The weather sucked big-time in Detroit also. Our flight(s) back on Wednesday evening all got cancelled. Thursday it was freezing rain from Detroit all the way to KC. Took 2 airplanes to get home--it got pretty interesting before it was all said and done.
1st flight took off ok, but when we got 30-40 minutes out, the plane (DC9) lost its de-icing capability and we had to scamper back to Detroit. As soon as we turned around the pilot went to full flaps and dropped the gear immediately.
Flight attendants went to the wing exit rows, sat down in the seats and reviewed how to open the emergency doors step by step with the passengers in those rows. Pilot told us to put on our coats, and if we didn't have one with us, the flight attendants would give us a blanket.
The landing went great, and Detroit Metro Airport sure has a lot of firetrucks and ambulances (they were lined up on the outer taxiways).
The pilot didn't use the reverse thrusters to help slow the plane, so it took awhile with the normal binders. Otherwise it looked pretty routine to me--I've had much worse landings when 70 and sunny <g>...
The wings looked fairly clear of ice (I was sitting right behind the exit rows), so I think they were just executing precautionary procedures. If we had continued on another 90 minutes in the freezing rain to KC, it might have been another story when we got there. One flight attendant did get pretty rattled but we had another who was off-duty and hitching a ride, she took over for her and never missed a beat. Save the one, consumate professionals all.
One thing I don't quite understand, once we got on another plane and got airborne, there sure was a lot of liquor being consumed--all on the house!
Glad to be home!
