Title: Jersey City Artist Recounts Terrifying Experience on United Airlines Flight
Date: Sep. 16, 2023
By: Matthew Sedacca
A United Airlines flight from Newark to Rome turned into a nightmare for passengers, including a Jersey City artist who believed she was going to die during a rapid descent. Tato Lovere, 47, vividly recalls the panic that ensued when the plane suddenly nosedived nearly 30,000 feet in just 10 minutes.
Lovere, who was traveling with her boyfriend to celebrate her birthday and meet art gallerists in Rome, described the distressing scene on board. People’s heads turned, passengers looked at each other in fear, and everyone desperately sought answers without screaming.
“The feeling that you’re going to die was very real,” Lovere said, reflecting on the terrifying ordeal.
According to Lovere, the captain and stewardesses gradually began using the intercom system to inform passengers about potential issues with the aircraft. Shortly after takeoff at 9:20 p.m., she felt a “sick feeling” as the plane tilted forward before rapidly descending 28,000 feet in just 10 minutes, according to flight tracker FlightAware.
In an attempt to reassure her daughter during the chaos, Lovere sent a text message expressing her love. Meanwhile, her daughter anxiously tracked the flight online and questioned United Airlines about the strange circular route it was taking over Halifax. United assured her that everything was fine.
The captain eventually announced the possibility of an emergency landing in Halifax due to a pressurization issue caused by a “6 or 8 inch hole on the side of the airplane.” The aircraft ultimately made a safe landing back at Newark Liberty International Airport.
A United Airlines spokesperson stated that the flight returned to address a potential loss of cabin pressure. Despite the spokesperson’s assurance that there was never a loss of cabin pressure, Lovere’s confidence in air travel has been shattered.
“I’m definitely going to be on edge,” Lovere admitted. “I probably will be checking every window now. Every crack walking by.”
Lovere and her boyfriend were rebooked on another United flight to Rome, but their harrowing experience serves as a reminder of the importance of safety and the unpredictability that can occur during air travel.