It was a special day for Hanneke Heijnen (44). She was one of 141 passengers on the plane that was grounded for hours at the military airbase in Eindhoven on Friday. The reason? A bomb threat. “In hindsight you really think: what the fuck happened?”
Omroep Brabant spoke to Hanneke by telephone on Friday. She was then on the plane at the airbase for less than an hour. As befits a regional broadcaster, we asked Hanneke if she wanted to speak to us in front of the camera later.
Only if it could be done quickly, she said, because she wanted to go home immediately, to Schijndel, to her children.
Hanneke did not yet know that she would not be home until nine o’clock, more than six hours after the plane landed after the bomb threat. “It all took a very long time. A lot of important people had to do a pee all over again,” says Hanneke a day later, finally home.
“This could also have gone wrong.”
“Well, afterwards you really think: what the fuck actually happened here? Yesterday I was calm. Of course you don’t want to panic on that plane, also because there were many children on the plane. I am a first-aider and company emergency officer myself, so I know that rest is important. But when I came home and hugged my children, I suddenly realized: this could have gone wrong.”
Still, it was very exciting. “In the back was a gentleman who had to go to the toilet, but was not allowed to get up. At one point he got really angry. That was quickly suppressed by everyone, including all the children. Anyway, it was a Turkish gentleman, I think he didn’t get everything along.”
At around five o’clock, the passengers were gradually allowed to leave the plane in small groups. They had to keep their hands above their heads as they exited the plane, just in case. They were then taken in vans to the airbase terminal, where they would remain for hours.
“We don’t know what’s going on, so stay calm.”
“But I have to say, it was all really well organised. Yes, it took a long time, but I really want one shout out give to Transavia staff. They did very well on the plane. The staff kept saying, “We don’t know what’s going on, so keep calm. But everything was perfectly arranged in the terminal as well.”
There was catering and guidance for the passengers. “Towards the end, even the pilot came for a while. He said: “Here comes luggage on the belt. Then our ways part. If you want to chat we are still here, and we are also here if you want another hug.” Isn’t that nice? Those people have had to wait just as long as we have.”
Once home, Hanneke had to recover from everything. Still yes, actually “It’s going to be okay. But I went to the gym this morning to work out everything,” she laughs.
READ ALSO: No bomb found in plane, flights from Eindhoven Airport resumed