On June 18th, 1947, on PAN-Am flight from Culcutta to New York, an angine stopped working, Which caused another engibe to over heat.
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This led to a fire. Which, obviously , led to penic.
While the pilot attempted to land the plane, the 25 year -old co -pilot unbuckled himself.
He sat next to a young woman who was all alone.He told her it was going to be okay.
He told her this as he watched the engine continue to burn. He told her this as he watched it fall from the wing. He told her this as fuel lines became exposed, fire overtook the aircraft, and the plane pitched downward.
He told her this knowing that every single person on that plane was about to die.
The plane hit hard crashing in to the Syrian desert.Fourteen people died instantly. Two crew members survived: including co-pilot.
And with a pair of broken ribs, he went back into the burning aircraft, pulling surging passengers from the wreckage.
Eventually the wind turned and the fire overtook the aircraft. And so they waited.
Morning arrived, but rescue did not. The co-pilot took charge and formed two search parties. The first search party went in one direction, and the second search party, including the co-pilot went in the other, wandering off into a desert.
They evetually found a village. A village which had a radio. A call was made and the 22 survivors were rescued.
As for the co-pilot, the crash changed him. After that, he didn't want to be a pilot anymore. He wanted to do something different with his life.
He resigned from Pan Am to pursue a career in writing and ultimately, television.
His name was Gene Roddenberry and he created "Star Trek".
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This story is not intended to be an ode to Roddenberry, although he certainly deserves one.Prior to working in television he was decorated WWII pilot, a plane-crush investigator, and has survived three plane-crushes.
This story is intended to remind you that our journeys are short. Roddenberry saw life's ephemeral nature lit up against a backdrop of stars. He saw that we are all passengers pitching downward into the night. He saw that we are all helpless.So get up, and help someone!
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