NDA 2021 GAT English: The Emergency Landing

At nine thousand metres above the Arabian Sea, Captain Rhea Menon heard a dull thud from the left engine, followed by a shudder that ran through the whole aircraft. Within seconds the instruments confirmed what her body had already sensed: the engine had lost power. She did not rush. Years of simulator drills had taught her that the first duty in an emergency is to fly the aircraft; everything else can wait a few seconds. She levelled the wings, adjusted the thrust of the surviving engine and asked her co-pilot to read out the checklist. Only then did she call the air traffic controller and declare an emergency. The nearest airport lay eighty kilometres away, and the aircraft was descending slowly. The cabin crew calmed the passengers with short, clear announcements, avoiding any word that might cause panic. On the final approach a crosswind pushed the aircraft sideways, and Menon corrected it with small, steady movements. The wheels touched the runway firmly, and fire tenders raced alongside as the plane rolled to a halt. No one was hurt. Later, when reporters called her a hero, she shrugged and said that the real credit belonged to the training that had made calmness a habit.