# Think this could be bad **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344 "2013-10-15T20:20:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/1 "2013-10-15T20:20:01Z")
Just saw a Southwest Jet flying by my house, looked like it was circling back to Hobby Airport. Wheels are down I am way to far from the Airport for the wheels to be down. Hope everyone is ok **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/2 "2013-10-15T20:41:49Z")
You time-warped into [the past.](http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/oct/15/us-southwest-emergency-landing/) 😉 Problems with cabin pressure. Strangely enough, [five days ago](http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/10/10/southwest-jet-makes-emergency-landing-in-houston/), same reason. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/3 "2013-10-15T20:53:21Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Just saw a Southwest Jet flying by my house, looked like it was circling back to Hobby Airport. > > Wheels are down > > I am way to far from the Airport for the wheels to be down. > > Hope everyone is ok > > **Capt** Where do you live? If you live in say… Katy and you see a plane with the gear down, then that’s kind of odd. If you live in say… Friendswood, it might not be as weird as it seems- it wouldn’t take long for a plane to get there from Hobby, and if they’re just circling back, they might not even put the gear up. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/4 "2013-10-15T21:21:58Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Where do you live? If you live in say… Katy and you see a plane with the gear down, then that’s kind of odd. > > If you live in say… Friendswood, it might not be as weird as it seems- it wouldn’t take long for a plane to get there from Hobby, and if they’re just circling back, they might not even put the gear up. Houston Heights, when the wind is right I am under the westbound path out from Hobby and IAH. Sometimes I am under the Eastbound path in for Hobby and Ellington. This was definitely not normal, I plane watch all the time from my second floor balcony. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/5 "2013-10-15T23:37:38Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > This was definitely not normal, I plane watch all the time from my second floor balcony. If you can see into the cabin, it’s probably not a good sign. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/6 "2013-10-16T16:21:00Z")
It’s even worse when you can read the SkyMall magazine. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/7 "2013-10-16T18:38:25Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > It’s even worse when you can read the SkyMall magazine. I know. That stuff is Way overpriced. Who buys this stuff anyway? And do the call centers get lots of calls from people screaming for their lives? You know, cause its toll free & in the seat-backs… ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/8 "2013-10-16T18:45:36Z")
I’d guess that if you live in the Heights, you’re probably just a few minutes from Hobby or IAH for an airliner, so it could be someone coming in from say… Austin with their gear down a little early to slow themselves down. Plus it was cloudy, right? That may have had something to do with it as well- planes seem to fly a little lower on cloudy days. I see the occasional SW plane fly over with gear down at my house, and I’m roughly as far from Love Field as the Heights are from Hobby/IAH. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/9 "2013-10-16T18:53:37Z")
Any update from the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/10 "2013-10-16T18:56:38Z")
I doubt the OP will know more than anyone else who has an internet connection. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/11 "2013-10-16T19:52:55Z")
I have heard nothing about it, so I can only assume that all is well. I get a lot of air traffic over my house and that one was very odd, I never see them wheels down as I am under in/out corridor not an approach. I am appx 12mi North of Hobby and it’s runways are situated NE/SW and NW/SE. Glad there was no real news to report **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/12 "2013-10-16T21:08:39Z")
I can imagine the Audix: “Thank you for calling SkyMall, your Premiere in-flight shopping experience! How may I help you today?” “Aaaaarrrrrgh!” “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand you. Did you say Wireless Lan?” “Aaaaarrrrgh!” Oh. Did you want a battery-powered fan?" “Aaaaarrrrgh!” “Oh, did you want our Wolfgang Puck exclusive pans?” “Aaaaarrrrgh!” “Did you say Martha Stewart signature jams?” “Aaaaarrrrgh!” We must have a bad connection due to background noise. Please hit 1 and text the product name." _bip-babip bip-babip bip-babip_ “Tony Hawk Parachutes are in stock. Standard shipping is expected to be… 3…days… Would you like Express Delivery?” _Biiiiiiip!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/13 "2013-10-16T21:40:13Z")
Could be worse. 10+ years ago a small plane’s propellers hit the top of the trees near our deck. Between that and the rum-rum-rum sound of a stalling engine I knew what was happening. Definitely a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/14 "2013-10-16T21:42:51Z")
Can I just mention that Hobby Airport isn’t the kind of name that inspires confidence? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/15 "2013-10-16T22:11:34Z")
Hobby _Airport_? I thought the OP said the plane was headed for the Hobby _Lobby_. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/16 "2013-10-16T22:27:06Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Hobby _Airport_? I thought the OP said the plane was headed for the Hobby _Lobby_. Could be worse. They named an airport after Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/17 "2013-10-16T22:32:38Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > Can I just mention that Hobby Airport isn’t the kind of name that inspires confidence? It is named for William P. Hobby [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William\_P.\_Hobby](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby) I happen to love the airport. It is smallish and easy to navigate. IAH is a freaggin nightmare on par with Newark or Laguardia. It is also the secondary hub for Southwest. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-this-could-be-bad/671344/18 "2013-10-17T16:04:51Z")
[Was this it?](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57607853/ntsb-says-texas-spirit-air-flight-had-uncontained-failure/)