement with no legal remedies, wasn’t offered one free phone call, no writ of habeas corpus, no Governor reprieve, never charged with a crime, and no information on release. Is this our justice system at its best? Where is the Red Cross? This is a total disaster. Can we start a fund for the survivors?
12:11 – 12:40-Walk some more. Drink wine because that is all that is left (finally something good). Libby is close to finishing “Harry Potter.” What will she do then? Where is Albus Dumbledore when you need him?
12:41 – 12:58-We see busses, trucks and emergency equipment drive by. Hopes are raised again, but no relief. I start to make up my own Sudoku puzzles. Have I gone over the edge? Being a musician, I start thinking of song titles to describe our situation. Some notable ones (puns intended): “Bird in a Gilded Cage,” “Prisoner of Love,” “What’s New?” “Let me Go, Lover,” “Send in the Clowns,” ” Fly Me To The Moon” and, finally, “Please Release Me.”
12:59-We are released from bondage. Our savior is a bus driver and we are taken to the Promised Land (Processing Center). I have never seen a plane empty so quickly.
1:10- 1:30-At processing center, it took 5 minutes. Now the real problem – baggage! Thousands of people trying to find their luggage, which is stacked everywhere. Baggage carts become weapons of mass destruction. That is, if you can find one.
1:31 – 2:18-Try to get a taxi with 8,000 people all wanting to get out of LAX.
2:19 – Got taxi and headed for home.
2:45-Arrive home six hours and 45 minutes after landing. Is this an item for the Guinness Book of Records?
The Good: Toilets worked, air conditioning worked, people were mostly resigned, orderly, but really P.O.’d. Kids were pretty good considering the conditions.
The Bad: No backup systems, no help from government (surprise?), no timely information given, pilot didn’t give information in English, and connecting flights missed. What about flights that were supposed to continue on, but were held 5 to 7 hours at LAX?
The Ugly: Computers Rule!