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FLIGHT TRAUMA
I thought I’d die after EasyJet flight was forced to make emergency landing – warning to my son, 7, was heartbreaking
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A DAD thought he was going to die after his family's EasyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing.
Dan Taylor was on a flight to Dubrovnik in Croatia with his wife, two kids and mum-in-law on Friday when all hell broke loose at 30,000ft.
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Passengers were told to brace for impact when the plane's landing gear got stuck, with Dan forced to give his seven-year-old son a heartbreaking warning.
The 35-year-old told The Sun: "The plane went up all fine and normal, but the seatbelt signs stayed on. We thought that was a bit weird.
"They came on and said there was a problem with the landing gear getting stuck in the down position and that we would have to return to Gatwick.
"About ten minutes later they came back on the intercom and said the problem has deteriorated, it was now going to be an emergency landing and we would have to prepare to brace for impact.
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"Obviously everyone started panicking - people were crying."
Cabin crew on flight EZY6427 leapt into action mode, asking horrified passengers to show they can adopt the brace position.
The plane then began circling over the Sussex countryside as terror-stricken passengers desperately contacted loved ones.
He explained: "At that point we haven't got a clue where we are, we can't see the sky, can't see the ground.
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"Kids were getting upset, the cabin crew were trying to keep it together but it was pretty scary.
"You don't know how it's going to end."
'BRACE, BRACE!'
As chaos erupted in the cabin, cool-headed Dan had the "awful" task of telling his seven-year-old son to brace for impact.
Crew were shouting 'brace, brace' as the plane descended and Dan feared the worst.
"You don't know what kind of impact you're going to have. It was all going through my mind, are we going to crash along the floor? Go into an inferno?", he added.
There was also confusion among passengers who claim that after the situation was upgraded to an emergency, cabin crew did not confirm the plane was still heading back to Gatwick.
He said: "Could've been in the field, could've been the sea. My daughter thought we were landing in the sea."
After 45 minutes of circling, the plane came into land as Dan feared for the worst but the plane touched down safely surrounded by fire engines.
It was all going through my mind, are we going to crash along the floor? Go into an inferno?
Dan Taylor
Passengers applauded the crew after the plane came to a halt - before waiting until 4pm for a replacement flight.
But the horror ordeal left some passengers so shaken they marched straight out the airport rather than take to skies again.
Dan added: "I was talking to a wedding party and half of them had left not wanting to get back on the plane.
"It was chaotic. There was no messaging. We were not told what was happening for 45 minutes.
"We decided to go ahead as these things don't happen very often.
"Chance of it happening twice is very remote. I hope it's not the same plane. It's been seven hours.
"We've got a £6 voucher from EasyJet for all that - after I spent £1,500 on flights."
'SORRY'
In a statement, EasyJet told The Sun: "We can confirm that flight EZY6427 from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik this morning returned from airborne due to a technical issue.
"The captain performed a routine landing in line with procedures and the aircraft was met by emergency services at Gatwick as a precaution only where passengers disembarked normally.
"We did all possible to minimise the impact of the delay for customers, arranging for a replacement aircraft and crew so passengers could continue their journey to Dubrovnik and provided refreshment vouchers in the airport.
"The flight has now departed London Gatwick and is due to arrive in Dubrovnik this evening.
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“The safety and wellbeing of its passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority and easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers’ guidelines.
"We would like to apologise to passengers for the inconvenience caused and thank them for their patience and understanding."
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