Some plane crashes are just cruel.

Japan Airlines flight 123 (JAL 123) was a domestic passenger flight from Tokyo to Osaka. The accident happened on the evening of August 12, 1985. To this day, it remains the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history with 520 of the 524 people on board losing their lives. A mere 12 minutes into the flight, there was a catastrophic structural failure and explosive decompression when a large portion of the tail ripped off. This subsequently caused loss of all hydraulic systems and flight controls. The plane crashed into a mountain. The investigations later revealed that the structural failure was caused by faulty repairs by Boeing technicians, several years earlier. 

All accidents involving the loss of life are sad. Life is precious and we grieve when it is lost. However, what makes this particular story tenfold sadder is the way it happened. The passengers were just settling into their seats and everything was just routine. Then out of absolutely nowhere, a deafening bang echoed through the aisle of the plane. Air rushed out, masks dropped and the pilots, with damaged hydraulic systems, began to lose control of the plane. But not without a fight! Despite losing all controls, the pilots tried everything they could to keep the plane flying and turn it back to land. They tried to use differential engine thrust, attempted to move the pedals and turned the control wheel. For 18 gruesome minutes, they tried everything possible and never gave up to the very end. Sadly, it was never meant to be. 

Imagine doing everything right from the very start. Imagine following procedure to the letter, obeying protocol and using all your skill to your absolute best. Imagine that despite all this, calamity that is not of your doing, strikes. Now further imagine that even after this, you continue to do everything you can to make things right but nothing works. You ask for help and it seems no one cares, you cry and no one sees, you pray and your prayer appears to fall on deaf ears. 

By most accounts, there was nothing that the pilots of JAL 123 could have done to change the outcome. Their fate was sealed the moment the landing gears left the ground. We may never find ourselves in the shoes of the passengers and crew of JAL 123. However, we have all been dealt with our cards. It could be family, friends, work, health or whatever it could be. We may find ourselves in situations whereby despite doing everything right, things do not get better. In those circumstances, is there someone we can turn to? Someone who always cares, who always sees and whose ears are always open to our prayers? Is there someone we can trust to still make something good out of such situations. Is there someone who can give us a reason to keep on keeping on? I believe there is.