CROC ON A PLANE CAUSES FATAL CRASH

CROCODILE CAUSES PLANE CRASH IN CONGO
KILLING BRIT PILOT AND 18 OTHERS ABOARD

www.3news.co.nz - Last month, a stowaway crocodile has caused carnage on a flight in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing passengers and crew. The crash aircraft, a 19-passenger Let L-410 Turbolet, high-wing, twin-engine turboprop, struck an unoccupied house within roughly 100 meters of its destination, the regional airport at Bandundu. The plane crash was caused by a crocodile that had escaped from a large sports bag that a passenger, who planned to sell it, had hidden it. The animal gained its freedom as the plane it was on, a Czech-built Let 410, was flying from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, to Bandundu. A survivor of the crash said the appearance of the crocodile caused passengers to panic and to flee towards the cockpit of the small turbo-prop aircraft, causing it to nosedive out of control.

“The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers, the plane was then sent off-balance [and went down] despite the desperate efforts of the pilot,” he explained. The plane was off-balance because of the stampede of terrified passengers and crew trying to get away from the crocodile. Evidently, that was enough to doom the flight and the plane smashed into an empty house near its destination airport, killing first officer Wilson, Belgian pilot Danny Philemotte, 62, and 18 of the 19 others aboard. The creature lived through the crash but was later killed with a machete wielded by rescuers sifting through the wreckage. Some sources cite 19 deaths, while others say the number is 20.


The crocodile wasn’t supposed to be on the plane. It had been hidden in a passenger’s bag but got loose and ignited panic onboard; according to the news the survivors of the crash included one passenger and the crocodile, which was then killed by rescuers with a machete. It is very evident that nothing is safe and at any time a disgusting surprise may happen in this material world. We should chant the Holy Names and remember the Supreme Lord constantly because there is always danger of losing this human body at every step of life.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

In this chapter there is another point concerning morality. One may criticize Arjuna for killing Karna while he was pulling his chariot from the mud. However, if we remember from the Adi Parva, Karna was cursed by a brahmana to be killed while his chariot wheel was stuck in the earth. Arjuna was the instrument to fulfill that curse. ... If Lord Krishna requested Arjuna not to show mercy to Karna, then that is the highest morality. Karna surely attained an exalted destination for seeing Lord Krishna and Arjuna at the last moment of his life. Lord Krishna informed Arjuna before the battle: anta-kale ca mam eva, smaran muktva kalevaram, yah prayati sa mad-bhavam, yati nasty atra samsayah, “And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.” (B.G. 8.5) Karna was fortunate to be killed while looking at Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Commentary of “Mahabharata Summation”
to the Fourth Chapter of the Karna Parva,
Entitled: “The Death of Karna”
New Vrindavana Community - June, 1985.
http://philosophy.ru/library/asiatica/indica/itihasa/mahabharata/eng/