Master of understatement

The volcanic ash currently halting flights from airports across Europe reminds me of the 1982 incident in which a British Airways jumbo was affected by a similar cloud of ash over Indonesia.

With all four engines having failed, the plane already having fallen by 23,000 feet, the captain made the following announcement to passengers:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control. I trust you are not in too much distress."

Priceless.