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Crash survivor recalls horrific last moments

It has been over a month - exactly 41 days today (March 22) - since the ill-fated Iranian Kish Airlines flight crashed about three kilometres away from the Sharjah International Airport, killing 43 people on board.

The bodies of the victims have been repatriated to their respective countries, while three survivors - an Iranian, Egyptian and a Filipino are recuperating in the hospital.

Navid Khodaverdian, the Iranian survivor, has been flown to Iran for further treatment, while Mohammed Sobhy, the Egyptian survivor, and George Cruz, the Filipino survivor, are currently confined at the Male Surgical Ward at the Al Qasimi Hospital. Mr Sobhy's brother visits him everyday although he is still unable to speak.

It was late Saturday evening that Khaleej Times conducted an exclusive interview with George Cruz, a God-fearing crash survivor who showed no signs of anger, frustration or self-pity at his condition.

His wife, Maritess Dizon-Cruz, who was flown in from Manila on February 16, said that he sustained a fracture on his right leg (tibia and fibula), and left leg (femur). George has a wound on his left heel and multiple burns. His partly burnt face, neck and hands, however are showing quick recovery. His speech, which initially, was a soft whisper, is normal once again. His memory is vivid, and despite a partly cut ear, he can hear well.

Maritess said that doctors at the Al Qasimi Hospital stated that he was the best patient they ever had.

Excerpts of the interview of the Filipino survivor:

Khaleej Times: What do you remember a few minutes before the plane crashed?

I could only recall what had happened two to three minutes before the crash. The whole aircraft was shaky and unsteady before it landed. People were panicking and screaming, including Engelbert (another Filipino passenger who died in the crash) who was sitting next to me. I just closed my eyes, covered my face with my two hands and uttered a prayer to God, and I guess I blacked out soon after. I regained consciousness later, and wondered why I was lying on a hospital bed.

Can you remember the last conversation you had with Engelbert Salenga Linga?

We were discussing our plans to buy a prepaid card as soon as we arrived at Sharjah airport. He said: "When we reach Sharjah, we'll buy a prepaid card for our mobile phones so we can call Jessica and our friends in Kish."

I told him that I had promised my wife that I would call her when I reached Sharjah. So I set aside some money in my pocket for the prepaid card. I had more than Dh200 in my pocket, and Dh25 in my wallet. After the crash, my mobile phone, wallet, Saudi and Philippine driving licences were all returned to me.

Why do you think you survived the crash?

It was my strong faith in God that saved me. I consider it as a miracle. A lot of people, including the UAE authorities who interviewed me for one and a half hours, were wondering why I survived. Majority of them tend to believe that I was seated at the back or tail-end of the aircraft. I was actually seated on the centre of the aircraft - on the left side of the plane, and on an aisle seat beside Engelbert.

The authorities also asked me if I saw any terrorists armed with guns on the plane, and I told them that nothing untoward happened on the plane. Everything was peaceful. I told them that I saw nothing unusual on the plane, and did not wonder why there was some kind of turbulence. I have flown several times to and from Saudi Arabia where I used to work. I strongly believe it was technical and not human error. There was no warning from the pilot, it (the air accident) happened so suddenly.

How were you identified?

They mistook me for another nationality, probably because of my height (George stands 5 feet and 10.5 inches). My cousin Roland and Philippine Ambassador to the UAE (Libran Cabactulan) were allowed to view my body, and they positively identified me as I had when they saw the butterfly tattoo on my right arm. I had it since 1996. We had a group of taekwondo enthusiasts in Riyadh and we each sported a tattoo.

Can you recall the first visit your wife made when you were still in the ICU?

Yes, I asked her why she had just arrived, and why she had not brought our son to see me. I don't know if you'll believe me but I had actually seen my son walking, and that was before I regained consciousness in the hospital! That afternoon, the nurses asked me if I knew of other passengers on that flight. I told them that Engelbert and three Filipino ladies were also with us. It dawned on me later that they (the ladies) were not on that flight.

Were you disappointed when your wife later admitted that she did not take your son Geohn Gabriel along with her, and that plans of bringing him here did not materialise?

Not really. I have come to accept it already. I realised that my wife would have to take care of both of us if Gabriel was here. My son cannot stay in the hospital, of course. If Gabriel is with my cousin Roland in Dubai, my wife will have to travel between Dubai and Sharjah all the time.

Ever since my wife arrived, she has not left me here in the hospital. I really felt her love for her husband. My love for my wife is undoubtedly great, and it is only God who knows how much I love her. We've undergone major hardships and were even forced to take up loans. We have overcome all the challenges, as I have a regular job here in the UAE. I can send all my salary to the Philippines, and keep my overtime pay for my expenses.

And this accident happened ....

What are your immediate plans?

My employer wants me to recuperate in the UAE, but I don't know if I can perform my work as normally as possible because my legs are full of metal. Right now, I'm hoping to get well and go home to the Philippines and be with our son. It's difficult to plan ahead. I cannot say if I would be coming back to work in the UAE.

I am not harbouring any grudge with Kish Airlines. It was an accident in the first place. We are not aspiring for a big sum of money from the airline's insurance agency, just the right amount for my family, including my medical check-up. Several lawyers came over and claimed that we would be getting millions of dirhams!

I'm also pondering how I would travel back home as I have to take the plane and I'm now too scared to fly.

I thank God for giving me a second life, and I know God has plans for me and my family. I don't know exactly what they are, but I have to accept what He wants me to do in my life. I don't think God will ever forsake us.

Memories of Kish island

What do you remember about Kish Island?

George: Engelbert and I went to the shopping mall and bought a Spiderman toy for my son Gabriel. We also went to the beach. We stayed there for two nights.

The night before we left for Sharjah, we could hardly sleep. Fellow Filipinos advised us to make the most of our stay in Kish. Unfortunately, there are a lot of stranded Filipinos in the island. They're doing all sorts of odd jobs there to survive. One Filipino I've met in Kish had been there since December.