A friend flew on one of the first humanitarian flights into NOLA.

[crispini]

He's a flight attendant for American Airlines. He flew into MSY (Louis Armstrong airport) yesterday as flight attendant on a humanitarian flight. They took a plane full of relief workers, water, and other supplies. Apparently the national guard and the people at the airport had to go out and clear off the runway by hand before the plane could land. Obviously all power is out at the airport. They could not use a gate -- they had to use the stairs that you roll up to the plain. He said that the roof has been torn off of the ticketing area.

They had a full flight out. They took all of the people who were American Airlines passengers with tickets, who had been waiting there since the airport first closed. Then they took all of the employees and family members of the airline and of other airlines. They were also able to get some members of the general public on, especially those who were sick and injured. He said that the passengers were extremely shaken. Some had broken bones that had not been treated. Everyone had been waiting there for days in the heat and were tired and dirty. One man had been pulled out of the water and was soaking wet and filthy. Nobody there had seen or heard any news and when they took off and flew over the city everyone was shocked and in tears.

This is a tragedy of incredible proportions.

[burrowowl]

1. Thanks for news

Sure could use all those military transports we have in Irak.

[aquart]

2. Dear God.

Protect them all. And, soon, bring them home safe.

[Nikki Stone 1]

3. Are more flights like this going to happen?

I guess that was the first time they had seen the extent of the damage in the air.

[crispini]

6. I don't know.

I got the impression they are, but I didn't ask him. I was a little wigged out at the time.

[Nikki Stone 1]

8. I understand "wigged out"

It's been that kind of week

[Holly_Hobby]

4. No human being deserves to be treated like this

Now we see where we are on the list of priorities of the federal government. Last.

[seabeyond]

5. thanks crispini. we do need ot hear these stories. we have just seen

what is NOT being done. another poster posted a story out of baton rougue adn what they experienced as a place of refuge. an inspiring story to what is being done

[liberalpragmatist]

7. I thought the mayor said both airports were flooded

Or is that not the case?

[crispini]

10. MSY is officially closed, but they were able to land.

That's what my friend told me.

[faithnotgreed]

9. thank you crispini

[crispini]

11. self-serving

:kick:

[DELUSIONAL]

12. kick -- thanks for the eye witness account