3.The Engine Fire

In 1968 a BOAC (merger predecessor of today’s British Airways) flight took off from Heathrow bound for Sydney. Shortly after departure, an engine caught fire and fell from the aircraft, beginning a two-and-a-half minute emergency descent and landing. Flight attendant Barbara Jane Harrison did not survive the flight and rescuers later found her besides an elderly disabled woman whom she was trying to rescue. For this Harrison was posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest British gallantry award for civilians.

4.The Arsonist

A big part of being a flight attendant is reacting to your surroundings, but on Etihad flight 460, this took an unusual form when the plane diverted after an arsonist set off five lavatory fires on-board earlier this year. After investigation the flight resumed, but once again the smoke alarms rang, so the crew abandoned the service to instead personally guard each of the toilets and monitor passenger access. Some passengers showed outrage at this, while others recognised the crew’s dedication to putting safety first.

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