I am very afraid of air travel

I have a vivid memory of the day I boarded an airplane for the first time. Just a few days earlier, whenever I saw a plane flying in the sky, I would feel thrilled, but the next moment, my heart would start pounding hard as I thought, “What if the plane’s engine fails?

There would be no chance of survival, and not even a guarantee of finding the body.” Yes, I was very afraid of air travel.

One day, while working at my office desk, I looked out the window and saw a plane flying by. It made me wonder what it would feel like to sit in one and fly. I get very scared. A thought came to mind, In a train accident, there is at least a chance of survival, but with an airplane, there’s none at all.

My heart started pounding loudly

My daydream was suddenly interrupted when my Regional Manager handed me a plane ticket and said, “You have a flight at three o’clock today. You need to go to Delhi and participate in the ceremony on the occasion of Hindi Diwas at the administrative office tomorrow.” My heart started pounding loudly.

I had never been on a plane before, and thoughts of engine failure were crossing my mind. I looked at him with a pitiful expression and pleaded, “Can’t you send another officer?”

He looked at me, astonished, and said, “People feel happy about going on tours—enjoying air travel, staying in big hotels, and having delicious food, all for free.” I shook my head gently in refusal. That’s it.

The Regional Manager lost his temper and almost shouted, “You are the Hindi Officer, so how can another officer go to this ceremony? It would be best if you get your mind ready and prepare for the journey.”

I explained my helplessness to my heart

What could I do? It was about my job. I explained my helplessness to my heart and gathered my courage. Taking the plane ticket, I first went home, had my meal, and then left for the airport.

Even today, I remember that incident and it still makes me laugh. I arrived at Patna Airport with a pounding heart and went straight to the Sahara Air counter. At that time, Sahara Airlines was still in operation.

A woman staff member welcomed me with a sweet smile and softly asked, “Which seat?” I was puzzled. What should I say? Sensing my state of mind, she said, “I’ll give you a window seat.” I didn’t say anything, but in my mind, I thought, what would I do with a window seat? It didn’t even open so that I could jump out and save my life.

I boarded the plane on time and took my assigned seat. Then, the air hostess announced, “Please fasten your seat belts. We guarantee a smooth take-off.” I wondered if the landing would be smooth as well.

The hostess smiled at us as if to reassure us that the captain was in control of both take-off and landing. Despite her cheerful demeanor, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease and nervousness.

The plane took off, swaying a bit, then started cruising smoothly in the air. All the passengers became comfortable. Some started introducing themselves to each other; some were enjoying their sleep, and some were engrossed in watching movies.

I started to remember God

I closed my eyes and started to remember God, thinking that the journey of life is also like the journey of this plane. The take-off and landing, meaning birth and death, are in the hands of my captain, that is, God.

It is true that our birth is not within our control. Our caste, religion, family, city of birth, complexion, and whether we are born into a rich or poor family, are all mere coincidences decided by a higher power.

However, what is within our control is the time spent between birth and death. Just as a plane may experience turbulence due to bad weather, we also face challenges in life.

Yes, it is true. In the journey of life, the take-off, the landing, and the turbulence are not in our control. However, what is in our control are the choices and decisions we make.

Some solutions to our problems may be in our control, but not all. I believe that despite the turbulence in our lives, we should enjoy life to the fullest because it is a beautiful gift from God.

Categories: infotainment

Tags: #Airplane, #happiness, #MyJourney, #Travel, airplanes, anxiety, aviation, featured, flying