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Re: “Wreckage rains from damaged jet,” Feb. 21 news story

When an emergency occurs, pilots and air traffic controllers act on instinct — the result of years of training — to quickly handle emergencies and get a damaged plane and its passengers and crew to safety. This frequently-rehearsed and seldomused training is part of what makes air travel so safe.

When the pilots of United 328 called “mayday, mayday” on Saturday afternoon to alert controllers to a significant emergency, the controllers offered to clear a direct path back to Denver International Airport but the pilots calmly asked for extra time to “run checklists.” These checklists allow pilots to troubleshoot why an engine, often out of their field of view, has stopped working and either restart it or shut it down while they prepare to land.

Pilots have a book of checklists that are organized to help them quickly identify and complete tasks to keep an airplane flying safely during an emergency. Pilots constantly train for emergencies and some checklists must be completed in a matter of seconds.

Pilots also have electronic navigational charts at an arm’s reach and can quickly reference them to change course to the nearest airport. Controllers stop all other take-offs and landings to allow the pilots to choose whichever runway works best given their emergency, as happened with United 328.

Time will tell what caused the engine failure on Saturday, but for now, the United pilots and air traffic controllers deserve praise for keeping all “souls on board” safe.

Mary Catherine Longshore, Thornton