Originally Posted by
deSitter
Why didn't the first two planes bail off the taxiway? I can't imagine I'd just sit there and let someone land on my nose. What are your driver's instincts here? When Bob Bragg's captain saw KLM he firewalled it sideways and saved at least some of his passengers' lives. That no one even seemed to get excited, much less take some action, is as strange as the errant line-up.
-drl
the front a/c United was angled holding at about 30-40 degrees ready to line up to take off (not facing AC 759 straight on) - his tail was in jeopardy to be hit but not the rest of him by the look of the photos
the 2nd a/c was PAL an A340 who was actually the first a/c to be head on to him (AC759) and frankly in the few seconds he had where would he have gone? the sea was on one side and the live runway the other?
it seem PAL did have his landing lights on so that's all he could do maybe - ghastly scenario avoided by a few seconds and feet
the United guy at the holding point certainly needs to be bought a few beers for speaking up (twice) his voice was quite excited BTW
listen to the recordings