While serving as the Consul General of Bombay ( Mumbai ) , Huddle and his wife , Chanya " Pom " Huddle , survived the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 , which was hijacked , on November 23 , 1996 . Huddle said that he chose to fly on Ethiopian Airlines while planning a safari trip to Kenya because of Ethiopian Airlines 's reputation and added that the airline was one of two airlines in Africa to have Federal Aviation Administration certification . Franklin Huddle wanted a flight during the day , reasoning that flying during the day is " safer " . In another interview for the '' Mayday '' television series , he said when the captain announced to the cabin that it was time for passengers to don life jackets , he heard the sounds of inflation after he and his wife put theirs on ; he then stood up and told the passengers in his row and first class not to inflate their jackets inside the plane . Huddle credits his and his wife 's survival to a last-minute upgrade to business class
Flight 961
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961
Franklin Huddle