The Pilot of an AirAsia flight that began to shake violently after experiencing engine trouble asked his passenger to pray, report reveals.
Passengers described the insane turbulence as like being in “a washing machine,” according to Fox News. The plane, flying from Perth to Malaysia, began to shake after take off, before a “huge explosion” erupted.
The Flight D7237 departed Perth Airport’s international complex at 6.50am on Sunday morning bound for Kuala Lumpur, with 359 passengers on board.
“He [the flight captain] said ‘I hope you all say a prayer; I will be saying a prayer too and let’s hope we all get back home safely,’ ” said passenger Sophie Nicolas, according to WA Today.
The shaking was so bad that the pilot, who had 44 years flying experience, asked the passengers to pray. “Say a prayer,” he declared across the intercom. Passengers were also asked to “keep an eye on” the engine outside their window. The plane was eventually turned around and landed safely back at Perth.
Passengers Mitch Jamieson and Damos Stevens filmed the plane shuddering mid-flight, and one passenger told ABC News the aircraft was “shaking like a washing machine”.
“When this AirAsia plane began to shake violently, the captain asked passengers to do something that could change everything—he asked them to pray. Twice. It was a serious situation, but thankfully they were able to land safely,” wrote Franklin Graham of the incident.
“These people and their families are so grateful for God answering their prayers. When is the last time you thought about the value of prayer in your own life? Do you make prayer the priority it needs to be?”