Actor Matthew Postlethwaite recently shared a harrowing experience he had while onboard a plane. The 33-year-old, known for his role in the BBC series Peaky Blinders, took to Instagram Stories to recount the terrifying incident that occurred during an overnight flight from Los Angeles to Minneapolis.
According to Postlethwaite, just ten minutes after takeoff, one of the plane’s engines caught fire and exploded, causing a deafening sound that he likened to a bomb going off. Despite being a frequent flyer, he admitted that he had never felt so scared before and genuinely believed he was facing death. The actor revealed that he and his wife, Erika Young, were en route to the Twin Cities for a meeting with Target regarding his protein soda brand.
The crew declared an emergency and safely landed back at Los Angeles International Airport following the engine malfunction. Postlethwaite expressed disbelief that the aircraft was allowed to fly with such obvious issues, noting that the sound of the engine resembled that of a lawn mower. He vowed to avoid flying on planes that exhibited similar noises in the future.
Fellow passenger Kang Hu, a Minnesota resident, also shared his perspective on the frightening ordeal. Hu, who was traveling with his wife and two daughters, described the peaceful moment turning into chaos when the engine exploded, causing a fireball and turbulence. He commended the pilot for executing a swift U-turn to return to the airport.
Upon landing, Hu approached the crew and captain to express his gratitude, calling them heroes for their handling of the situation. A spokesperson for Sun Country Airlines reassured passengers that their safety was of utmost importance and commended the professionalism of the pilots and flight attendants.
This incident adds to a series of recent engine emergencies in the aviation industry, including a Delta flight in January that resulted in injuries during an emergency evacuation in Atlanta and a Delta Airlines plane flipping upside down during landing in Toronto, with all passengers and crew miraculously surviving. The safety and well-being of passengers remain a top priority for airlines amidst these alarming occurrences.
