In-flight saviors

"When I started my work that day, I didn't realize I might die. When the accident happened, I didn't think I would survive," said Liu.

After receiving psychological guidance and resting for half a year, crew members returned to work. They were bestowed the title Civil Aviation Administration of China Heroic Crew, and were received by President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in September 2018.

The Captain, a film inspired by the incident, was released in 2019.

Bi attributes the successful landing to the cooperation of the crew members. "I followed the procedure of what I should do. Any well-trained chief stewardess can do what I did, perhaps even do it better," she says modestly. She was awarded the title of March 8 Red Banner Pacesetter both on the provincial level in 2020 and on the national level in 2021.

"The honor is not for me, but the whole crew. We were not familiar with each other before, but each of us were able to do our jobs well. That is what made it a success."

Back when Bi was a senior high school student, she had envisioned life as a stewardess to be a glamorous one, wearing an elegant uniform and makeup and having the opportunity to travel a lot. She applied to learn cabin service at university, and when she realized her dream, she found the job to be much more demanding than she had imagined, and not all about handing out food and serving drinks.

"A stewardess should be versatile. We must master the situation aboard the different types of planes our company owns, learn about first-aid, security, and even have a good knowledge of wine and tea. We need to pass many exams and collect experience to become a mature stewardess," says Bi, who started working in 2007 and became a chief stewardess in 2011.

She says the honor has added pressure, motivating her to be more strict with herself at work. Now she works as the deputy manager of a security and quality monitoring office for Sichuan Airlines.

Fortunately, the incident didn't leave too many mental scars, but she says she is influenced by it. For example, since she was so shocked when the cockpit door was blown open, for quite a long time afterward, she would be triggered by sudden, loud noises. She pays more attention to the use of seat belts on planes as well.

It also shows more in her attitude toward life. "I have become much more tolerant and slow-paced, less fussy when getting on with others, and more considerate to other people's situations," says Bi.

She gets involved in charity work, especially programs to help "left-behind" children living in mountainous areas, whose parents work in faraway cities.

"I feel like I have been given a second chance at life, and want to make the most of it," says Bi.

Since the accident, crew members regularly gather on the anniversary, but with a tacit agreement to not talk about it. "We believe everything has been reset. The past has gone, and the only thing we can master is the present. We need to look ahead," says Bi.