After boarding the flight to fly home from Raleigh, they announced that there had been a problem detected in the electrical system. As a result everyone had to disembark and wait until a different plane could be substituted and brought to a nearby gate.
Grumbles and complaints filled the air as we left the disabled aircraft and waited in the gate area. Cell phones were busy as passengers called waiting relatives or rearranged appointments.
It was only about 50 yards from one gate to the new gate. From the sounds of the complaints you would've thought they had been asked to walk the length of the tarmac.
As I look around at the assortment of people, varying ages and ethnic backgrounds. I find myself saying a silent prayer of thanks. As my dear pilot friend said, "I would rather be safely on the ground wishing I was in the air then in the air with a problem wishing to land on the ground safely."
Happily we have landed in Tampa, on our replacement plane, safe and sound.