Captain Otto Herold

 Otto Herold Whilst Making Adjustments - photo by Nigel A.  JAMES

Destination Unknown

It was the 21^st of December 1975; it was going to be a wonderful Christmas.  The snow, combined with the smells of roasting chestnuts and Glühweine, had put Vienna in a super Advent mood, and, with only 3 more days to go, the city was revving up for its last minute holiday rush! And then it happened.  An event so serious, that, as Austria struggled to come to grips with the enormity of the situation, the rest of the world looked hopelessly on!  The notorious terrorist, Carlos, with a band of Palestinian and German  accomplices had taken over the OPEC council of minister’s meeting and were holding OPEC staff and 11 oil ministers hostage; and, one of them was the most powerful of all, Sheik Yamane of Saudi Arabia!  A blood bath, it seemed, was about unfold!

With 4 already dead, the Austrian government was not about to, nor could it, take any chances, so, bearing in mind the importance of life, all of the terrorist’s demands, including a message read at 2 hourly intervals on the radio, and a plane to take them to freedom were agreed.  But of course, a plane needs a crew!

Otto Herold was a young co-pilot with Austrian Airlines at the time, and, when the call for volunteers came he needed just a quick thirty minutes!   If he were to be needed, he would be the one for the cock-pit!  And so it was, on the morning of the 22^nd December, 1975, Otto Herold and captain Manfred Pollak were ready and waiting in their fully fuelled Austrian Airline’s DC9, and ready to go to “destination unknown”.

The passengers, both terrorists and hostages, boarded, and all went off very well.  The two pilots experienced no real problems, but, there is, however, one small thing that still sticks out in Otto Herold’s mind.  Because there were no hostesses on board, Otto volunteered to serve the passengers with coffee.  This was no problem, and, all on board were thankful for the refreshment; that is to say, all except one!  One of the hostages, an oil minister, rudely rejected the offer of coffee, and whilst pushing the coffee angrily away, demanded a tea!  Unfortunately, he, too, had to make do with coffee.  The crux, however, came when Otto went to collect the dirty cups.  One of the terrorists, a Palestinian, stopped him, and, instead, forced the now “non too happy” complaining and demanding minister to clear up the dirties!  There were no more passenger complaints for the rest of the flight!

The trip came to an end in Algiers where the last of the hostages were released.  Carlos  and his gang then disappeared, and Otto and Captain Herold were then flown back to a sad and very much shocked Vienna. And Christmas?

That year it was different.  It was more an occasion of relief  mixed with sorrow. People had been killed, and Austria, a small central European peace loving country, had been wounded.  “Why us” was everyone’s question.

And Captain Pollok and Otto Herold?  Volunteering for what they did was a very brave act, and both were subsequently decorated for their courage.  Of course, both continued flying and Otto Herold was promoted to captain.  But, captains can never stop flying!

Now, happily in retirement, Otto Herold is still very much behind the controls, and his fleet of model planes is impressive. However,  no models can replace the Viscounts, the DC 9s or the airbuses  which he once flew, but, flying is flying and the take-offs and landings, just like life, are still just as exciting as then!

Nj.