A Bump in the Night

Slight change in plans. At 10:45 we we're just lifting off the ground. Three minutes later,

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

From our seats over the wing, it sounded like hammer blows on the port engine.

For a minute, nothing happened. Both engines sounded normal and we continued to climb. Then the plane leveled and the Captain came on over the loudspeaker. Our port engine was working but wasn't working quite well enough. We were turning back and, although our landing would be a little faster than normal, everything was going to be just fine.

True to his word, the landing was faster and steeper than you'd expect and we used serious braking as we touched down. However, it was otherwise a very smooth touchdown and the Captain got a well deserved round of applause. Later, we heard from folks sitting behind us on the left that with every bang, flames shot out of the left engine.

Other than the fire trucks and ambulances that had come to greet our returning aircraft, Hamilton International Airport had pretty much turned out the lights. We waited 20 minutes on the plane while they found staff to roll up the stairs. We waited an hour for them to get staff in who could let us out of the secure waiting area and pull our bags, the we waited an hour to be handed hotel and taxi vouchers.

At 2:15 we hopped into a cab and were soon in bed. We had instructions to contact the desk at 8 am. We called and they asked that we call back at 9:30. We checked in then and they asked to call back at 10:30. You get the picture. We had breakfast and continued to meet and chat with our new Flyglobespan family. It is now noon and they have something new to tell us. The airline doesn't know what to do about the whole flying situation, but they are shipping us off to the Plaza hotel, where we will wait for more news.

They are loading up the shuttles now, so I will take one last fond look at the O'Copps Coliseum (Hey, I'm on my Ireland vacation, dammit) and see what fate has in store...