Chapter 14
Closer.
Closer.
The world continued to watch as the big 747 began to get closer and closer to the runway. As the tail section hit pavement, the pilots reversed their thrusters and raised the flaps to maximize the drag.
As the plane's tail section hit, the rear landing gear held.
The nose followed quickly, with no landing gear. The underside of the plane scraped along the pavement, intense sparks produced as metal hit concrete.
Emergency equipment raced down the runway, chasing the big jet.
Slowly, as the plane decreased in speed, the pilots struggled with all of their experience and strength to keep the plane upright and stable.
Slower.
Slower.
Finally, the plane stopped and the world waited breathlessly to see what would happen next.