Thurrock News
MEP's relief after plane drama
7:17pm Tuesday 21st February 2012
EURO MP Richard Howitt feared it could be “the end” after the plane he was on had to make an emergency landing.
The Labour MEP for the East of England - whose constituency includes Thurrock - was on route from Prague to Skopje Airport in Macedonia recently when the captain announced there was a problem with the wings, and the Boeing 737 would have to make an emergency landing.
Mr Howitt said: “At Prague Airport the delay in setting off was put down to the snow at our destination of Skopje.
“Snow again was given as the explanation by the captain for starting to circle rather than land.
“Then came an announcement from the cockpit that flaps had failed on the wing and it would be necessary to make a “non-normal” landing.
“The announcements from the captain first in Czech then English were calm, as he instructed us repeatedly how important it was for us to stay calm."
As the passengers got into the brace position, Mr Howitt heard a stewardess quietly repeating “pray, pray, pray” to herself as the plane approached the runway at Skopje airport, trying to land without one of the flaps which slows its descent.
The plane landed safely, and Mr Howitt has praised the pilot for getting the plane under control.
He added: “I fly something like 50 flights a year and nothing like that has ever happened to me before. It was absolutely terrifying and I thought it really could be the end, but the airline was brilliant about it.”