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J Ponces | all galleries >> Galleries >> My Aviation History > LAM DC-10-30, Flying For TACV
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JUL-1988 Pedro Aragao

LAM DC-10-30, Flying For TACV

Espargos Airport, Sal Is., Cabo Verde view map

I flew this particular airplane so many time, I have 2 particular interesting stories! This might be the best...
I was returning to Lisbon with my crew after the finishing of our Cabo Verde film, and also an historical 50'TV program with a very famous ex-Cabinet Minister of Education.
As it was Summer, some of us had our girlfriends with us...
When we were in the take off run, already past the time to stop, the reactor on our side (I was at window, as always) made a funny noise. But we continued to climb as nothing. My gf then, Theresa, was more affraid to fly them me, looked at me with a yellow face. I told her, "We lost this reactor, it just stoped, but please don't say anything to anybody, no bit problem as the DC-10 had 3..."). But, as soon as the Fasten Seat Belt was turned off my Sound Operator, Filipe, the person I've met more affraid of airplanes and boats (he even got horribly sick) got up, put his hands on his ears to listen better, then went to the other side of the aisle to listen to the other reactor.
Positively white, the then came to me and said: "Did you notice the sound is different? This one here seems stopped!" "Well, I said, it stopped at take off, but please don't tell anybody". He then ran to his seat, behind me 2 rows, and fastened his belt particularly tight!
Was this the end of it? Not by far!
I had noticed previously, that on the other row of window seats, just behind us, was a very old Capverdean woman, with a young Nurse. She had a plastic tube on her nose.
For some reason, I was looking back, perhaps to talk to my Assistent Director, when I saw an huge ject of blood coming from the old lady, and reaching the ceiling of the DC-10 which was quite high!
Immediately, the Captain announced, "Is there any Doctor on board?" A portuguese gentleman came from Business, in front, saying: "Well, I am a Doctor, but not practitioning, I am an University Professor in Medicine, I'm affraid I have no practising skills whatsoever"... Then I remember, behind me was my Assistent's girlfriend, who had just graduated from Medical Nursing School! I told her to go assist the Professor, has it would be his responsibility! So she did, and both managed to stabilize the poor woman.
We still had 2/3 hours to go to Lisbon, and remember, with 1 less engine! Still, we did it very fast, the Captain did a tremendously fast descent into Lisbon, and landed in the Military area, where an ambulance was waiting...
Later, while waiting for the lugage, The Captain came to us, and thanked we helped save the woman. She was ok now...

We would think this would be the last story with this DC-10, far from it! More to come, some years after...

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