Last Friday, December 6, 2013 a man was flying from Louisiana and had a layover in Houston when he says he fell asleep on the plane and was locked inside.
In an exclusive interview with the passenger, Tom Wagner tells ABC13 Eyewitness News what he did the moments after he woke up to a dark cabin.
It's the fifth largest airport in the nation. More than 40 million passengers flew out of Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport just last year.
"I was coming from Louisiana to see my sister in California. We had a layover in Texas," Wagner said. "I just took my hat off and I took a nap."
And never have we heard of a story like Wagner's.
"I woke up and the lights were out. I was like, what's going on? I thought maybe it was a layover, still on the same plane."
Wagner says he was left all alone on a United Express flight Friday night. He was fast asleep in a window seat near the back of the airplane. Somehow, everyone deplaned, and no one noticed he was still on board.
He woke up to a cold and pitch-black cabin, and the aircraft doors were locked shut.
He thought he was dreaming.
When he made a frantic call to his girlfriend, she thought he was joking.
"I called my girlfriend, and she thought I was crazy. I said, 'Debbie I'm locked on the plane.' I said, 'I'm telling you the truth; you better go somewhere and get me off this plane.'"
Wagner says his girlfriend called the airline.
After more than half an hour, workers came aboard and were stunned to find the lone passenger.
"I said, 'Don't put the blame on me. I didn't do anything wrong here.' And then they were, like, try to hush-hush, keep it quiet. And they gave me this little package here in a motel room."
United Express is investigating how this could this happen.
Once in Houston, no one bothered to wake up Wagner -- not a passenger, flight attendant or pilot. So, he slept.
"They didn't sweep the plane," Wagner said. "I mean, who shut the door?"
Saturday afternoon, Expressjet issued this statement to Eyewitness News: "An ExpressJet passenger remained on board flight 4245, operating as United Express from Lafayette, La. to Houston on Friday, Dec. 6, after all passengers had deplaned. ExpressJet is investigating to determine how this occurred. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this caused for the passenger."
The airline said there was a post-flight walk-through that was done, but the company couldn't explain how they missed Wagner.
"Let this be a lesson. It was incident enough. It was a faux pas," said James Conway with Global Intel Strategies Inc.
Conway is a former FBI agent and a counterterrorism expert. He says the incident is alarming.
"If an individual is going to be missed, what about a package or a backpack or a piece of luggage that could pose a threat to the aircraft on the next flight?" Conway asked
Friday, December 13, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Going Deaf?
A devotional thought for today:
A man told his doctor that he thought his wife was going deaf. The doctor told him to conduct a simple test. When the man reached the front door of his home, he called out, “Darling, is dinner ready?” Hearing no response, he walked inside and repeated himself. Still no reply. On the third try, when he was just behind her, he finally heard her say, “For the third time, yes!”
Similarly, the ancient Israelites thought God was deaf when the problem was actually with them. Isaiah was a prophet sent to warn God’s people about impending judgment, but his message fell on deaf ears. Instead of being God’s covenant people, who were to bring light to those in darkness and release them from the dungeons of sin (42:7), they refused to hear Him. “They would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law” (v.24).
The prophet explained why their prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears: “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God” (Isa. 59:1-2). One reason for not receiving answers from God is that sin may be blocking our hearing. Let’s examine ourselves carefully.
Our God isn’t hard of hearing.
A man told his doctor that he thought his wife was going deaf. The doctor told him to conduct a simple test. When the man reached the front door of his home, he called out, “Darling, is dinner ready?” Hearing no response, he walked inside and repeated himself. Still no reply. On the third try, when he was just behind her, he finally heard her say, “For the third time, yes!”
Similarly, the ancient Israelites thought God was deaf when the problem was actually with them. Isaiah was a prophet sent to warn God’s people about impending judgment, but his message fell on deaf ears. Instead of being God’s covenant people, who were to bring light to those in darkness and release them from the dungeons of sin (42:7), they refused to hear Him. “They would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law” (v.24).
The prophet explained why their prayers seemed to fall on deaf ears: “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God” (Isa. 59:1-2). One reason for not receiving answers from God is that sin may be blocking our hearing. Let’s examine ourselves carefully.
Our God isn’t hard of hearing.
Nothing between my soul and the Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure,
Jesus is mine; there’s nothing between. —Tindley
God speaks through His Word to those who listen with their heart.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
A devotional thought about prayer
Tonight we gather for prayer at 6:30 at NRN. Here is a short primer for our time together....
Is your life too busy? Business deadlines, productivity quotas, and shuttling children to lessons and sporting events can really fill up your schedule. It’s easy to think, If only I didn’t have so many responsibilities, then I could walk in vital union with God.
