Returning to Kuwait Just After the Liberation in 1991

The crew and I with Ret. General Alexander Haig

I have a great memory of Sheikh Saud Naser Al Sabah RIP, such a lovely man. Just weeks after the Liberation of Kuwait in 1991, a VIP flight was ready to depart USA carrying H.E. Sheikh Saud, US Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher, dozens of members of the US Congress, a former US Secretary of State (under Reagan) Ret. General Alexander Haig plus scientists and every US news channel that you can name and we could fit on a jumbo.

It was a long, tiring flight and we were not sure if we would get to land; a) Apparently Kuwait was still awaiting aircraft steps to be driven in from Saudi as all of them in Kuwait had been stolen or damaged by the Iraqis, so up until then only a B727 and military aircraft with their own steps had been landing. b) The big black smoke bellowing from the oil fires could impair vision and we would be unable to land.

As we descended into Kuwait in daytime the skies were black and we really had no idea if we would land, the 600 burning oil fires were spewing thick, heavy, black smoke into the air. We were all in tears, it was heart-breaking to see the horrendous scenes beneath us. I remember a scientist onboard saying that nothing would ever grow in Kuwait again, and birds would never migrate through Kuwait again. Thank God he was so wrong.

Fortunately for us the wind was blowing in the right direction and the runway could be seen. It was a hellish, bumpy landing seems the runway had been straffed and pock-marked by small artillery. But we were home. I remember the look on Sheikh Saud's face ecstatic and relieved. I gave his wife a big hug and we shared tears of joy.

The old airport area was in a terrible state but we had steps, and buses were ready and waiting to take the VIPs to visit the areas of wanton destruction and devastation. Presumably so they could report back to congress and the president that the Gulf war had been necessary.

We had one large bus to take the crew to their friends or families. Each of us had 1-2 suitcases full of food, medicine, cigarettes and anything else that we thought our loved ones might need. We had to put suitcases in the aisles and on chairs and we squished in on top.

I was off the bus first as I was going to Yarmouk. There was a long miltary checkpoint at the entrance to Yarmouk with 6-7 cars ahead of us so I cheekily got off the bus and asked the Kuwaiti lady in the car in front if she could drop me inside Yarmouk to save time. She agreed and we offloaded my bags into her car and the bus went on its way to drop everyone else. She had her kids in the car and I had Kuwaiti/American flag badges and chocolate to give them.

We had 4-5 hours and then we all had to make our own way back to the aircraft. An incredible, emotional day that I shall never, ever forget.


Just one of the 600 oil fires