People shouted.
Jason fought to keep the aircraft moving in a controlled direction.
The greatest danger was now obvious.
The aircraft was sliding toward the lake.
If it left the strip and entered the water at high speed, the consequences could be devastating.
Jason held the aircraft as firmly as he could.
The plane continued sliding.
Dirt and dust rose around the fuselage, partially blocking the view.
Then, gradually, the aircraft began losing momentum.
The shaking became less violent.
The sliding slowed.
And finally—
the aircraft stopped.
It had come to rest without reaching the lake.
For several seconds, nobody seemed to know what to do.
The screaming stopped.
The alarms became the dominant sound.
Then came an eerie silence.
They had survived the landing.
The Birds Were Still There
Jason expected the flock to disappear once the aircraft was safely on the ground.
