on the same flight
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understandinguncertainty.org was produced by the Winton programme for the public understanding of risk based in the Statistical Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. The aim was to help improve the way that uncertainty and risk are discussed in society, and show how probability and statistics can be both useful and entertaining.
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I joined a flight from Birmingham to Amsterdam, took my window seat and started reading my book. As others took their seats I was aware of the person taking the seat next to me. "Hello Malcolm" he said. I immediately recognised him as Mahmoud who had worked for me seven years earlier. We had not been in contact for some years.
I live in Nottinghamshire, and Mahmoud in Leicester, so it's reasonable that we might use Birmingham airport for travel. From time to time I do see people I know at local airports. However, what are the odds of a former colleague or someone I know taking an adjacent seat on the same flight?
Date submitted:Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:30:49 +0000Coincidence ID:6199
