On the Airbands

The Port Hedland Airport in Western Australia was just gearing up for the day ahead when Tower frequency 119. 9 MHz came alive.

“Port Hedland Tower, this is Lufthansa 788, we have an urgent situation on board. We have one very sick elderly passenger who we have been advised will most certainly die if he does not receive immediate hospital treatment. We understand your runway is long enough to accommodate us if we dump a considerable amount of fuel first and reduce our weight to enable a landing at your airport. ” The Tower responded and confirmed the landing was pos- sible. It was to be Port Hedland’s first 747 landing, and the jet in question was a latest generation 400 series.

The sick passenger, Mr Ernest Pingel, 82 years of age, had been on his way with his 419 fellow passengers from Singapore to Melbourne when he suffered a severe angina attack. A doctor, who was a passenger on board, advised the Captain as to the seriousness of the man’s condition, and so it was decided to find a suitable airport for a landing.

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