Plane Knockout
As a plane dropped from the sky in the United States, I sat on the couch at home in St. Maarten. Worlds apart from tragedy and in between episodes of the Mike Tyson documentary on Netflix, I made plans for the day. My wife and I agreed to meet friends at a nearby beach.
When we returned later that evening, footage of the private jet’s descent had spread over social media. After I showered and ate, I didn’t immediately pick up my phone. I reached for the TV remote and tuned into Tyson’s trauma when my son asked, “Dad, have you seen this?”
He shoved his phone in my face, and I paused the documentary. The audio from the co-pilot’s communication with the air traffic controller revealed how a calm exchange morphed into panic just moments before the crash.
Can we blame the young co-pilot for her reaction? Gravity pulled the jet from 37,000 feet into the pavement in minutes.
My son, an aspiring pilot, shared his perspective about the crash. My wife and I listened as he questioned the pilot’s inability to pull the throttle and avoid the plummet. “Hindsight is always 20/20,” my wife reminded him.
No one knows everything the pilots tried to do to avoid the crash. The co-pilot’s call to the air traffic controller indicated an emergency. Preliminary reports confirm that the weather conditions interfered with the flight.
After watching the Tyson documentary and learning of the plane crash, I had questions. I directed two of them at my wife.
“Why is it that some people get blessed to live long lives and others die at a young age?"
"How did Mike get multiple chances to make better decisions?”
The co-pilot was 20. Tyson was 59 when the Netflix series was filmed. My wife didn’t have the answers to my questions.
Tragedies and Tysons don’t make sense to most human beings.
We will never solve some of life’s mysteries.
“Why was that so important?” Iron Mike Tyson questioned himself as he reflected on the journey to become the greatest fighter of all time. In his youth, the desires for power, fame, love, and wealth dictated his decisions.
Tyson knocked out opponents in almost flawless victories. His dominance in the ring reflected discipline, but outside it, he lost multiple battles with himself. He had a cocaine addiction, reckless relationships with women, and several legal challenges.
Although he did time in prison and found God, he returned to self-destructive habits after his release.
Tyson’s childhood did not prepare him for success. He committed a series of petty crimes, and authorities locked him in juvenile centers. His parents struggled with drugs, alcohol, and the multiple stressors of living in urban America.
The schools failed him. Teachers didn’t equip him with the knowledge and skills to change his life and impact his community.
Boxing gave Tyson meaning and purpose. His affection for the sport carried him through his career’s highs and lows. But the temporary pain he endured during training and matches produced permanent scars that may never heal.
None of us know when our time will come.
The tragic plane crash and Tyson’s documentary reminded me of our shared fate. While we are here, let’s keep ensuring our lives matter.
We can stand for justice, sit-in protest, and be present for our family and friends. Some of us voted and put Democrats in office this week, while others stayed home and managed personal affairs. Every day offers us the opportunity to love ourselves, self-improve, and impact someone else’s life.
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