Listen to News ~ dateline: 03 April 2012
Pilot Meltdown Results In Emergency Landing
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- meltdown: a sudden inability to cope with a situation
- agitated: emotionally disturbed
- flick: to touch suddenly
- intercom: an internal communication system
- restrain: to hold down and prevent movement
Pilot Meltdown Results In Emergency Landing
Comprehension Questions
- Who had a meltdown?
- How did the passengers restrain Clayton Osbon?
- Why does the report mention Texas?
Discussion Question: New reports suggest that this pilot likely suffered a panic attack. What makes the airline industry a high stress workplace?
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Pilot Meltdown Results in Emergency Landing
The co-pilot of a JetBlue Airways flight was forced to make an emergency landing last week when the captain had a mid-flight meltdown. The flight was headed from New York to Las Vegas when the agitated pilot, Clayton Osbon, began acting strangely and flicking switches in the cockpit. The quick-thinking co-pilot tricked Osbon into going into the cabin, and then locked the pilot out. The co-pilot then used the intercom to ask people in the cabin to restrain the pilot. In the cabin, the pilot began screaming about religion, al-Qaeda and bombs as he tried to force his way back into the cockpit. Passengers restrained the disturbed pilot with belts as the co-pilot made an emergency landing in Texas.
- The pilot had a meltdown.
- The passengers restrained Clayton Osbon with belts.
- Texas is where the co-pilot made the emergency landing.
Written by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub.com
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
