‘Screams On The Plane’: United Flight Was ‘5 To 5.2 Seconds’ From Hitting Pacific Ocean, Passenger Says

A passenger aboard the United Airlines flight in December that plunged just feet into the Pacific Ocean was able to share his terrifying experience.

Rod Williams II, Rod Williams II, and his two young children were sitting near the back seat of United flight 1722 bound for Maui, Hawaii to San Francisco. After taking off from Maui, the plane reached 2,200 feet. However, it dropped to 1,400 feet during an intense storm.

“It felt like you were climbing to the top of a roller coaster. It was at that point,” Williams, who was a student of aviation at college, shared his story. CNN. “There were a number of screams on the plane. Everybody knew that something was out of the ordinary, or at least that this was not normal.”

According to The Air CurrentThe terrifying dive reached a descent speed of nearly 8,600 feet per second.

Williams and his wife sat with their 10-year old daughter and 7 year-old son.

“When the plane started to nosedive, multiple screams are being let out, at that point,” Williams said. “You’re trying your best to maintain your composure – there’s obviously kids on the flight – nobody really knows what’s going on, but at the same time, you’re concerned. You don’t know if this is an issue, but it was certainly out of the ordinary.”

“It’s tense, you don’t really have a chance to speak or to conjure up words, you’re just kind of gripping the seat and praying under your breath,” He added. “I asked her later and sure enough … we were praying for a miracle, because we felt like this could be it.”

Eight weeks after the flight, Williams’ father showed him reports on the flight. “Now that I know, statistically what had happened, and that we were about 5 to 5.2 seconds from hitting the water, you know, I’m definitely counting my blessings,” He stated. “I’m reminded that when my wife and I pray together before the flights that, you know, there’s a God that’s here in that.”

The family flew home from Ohio after the flight landed safely in San Francisco. The United flight, a Boeing that could seat 364 passengers, flew two and a-half hours later to Chicago.

“You read about these things, but then when you get to experience it, it’s just, sobering, you know. I’m very thankful to be here today,” He concluded.