Aborted Flight

In August 2011, my husband and I had flown BA from London to Singapore, en route for Brisbane where we were to spend a few days with some friends, Melodie and Eddie, who we hadn't seen for almost 20 years when they emigrated to Australia. After a few hours in transit at Singapore airport, we boarded our onward flight. Unfortunately, 45 minutes into our flight, we were told by the Captain that the plane had burst a tyre on take off and he had been told to return to Singapore. This meant a night in a Hotel and, on our return to the airport the next morning, all passengers were found seats on various other flights. My husband and I were found seats on a Singapore Airlines flight arriving in Brisbane that evening. Soon after take off, I noticed a young man across the aisle from me who appeared to be unwell. He was coughing, sneezing and looked hot and uncomfortable. After a while, I offered him some Paracetamol which he gladly accepted. I also asked the cabin staff for a cold drink and an ice pack for him. He managed to get some sleep after which he appeared slightly better though was obviously still unwell. We arrived at Brisbane airport and, on wheeling our luggage trolley through the crowds waiting in Arrivals, we spotted Melodie and Eddie. It also looked as if Melodie's sister had come along to meet us as well which puzzled me as we didn't really know her that well when she lived in the UK. Melodie and Eddie moved towards us and as Melodie hugged me she said "You looked after my nephew on the plane. He is Della's son, Patrick. She has come to meet him. When he saw you coming through, he said "That's the lady who gave me some Paracetamol and asked the cabin staff for a cold drink for me". He has been to Singapore for a job interview". Unfortunately Patrick spent the next 24 hours in a hospital where he was treated for pneumonia but we did manage to see him again before we left Queensland for New South Wales and he did get that job in Singapore.