Yet C. S. Lewis wisely points out that no one was busier than Christ. “Our model is the Jesus . . . of the workshop, the roads, the crowds, the clamorous demands and surly oppositions, the lack of all peace and privacy, the interruptions. For this . . . is the Divine life operating under human conditions.”
We read of Jesus in Capernaum: “At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many” (Mark 1:32-34).
The next day Christ sought out a solitary place and prayed. There He received direction from His Father to pursue a demanding ministry in another place. Our Lord communed with His Father and depended on the Spirit to minister through Him.
Is your schedule demanding? Follow the example of Jesus and set aside a specific time for prayer. Then depend upon God’s power to help you meet each day’s demands.
Is your life too busy? Business deadlines, productivity quotas, and shuttling children to lessons and sporting events can really fill up your schedule. It’s easy to think, If only I didn’t have so many responsibilities, then I could walk in vital union with God.
Yet C. S. Lewis wisely points out that no one was busier than Christ. “Our model is the Jesus . . . of the workshop, the roads, the crowds, the clamorous demands and surly oppositions, the lack of all peace and privacy, the interruptions. For this . . . is the Divine life operating under human conditions.”
We read of Jesus in Capernaum: “At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many” (Mark 1:32-34).
The next day Christ sought out a solitary place and prayed. There He received direction from His Father to pursue a demanding ministry in another place. Our Lord communed with His Father and depended on the Spirit to minister through Him.
Is your schedule demanding? Follow the example of Jesus and set aside a specific time for prayer. Then depend upon God’s power to help you meet each day’s demands.
The many tasks we face each day
Can burden and oppress,
But spending time with God each day
Can bring relief from stress. —Sper
Can burden and oppress,
But spending time with God each day
Can bring relief from stress. —Sper
To keep your life in balance, lean on the Lord.
Source: My Daily Bread -
Source: My Daily Bread -
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Baby dedication of Johan James Green
Yesterday at church we experienced a wonderful time as I had the privilege to assist John and Janette Green to dedicate their son Johan James Green to the Lord:
Therefore, do you promise today that you will
strive to do the following:
·
To recognize
that my relationship with my son is a sacred trust which requires an investment
of quality time and unconditional love.
·
To accept the
primary responsibility to teach my son the spiritual truths and values of
Scripture.
·
To pray
consistently or the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of my son.
·
To demonstrate
the fruit of the Spirit of Christ.
"I prayed for this child,
and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the
Lord." 1 Samuel 1:27-28a
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Reflections of my message today at NRN
Reflections from my message today at NRN:
Our attendance was down due to the cold and wet weather in NC, but the spirits were high as gathered for worship. There was laughter in the foyer as we welcomed Ben Solomon back to NRN for a short visit. We prayed for several people facing difficult times.
I continued in the teaching series. I began by talking about misconceptions of Christmas:
Six
Christmas Misconceptions
Giving More Gifts Increases
Our Joy
Decorations Create Christmas
Spirit
The Busier We Are, The Merrier
We’ll Be
Everything will Go Exactly As
Planned
Expectations Always Match
Reality
Family Weirdness Takes a Vacation
Here is the clip people really enjoyed:
You can listen to the message today by going to our church website and click on Recent Podcast
I closed with these Scriptures that spoke to my heart:
You have made known to me the path of
life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal
pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11
The children
of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be
established before you." Psalm 102:28
Even when I am old and gray, do not
forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are
to come. Psalm 71:18
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Preparing for Worship - The Second Sunday of Advent 2013
As we prepare for worship tomorrow at NRN I am very excited about the message the Lord has laid upon my heart. I love the Christmas Season. This Sunday we sing several favorite carols and offer our praise to the new born King. I hope you will sing along and prepare your heart to join us tomorrow in worship together at NRN.
Followed by the lighting of the candles on the Advent Wreath for the Second Sunday of Advent:
We continue in songs of worship:
We pause for a special time of praise.... then continue in our songs:
As we bring our offerings of tithes and offerings to the Lord we will life our voices:
Now it is time for the preaching of the Word:
We begin with a great song to call us to worship:
Followed by the lighting of the candles on the Advent Wreath for the Second Sunday of Advent:
We continue in songs of worship:
We pause for a special time of praise.... then continue in our songs:
As we bring our offerings of tithes and offerings to the Lord we will life our voices:
Now it is time for the preaching of the Word:
BEING PRESENT THIS
CHRISTMAS
This is what God the LORD says—he who
created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that
comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on
it: "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take
hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant
for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are
blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who
sit in darkness. "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my
glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have
taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I
announce them to you."
Isaiah 42:5-9
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