Sky journalists in RAF plane drama over Olympics
Posted by
Caitlin Pike
on 22 February 2006 at 14:56
Tags: Olympics, Sky
Sky News reporter Jonathan Samuels and cameraman Neil Morris found themselves fearing for their lives when the RAF plane they were reporting from on 10 February caught fire over the Italian Dolomites and was unable to make an emergency landing.
Samuels and Morris were thrilled to have been invited onboard an RAF AWACS early-warning aircraft which was patrolling the skies above the winter games to search for any terrorist activity.
Samuels (pictured) said: “It was meant to be an eight hour mission circling over the Turin Olympic site as the opening ceremony got underway with Cherie Blair and Laura Bush in attendance. It turned out to be a completely different story — a terrifying drama at 30,000 feet as the plane caught fire.�?
After take off, Samuels was chatting happily to wing commander Angus Elliot, who explained how the huge rotating radar attached to the top of the Boeing 707 detects, identifies and traces unexpected aircraft. Morris sat in the cockpit filming the pilots at their controls. It was at this point that things went wrong.
Samuels said: “It was then, 35 minutes into the flight, we became aware of a strong, acrid burning smell. It was getting worse and suddenly pilot James Radley spoke into the cabin loud speaker: ‘This is the captain. All crew 100 per cent oxygen’. It was a scary moment. Within seconds we had our seatbelts strapped on and were putting on our oxygen masks. The crew had effectively become fire fighters. They dashed round the cabin trying to find the source of the fire.�?
As the disaster unfolded Samuels said he decided to do a piece to camera and relished the thought that they now had a news story rather than a feature piece as planned: “I motioned to Neil over the noise that I wanted to do a piece to camera. He couldn’t quite believe it - “we are about to die and this idiot wants to talk to the camera” I could see him thinking. As I gripped the sides of my seat I explained on tape what we knew and what the situation was.�?
After a frightening quarter of an hour, the plane landed safely and Samuels and Morris rushed down the emergency slides at the direction of the crew.
Samuels said he was pleased to be on the ground but was annoyed he had to leave his camera on the plane. He immediately phoned a report to Sky News which he followed up with pictures.
