... Passengers on an airliner bound for Bristol were plunged into panic when their captain refused ...
Let us hope that they quickly realised that he had avoided them plunging into the ground and so they then plunged into delight and acclimation.
The children in the press do like to use the word 'plunge' don't they? Here is a situation that might engender some irritation but the overwhelming feeling must have been of relief that the Cpt was concerned enough to make a stand - almost certainly knowing the risk he was running of it back-firing on him.
Of course,
if he had accepted the machine then he might have been in the situation of 'bravely avoiding plunging into a school'.
