- Written by Dr. Vasudha M Sharma, Senior Consultant at UWAY Health
A few days ago, I came across a true story that stayed with me long after I finished reading it. Not because it was dramatic—though it was—but because it explained something profound about the human mind under extreme stress.
Interestingly, we’ve begun seeing similar patterns in many of our patients today, especially in high-pressure cities like Bangalore.
Now this is a true event and I’m trying to reproduce it as accurately as I can.
The Day All Four Engines Failed Mid-Air
On June 24, 1982, British Airways Flight 9 was flying high over the Indian Ocean. Everything was normal. Suddenly, the pilots noticed blue light on the cockpit windows and sparks on the wings. Within minutes, all four engines of the aircraft stopped working.
A Boeing 747 with 263 passengers became a silent aircraft falling towards the ocean.
Inside the cabin:
- Oxygen masks dropped
- Smoke entered the cabin.
- Passengers believed these were their final moments
At this point, the captain made a surprisingly calm announcement:
The captain calmly announced:
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.”
He called the failure of all engines a small problem. His calm voice prevented panic. The crew kept trying again and again to restart the engines. Finally, one engine started, then another, and eventually all four. The aircraft landed safely. Not a single life was lost.
Why This Story Matters for Our Health
This story stayed with me because it demonstrates something important. It is not the problem that breaks us.
It is our reaction to the problem.
Some panic.
Some get angry.
Some shut down.
Very few stay calm enough to think clearly and act wisely.
How Your Mind Responds to Stress
Ayurveda medial frameworks gives a useful explanation for this difference. It says our stress response depends on our mental dosha (you can find more detail about dosha here)
1. Vata Minds
Vata minds tend to panic or overthink when stressed.
2. Pitta Minds
Pitta minds get angry or try to control everything.
3. Kapha Minds
Kapha minds remain calm, patient, and practical.
The captain’s reaction was like a Kapha mind: steady, grounded, and composed even during a crisis. The good news is that calmness is not something only a few people are born with. It can be trained, just like any other habit.
Here are some simple but powerful practices to build this calmness:
To practice this, you need to first underhand your predominant dosha. Once you ascertain it, you can follow the below practices
For Vata Minds (panic and overthinking)
- Slow breathing
- Warm food
- Early sleep
- Less screen time at night
For Pitta Minds (anger and irritation)
- Cooling drinks
- Pausing before reacting
- Relaxed evening activity
For Kapha Minds (lethargy and stuck feeling)
- Morning movement
- Light and spiced food
- Avoiding daytime sleep
Why This Matters
At UWAY, we often meet people after they have tried many solutions and are mentally tired. In such cases, the first step is not medicine. It is helping the mind restart its engines. Only then can healing truly begin.
The real lesson from the flight story is this: most situations do not defeat us. Our untrained reaction to stress does. When life’s engines stop, can we remain calm enough to try again until something restarts?
Yes baed on ones predominant dosha some people are comparatively calmer. However, anyone can attain that state of mind with a little effort
If you would like to understand your own stress response better, Ayurveda offers tools to help.
For guidance, assessment, or holistic care, you can always consult an expert at our Ayurvedic clinic in Bangalore.
About Author
Dr. Vasudha M Sharma
Dr. Vasudha M Sharma is an experienced ayurvedic doctor with 24 years of clinical experience, known for bridging Ayurveda, Yoga Therapy, and Acupuncture to treat complex, chronic conditions.
She completed her B.A.M.S. from Government Ayurvedic Medical College, Bangalore(1999), and M.Sc. in Yoga Therapy from SVYASA University (2005). Her passion for evidence-based Ayurveda led her to earn a PhD in Yoga from SVYASA University, where her doctoral research focused on integrating Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy in the management of Migraine headaches. She also presented her research work in the American Headache Society’s Headache Congress in 2019
