Emerson Drive

Nashville, TN - Emerson Drive lead singer Brad Mates and his wife Jana flew back from a holiday vacation earlier this week not expecting such a speedy landing!  The plane carrying the newlyweds back to Nashville was diverted to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on a return trip from Maine.

As the plane began it’s descent, the captain announced to the passengers that they were going to make a change in airports because they needed a longer runway.  Ten minutes before they landed, the captain made a second announcement, explaining that all passengers should expect a rough landing.

 

Immediately the flight attendants went over the emergency crash positions with everyone on the plane, asking a few people to be in charge of opening the doors and getting people to jump down on the inflatable slides if needed when the plane came to a stop.

 

Mates recounted, “As we descended toward the airport, the flight attendants made repeated announcements to ‘duck and brace, duck and brace.’  When we touched down, you could feel the plane was moving faster than it usually does for a normal landing.  When the pilots pushed on the brakes the plane vibrated, and then we finally came to a stop.  I lifted my head from the crash position and looked out of the window to see several fire trucks, ambulances and other safety vehicles.”

 

Once the plane was safely stopped the Captain made another announcement to let everyone know that they were safe.   Passengers were clapping, cheering, and crying…all happy to be safely on the ground!  

 

As they were leaving the plane the Mates’ found out that the flaps on the wings would not work when the pilots had been cleared for landing, and without the flaps to help slow down the plane it basically lands at a speed unsafe for tires, brakes and control.  “It was a pretty crazy, exciting, scary experience to say the least,” says Mates. “One I won't forget!”

Emerson Drive is gearing up for the spring release of their brand new CD, BELIEVE, on The Valory Music Co./Midas Records Nashville.  The debut single, “Belongs To You,” is currently making its way up the country charts.