Panic and risky maneuvering
The gas caused burning in the eyes and difficulty breathing for the flight attendant, the pilots present, and the flight mechanic. However, three other professionals were resting in a nearby cabin, following safety rules regarding pilot rotation on international flights. One of them, Claudio Ren, 55, noticed the smoke and quickly went to the main cabin. Meanwhile, in first class, the crew restrained Shirley, who appeared to be under the influence of medication.
Ren took over the flight and performed a risky maneuver. According to newspapers at the time, to freshen the air, he suddenly lowered his height. The landing mitigated the effects of the gas, but it frightened passengers, especially in economy class, who did not know what was happening. One passenger told Jornal do Brasil: “The plane fell a lot, as if it was in an endless void.”
The pilot then contacted Las Palmas Airport requesting permission to make an emergency landing. But there was another problem: the tank was full and this could damage the landing. The solution that was reached was to activate the fuel unloading mechanism and thus reduce weight. The landing took place safely, despite the fear.
Losing to Vareg and returning to Brazil
The 347 passengers and 25 crew members were accommodated in three luxury hotels a few kilometers from the airport. Shirley is handcuffed and led away by Spanish police officers. One of the passengers, Portuguese writer Teolinda Guersao, told a newspaper in her country: “I thought we were going to die. Some were crying, others were excited, and there were those who went to get drunk.”
