I’m not superstitious. I’ll brave an elevator that stops on the 13th floor. I won’t deem the day a potential catastrophe when a black cat crosses my path. But after a round trip to São Paulo, Brazil, during a total lunar eclipse, I had to wonder. This particular eclipse also qualified as a blood moon, which is a relatively rare astrological phenomenon.
Jumpseat: Lunar Eclipse or a Guy Named Joaquin?
Key Takeaways:
- The author recounts a round-trip flight to São Paulo, framed by the astrological "blood moon" phenomenon and previous instances of "bad juju" experienced by the crew.
- The outbound flight was plagued by multiple unexpected incidents, including an impossible ATC instruction requiring rapid replanning, an unusual runway change, and a bird strike during landing.
- The return journey continued with a series of minor and major glitches, from personal packing mishaps and administrative delays to battling hurricane Joaquin's weather and a turbulent, low-visibility landing at JFK.
- Despite the continuous stream of challenges and "bad vibes," the crew successfully completed both legs of the journey, underscoring the resilience and professionalism required in aviation.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
