Brace! Brace! Brace!:

A routine flight turned into a nightmare for passengers on a Caribbean Airlines flight Monday night. What should have been a simple, 21-minute trip from Tobago to Trinidad became a harrowing ordeal, as one of the plane’s engines failed mid-air.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert confirmed the engine ran out of fuel and an investigation is underway. For Tobagonian Tynielle Jack, it was a story of terror and relief. The amateur footage she shared with Guardian Media showed the tense moments inside the cabin as the plane prepared to make an emergency landing.

She said when the pilot made the announcement, it seemed that by the reaction of other passengers many believed it was the usual landing announcement. But as the minutes passed, reality set in, prompting her to take out her phone to record what she dreaded may have been her last.

Things quickly turned serious when the cabin crew started shouting, “Brace! Brace! Brace! repeatedly.

“I was like, ‘Why is this plane so low?’ But everything felt steady, so I didn’t suspect anything. Then I heard them shouting, and I’m trying to figure out, ‘Is something wrong?’ When I looked outside and saw the fire service rushing toward the plane, I thought, ‘Is the plane on fire?”

Jack admitted that fear took over. She said the uncertainty and the repeated command to brace for impact made her feel the worst was inevitable.

“A lot of things went through my mind, and I started to ask myself, ‘Is this really my last?’ Then I started to pray. I don’t think others understood the gravity of the situation because even after hearing the announcement that the cabin crew should prepare for an emergency landing and to brace, I looked around and realised no one is reacting in any way.”

Jack praised the captain and crew for staying composed and ensuring a smooth landing.

“I was looking outside to see if anything was happening, and I couldn’t see anything because the flight was a very smooth flight. We had no turbulence or anything; the pilot did very well to keep everyone calm, and I think it was because of how calm he was and the crew was that no one panicked throughout the ordeal. When we landed, some people were still sleeping; some people didn’t even know what was going on.

“Others had to be awakened. There were mixed emotions, and many people on board gave credit to the pilot and how he managed and handled the situation. It was just one of those situations you really hope you don’t ever have to experience. I was just thankful we landed safely.”

She believes this incident is a “wake-up call” for the country to consider an alternative airline for the airbridge.

“Sometimes you hear complaints from pilots about the planes and the need for new fleets. Maybe it’s time for the monopoly to end and for us to have alternative flights.”

Jack said she was still traumatised and plans to avoid the airbridge for now, opting to use the ferry back to Tobago.

Meanwhile, passenger Ajay R Sinanan, who shared his ordeal via social media, posted, “My family and I were on Caribbean Airlines flight BW1541 on 27/01/2025, and we experienced an emergency landing that I will never forget. The fear, the uncertainty, and the chaos were overwhelming, mostly because my toddler was a passenger too, and although he was seated next to his mom, I was helpless to him in those moments as he wasn’t next to me.

“In hindsight, what stood out the most was the incredible professionalism of the cabin crew. They did what they were trained to do, focused on the emergency procedures, and repeatedly shouted, ‘Brace!’ and that was it. No other instructions, no handholding, “Sinanan said.

“In those moments, it became painfully clear that once you’re in the air and something goes wrong, no one is coming to rescue you until it is safe to do so.”

He added, “Sadly, not all passengers understood this. Instead of bracing, many pulled out their phones to record the situation, and others were screaming out random advice (true Trinbagonian style). The chaos around me was palpable, but the reality was knowing what to do in that moment was the only thing that mattered. The crew did their part by staying calm and focused on the safety procedures, but it was up to each of us to follow through.”

Tobago Chamber Chairman Martin George is calling on Caribbean Airlines to thoroughly investigate the incident and enhance safety protocols. However, he also commended CAL for its improvements to the airbridge but said there was a need to maintain high standards.