Swimmer recounts aircraft’s 2,000-ft. plunge

During a 2,000-foot free fall, lasting a white-knuckling seven seconds, and with passengers literally flying through the air and striking the ceiling above her, city teen Lindsay Delmar thought it might be the end.

The 16 year old was one of 256 passengers and 17 crew members aboard Air Canada Flight 34 last Friday. She was returning from a swimming competition in Australia.

The flight was expected to take 15 hours to get to Vancouver but, along the way, the Boeing 777 hit a thunderstorm accompanied by turbulence.

Some people were sleeping at the time and when the plane started to initially bounce, some of them woke up. Signs warning passengers to put on their seat-belts flashed on screens. Delmar saw the warning and strapped herself in.