Question
Read the following quote from Captain Eric Moody.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are...[trying] to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.”
Moody was the captain of a 1982 flight in which all of his plane's engines failed due to volcanic ash. Why is this considered understatement?
Responses
Having all of the engines fail on a plane is more than a "small problem."
Having all of the engines fail on a plane is more than a "small problem."
"All four engines" were stopped temporarily, so this wasn't a big issue.
"All four engines" were stopped temporarily, so this wasn't a big issue.
The passengers understood that the pilot was doing his best to help.
The passengers understood that the pilot was doing his best to help.
This confused many passengers because they didn't know if it was true.
This confused many passengers because they didn't know if it was true.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are...[trying] to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.”
Moody was the captain of a 1982 flight in which all of his plane's engines failed due to volcanic ash. Why is this considered understatement?
Responses
Having all of the engines fail on a plane is more than a "small problem."
Having all of the engines fail on a plane is more than a "small problem."
"All four engines" were stopped temporarily, so this wasn't a big issue.
"All four engines" were stopped temporarily, so this wasn't a big issue.
The passengers understood that the pilot was doing his best to help.
The passengers understood that the pilot was doing his best to help.
This confused many passengers because they didn't know if it was true.
This confused many passengers because they didn't know if it was true.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best response that illustrates why Captain Eric Moody's statement is considered an understatement is:
**Having all of the engines fail on a plane is more than a "small problem."**
This accurately captures the gravity of the situation, as losing all engine power is a critical emergency, making it far from a "small problem."
**Having all of the engines fail on a plane is more than a "small problem."**
This accurately captures the gravity of the situation, as losing all engine power is a critical emergency, making it far from a "small problem."