Althouse: "I was still attached to a whole row of seats. It was rotating much like the helicopter and that might have slowed the fall."

July 3, 2009

"I was still attached to a whole row of seats. It was rotating much like the helicopter and that might have slowed the fall."

"... I landed [on] very thick foliage and that might have lessened the impact.... I didn't wake up until nine o'clock the next morning. I know this because my watch was still working. So I must have been unconscious the whole afternoon and the night. When I came to I was alone, just me ... and my row of seats."

9 comments:

traditionalguy said...: The Airbus manufacturers at least have a story giving hope to the people who fly on their Airbus airplanes. You might be the one winner of the lottery when the Airbus you fly on disintegrates in mid-air. Why should we be so negative all the time.; 7/3/09, 8:23 AM
Wince said...: Didn't they make a movie of the week about this woman's story?; 7/3/09, 8:40 AM
rhhardin said...: When falling in mid-air, head for the trees. You might hit just the right branches to break your fall.

Car tops might be okay too.; 7/3/09, 8:59 AM
Fred4Pres said...: I am glad Juliane Koepcke survived that plane crash, but it is safer statistically to fly than drive. Mary Jo Kopechne is an example of that.; 7/3/09, 9:02 AM
Anonymous said...: I'm not sure heading for a car top is the best idea, although if you land just right, you might leave an exquisite corpse.; 7/3/09, 9:23 AM
Fran said...: What a poorly written story. There's absolutely nothing in the text to indicate this girl was the only survivor of the flight--you have to read the "Story HIghlights" at the top to get that info. Which inspires the question, "What the heck does the term Story Highlights mean?"; 7/3/09, 9:36 AM
traditionalguy said...: Did the story cover whether she flies these days or just drives a few hours longer?; 7/3/09, 10:05 AM
Cedarford said...: Juliane Koepcke - An absolutely remarkable story. Survives a fall of almost 4 kilometers up starting at 400MPH when the plane blew up. 17 years old. Wakes up with moderate injuries, broken collarbone, concussion - in need of hospital care. Somehow, the row of seats acted as an airbrake and thick jungle canopy cushioned the impact further.
Knows mom is likely dead. Finds another row of seats that hit hard enough to bury in 2 feet. Bodies unrecognizable, prys a woman's show off to verify the corpse isn't her Moms.

No rescuers.
She has to save herself. Wounded, alone..

Knows some survival skills.

10 days through remote uninhabited jungle, crocodile and piranha infested streams - wounds infected by jungle parasites and maggots. Finally spots a boat.

Never underestimate the toughness and tenacity of a German.; 7/3/09, 12:40 PM
jjm said...: I read about this lady (then a girl) years ago, probably in Readers Digest in the 70's. What stuck with me was that she survived by watching out for the little things -stinging insects,snakes,thorn trees etc. Not large predators. That was very surprising to me at the time.; 7/3/09, 12:46 PM