CAMBS Euro MP Richard Howitt has revealed how he feared he was going to die when the plane he was on was forced to make an emergency landing in Macedonia.
Richard Howitt, Labour MEP for the East of England, was on a Czech Airline flight from Prague, which was due to land at snow-covered Skopje on Friday night, when the captain announced the flaps had failed on the wing.
Mr Howitt, who lives in Cambridge, was told that the Boeing 737 plane would have to make a “non-normal” landing and passengers were ordered to adopt the brace position.
Mr Howitt said: “At Prague Airport the delay in setting off was put down to the snow at our destination of Skopje.
“Snow again was given as the explanation by the captain for starting to circle rather than land.
“Then came an announcement from the cockpit that flaps had failed on the wing and it would be necessary to make a “non-normal” landing.
“The announcements from the captain first in Czech then English were calm, as he instructed us repeatedly how important it was for us to stay calm.
“‘After we land, you will be instructed where and how to evacuate the aircraft and it is essential for your own safety that you follow the instructions exactly,’ he said.”
Mr Howitt said, looking at the thick snow clouds out of the window as the plane circled for 40 minutes, he genuinely thought to himself that he might not be getting off the aircraft alive.
MEP Richard Howitt feared for life in emergency landing in Macedonia
