Chris Thompson, a survivor of the Kegworth air disaster, has described the moment he realised he was about to die. The 1989 crash of British Midland flight 92 killed 47 people and left wreckage strewn across the M1 motorway. Despite the catastrophic damage, a remarkable number of passengers survived the tragedy 25 years ago.
Thompson, then 33, was pulled unconscious from the mangled remains of the Boeing 737. He had been returning to Belfast after a day at the London Boat Show. A seasoned flyer, he was relaxing in row one with a meal and a glass of wine when the plane lurched violently. 'It was just a huge, like an enormous backfire bang and the plane lurched,' he recalled.
Another survivor, Alan Johnston, 62, was sitting further back. He had been visiting his first grandchild in London. Despite the loud bang, he remained calm, trusting the captain's announcement that the right-side engine was malfunctioning and the plane would divert to East Midlands Airport. However, passengers at the back noticed sparks and flames from the left engine, indicating the pilot may have shut down the wrong engine.
Thompson, who had to learn to walk again after the crash, struggled with flying afterwards, requiring alcohol or tranquillisers and refusing to sit in certain 'dead seats'. Now living in Northern Ireland, he says he has conquered most of his fears, but the memories remain vivid. 'The lights were flickering as the engine spluttered and died and came on again,' he said. 'Part of your brain's saying it can't be happening and the other part of your brain is sitting through it and you've nowhere to run.'
