square_duck Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Strange News Would you board flight 666 to HEL? By DAVID MAC DOUGALL From Associated Press September 13, 2013 2:50 AM EST HELSINKI (AP) — Would you board flight 666 to HEL on Friday the 13th? For superstitious travelers, that might be tempting fate. But Finnair passengers on AY666 to Helsinki — which has the 3 letter designation HEL — don't seem too bothered. Friday's flight is almost full. "It has been quite a joke among the pilots" said veteran Finnair pilot Juha-Pekka Keidasto, who will fly the Airbus A320 from Copenhagen to Helsinki. "I'm not a superstitious man. It's only a coincidence for me." The daily flight AY666 from Copenhagen to Helsinki falls on Friday the 13th twice in 2013. Friday the 13th is considered bad luck in many countries and the number 666 also has strong negative biblical associations. Some airlines, like Scandinavian Airlines, take these fears seriously and don't have a row 13 on board. However, the negative connotations are a relatively new phenomenon for northern Europeans, and Finnair and other regional carriers like Norwegian and Estonian Air keep row 13. "Less than 100 years ago, the number 13 did not have this sinister meaning; it's quite recent in the north," said Ulo Valk, professor of comparative folklore at the University of Tartu in Estonia. "There are 12 hours, 12 months and in Christianity 12 apostles and this is a divine number. Add one more and it brings in a certain element of chaos," he said. But passengers on flight 666 to HEL should have a calm flight over the Baltic at this time of year. "It's hopefully smooth skies" says Keidasto. "And if there's some passenger who is anxious about this 666 our cabin crew is always happy to help them." ____ Online: Track Finnair flight AY666 to HEL in real time at www.flightradar24.com David Mac Dougall is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/davidmacdougall Link to comment
lilJester Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I'd go with a smile on my face Link to comment
lilme` Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 *shrugs* I'd go. I'm not really a superstitious person. I don't really put a whole lot of stock into "666" or friday the 13th. They're just numbers someone attached some kind of superstitious meaning to at some point. Link to comment
ForbiddenFruit Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I wouldn't, not a chance. Why would I want to go to Helsinki this time of year? Link to comment
SnazzyNappies Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 I went to Cyprus on the same day as that flight and the only thing that was bad (besides the food) was the landing. He broke way too hard but it was still fine Link to comment
Descolada Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 I would, just for laughs. And if the plane ended up crashing, that'd serve me right for being a smartass. ;P Link to comment
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