On August 2, 2005, Lisa Platt boarded Air France flight 358 along with a French exchange student returning to Toronto. At just 15 years old, Platt was excited about the journey, reflecting on the joy shared with fellow passengers as they listened to music together. Similarly, 19-year-old Eddie Ho, a business student from South Africa, found the flight enjoyable, noting the excellent service and food. However, the excitement soon turned to terror as the aircraft struggled to stop upon landing at Pearson International Airport. Investigators later reported that the landing conditions were difficult, with heavy rain creating slick runway conditions that ultimately led to the plane overshooting the runway.
As the aircraft came to a halt, chaos ensued. Passengers immediately recognized the urgency of escaping, with some scrambling for their belongings while others rushed to evacuate. Ho, seated near the economy section, faced obstacles with the emergency slides. After a tense moment contemplating the risk of jumping, he opted to make his way to another exit, sustaining minor injuries during his escape. In contrast, Platt found her escape relatively smoother, though not without its own moments of panic and concern for what was happening around her. Both teens shared a relentless instinct to make it away from the burning wreckage, driven by the anxiety that the plane could explode.
Once safely free from the plane, Ho took on the responsibility of helping another injured passenger while also capturing photos of the burning aircraft—which would later earn recognition as a significant news image. They eventually regrouped with other survivors near Pearson airport, where confusion persisted regarding the nature of the incident, with authorities suspecting it might have been a terrorist attack. Customs officers continued to question them about their belongings, despite the panic and chaos they had just survived.
After the initial shock subsided, both Ho and Platt began to confront the emotional aftermath of the incident. They faced reality and trauma, which manifested as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both sought therapeutic help; Ho and Platt expressed how they struggled with everyday activities, such as being outdoors in inclement weather. For Platt, controlling her environment became paramount, as she felt compelled to drive during rainstorms to reclaim a sense of safety. Notably, she chose to commemorate her survival by tattooing the flight number on her ankle.
A year after the crash, Air France offered free return trips to all passengers. Platt decided to revisit the scene of the incident on the same day, on the same flight, as part of her healing journey. Ho also gradually came to terms with his experience, willing to take his first flight a year later, although fears lingered in his mind each time he boarded a plane. Despite their shared trauma, they both developed positive outlooks: Platt pursued a career as a flight attendant, seeking to help others in similar situations. Ho became a chartered professional accountant and used his experiences to support and comfort others who might be anxious about flying.
The aftermath of flight 358 shaped their lives profoundly. For Ho, the experience fostered a mindset focused on helping others, showing empathy towards fellow passengers who were nervous while flying. Platt, on the other hand, held a deep sense of gratitude for surviving and reflected on the fragility of life. Although they faced challenges related to their trauma, the resilience they exhibited allowed them to move forward with their lives, grateful for their survival while recognizing the communal bond formed through the harrowing experience of escaping disaster.
