PARIS — A reservation mix-up, an overbooking and a cabbie’s passion for soccer are all that separated some would-be passengers on Air France flight 447 from the fate of 228 others who lost their lives in the mid-Atlantic.
Andrej Aplinc was scheduled to take flight 447, but the 39-year-old arrived at Rio’s airport early Sunday because his cab driver was in a hurry to see a soccer match. His early arrival put him on an earlier Air France flight.
"It feels miraculous and sad at the same time,” said Amina Benouargha-Jaffiol, who also was scheduled to get on the flight Sunday night.
"Survivors’ syndrome,” seen often in combat and other crisis situations in which those who make it feel as though they fled, deserted their buddies or were cowardly, said psychiatrist Ronan Orio.
But being saved by the ticket counter, traffic or other caprices of life should not be considered traumatic, Orio said.
Instead, near-miss situations should be viewed in a positive light, he said.
"People who take a plane and have a second chance win the lotto,” the psychiatrist said.
by the associated press
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