In the Air
United Airlines Flight 173 from Denver to Portland had been an uneventful two hour flight. Now, nearing Portland, the pilot of the big DC-8 began the long descent toward the airport. As he pushed the button to lower the landing gear, something went wrong. Dennis Deveny, a passenger, said afterward, "It went BOOM! BOOM! a sharp sound, obviously something mechanical!"
Captain McBroom knew that something was wrong, but just what?... and how bad? After notifying the control tower, he tried to reassure the passengers. Over the intercom came his calm voice: "That noise that you just heard was the landing gear. Something seems to be abnormal. We are going to circle Portland and do some checks."
The captain began a series of tests to determine the condition of the landing gear. Soon the co-pilot came back into the passenger cabin and looked through several windows trying to see the landing gear, then returned to the cockpit.
Deveny recalls, "It was a worrisome situation. People were trying to make light of things, yet you could feel tension throughout the airplane."
Finally McBroom appeared in person to calm the passengers. "I do not feel there will be a crash...." But he added, "However, I have directed the flight crew to take all precautions just in case of an emergency."
From that point on, the action was confusingly rapid for the passengers. Seat positions were shifted to place able-bodied men by the exit doors. Stewardesses drilled the passengers on which position to take and what to do in the case of a crash.
"Keep your seat belt fastened tightly and low across your laps!"
"At impact time be sure to have your glasses off. Cross your arms on your knees and lay your head on them!"
Dennis Deveny asked, "What is the safest way to hold our little boy?"
"This child should be in the first class section up front!" exclaimed the stewardess.
"No!" answered both Dennis and his wife, Mary, emphatically.
The stewardess brought them both a pillow and blankets to pad the baby.
The plane continued in its wide circle while they worked on the problem with the landing gear, until suddenly they were faced with another problem. Fuel! Just three minutes after the traffic controller asked, "How much fuel have you on board?" one of the engines suddenly quieted.
"You just lost number four!" said the co-pilot.
Almost immediately the chief engineer reported, "We're going to lose number three in a minute! It's showing zero!"
The cross-feed valves were open, the pressure pumps were on. Now they were doing everything they could to nurse the DC-8 across those final miles of sky.
Another engine failed. "They're going!" the captain despaired. "We can't make it!"
The controller's radio crackled again: "Portland tower, United... ah... 173 heavy. Mayday! Mayday! We're goin' down!"
There was only one more thing to do, only one more thing that could be done. A survivor told the story: "The captain ordered everyone aboard to pray because the plane was crash landing! All heads were down, apparently praying! I thank the Lord for sparing my life and the lives of so many! The plane finally stopped suddenly after crushing two houses. Everything was pitch black! I thought I was in eternity! I could hardly believe I was alive!"
The people on Flight 173 had only one resource at the end: to pray to God. And God did answer their prayers! Of the 186 persons in the plane, only ten lost their lives. Those were the ones in the front of the plane where the Deveny couple had refused to send their little boy. God spared the life of that little child; his father said, "God was holding our hand throughout the whole thing."
Those 186 persons suddenly faced the solemn fact of eternity ahead. But every person in the world must face the same facts of eternity and the judgment of God to come. That means both you and me, "for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:22, 2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23).