[Moses]

Leaving Miami for the Bahamas a few years ago we took off with a very steep climb. There was a loud boom and the plane started to shake violently. I thought the plane was coming apart. We started dropping. You could feel the plane falling. Then the pilot hit the power and we started climbing again. Everyone let out an audible sigh then the violent shudder happened again with the same loss of power and rapid loss of altitude. Somehow the pilot got the plane turned around and landed safely. There were emergency crews heading for the runway.

On the way off the plane the cockpit door was closed. A retired pilot (passenger) asked if he could speak to the captain. The flight attendant started to say he was busy, but the cockpit door opened. The old man looked at the pilot and said, "Damn fine work, Captain." The captain looked worried and exhausted but he managed a smile and "Thanks."