Outside of the loss of five lives, I suppose it depends on your definition of Lucky. I would say that they have been very unlucky, after all an aircraft had just crashed into their house and destroyed everything that have worked for. Lucky to be alive, they where on holiday, if they had not been on holiday, maybe they would have been shopping, or visiting the grand children for example, we will never know, but as humans, we like to attach comforting wording to situations like this, so if that is the way everyone feels, who am I to take it away. I am sorry, I just don't do online sentiment for complete strangers. I sometimes have the feeling that here at SimV as soon as something happens it is a race to start posting RIP etc. Yes it is tragic, but for me unless I personally know who is concerned, once I turn the page of the paper, that's it. That maybe heartless, but where do you draw the line. Thanks to Mr Blair I have seen things I would class a a lot worse than what happened yesterday. If I had let those things consume me, I would not set foot outside my own front door. Also in a previous life involving a blue suit, have cleared up two crashes. One fatal one not. The sooner you detach yourself and look at it a scape metal, the easier the job was. Jet fuel and flesh, a smell you will never forget. Anyway that is just my personal view and I don't expect anyone to agree, but since the subject came up......
Back to the point, I will bet my life savings that regardless of Mr Harmans previous occupation, he is still waiting for an insurance payout this time next year. It is the way it works, whether a plane has landed on your house, you are injured in a road accident, slip down a man whole or if you are the victim of medical negligence, though with the latter you will probably be waiting another 10 years.
Matt
Sorry Matt. I don't get your point here. I think you're the one getting emotional over it.
I'm trying to look at this dispassionately as usual & could never be accused of false sentiment, most likely the opposite. I never get involved with expressing condolences for people I don't know as seems fashionable here & on other forums. Of course I feel sorry for the dead pilot & passengers but it could have been a great deal worse. The residents of Romsey Close have to be thankful for that & for want of a better description it was a matter of luck that the owners of the destroyed house were away on holiday at the time.
I don't watch TV but there has already been a lot of nonsense printed in the newspapers on this incident & there will be a lot more before the dust settles. The same old stories about a hero pilot avoiding disaster when it's most likely he had no control over the aircraft at that stage. Meanwhile, the protesters against the use of Biggin Hill as an airfield are rubbing their hands with glee at the new ammunition that has literally fallen into their hands. Instead of protesting about it perhaps they should be asking themselves why they choose to live on the approach to a busy airfield. Note that those houses look very modern & there has been an airfield at Biggin since 1917.
I'm not one to jump to conclusions but I've seen it suggested that this was caused by a bird strike either during or soon after take-off. This was my first thought & it seems the most likely explanation at the moment.