In November 1992, Annette Herfkens embarked on a journey that would test her willpower and strength in unimaginable ways. While flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang with her fiancé, their plane crashed deep within the Vietnamese jungle, leaving Herfkens as the sole survivor. Faced with darkness and despair, she showed extraordinary resilience and resourcefulness, surviving against all odds.
An Unexpected Nightmare
As the plane descended over the Vietnamese jungle, Herfkens lightened the mood with a joke, unaware that their journey would soon become a grim reality. When the aircraft plummeted, plunging her world into darkness and the screams of fellow passengers, Herfkens had a life-altering choice: surrender to panic or fight for survival.
An Extraordinary Life Before the Crash
Herfkens’ life before the crash was remarkable. Born in Venezuela to Dutch parents, she grew up in the Netherlands. After law school, she pursued a successful banking career, becoming the first female executive sent abroad by a Dutch bank. Passionate about travel and driven by an indomitable spirit, she had also found love with Willem van der Pas. Their demanding jobs often kept them apart, making their reunion in Vietnam all the more special.
The Fatal Crash of Flight 474
When Herfkens saw the plane that would take them to Nha Trang, she felt uneasy. The aging Soviet-made Yakovlev Yak-40 sparked a sense of claustrophobia. Despite her reservations, Herfkens boarded the aircraft after her fiancé assured her the flight was only 20 minutes long.
However, around 50 minutes into the flight, tragedy struck. The plane suddenly plummeted, leaving passengers terrified. Herfkens, clinging to her fiancé’s hand, blacked out as darkness enveloped them.
Enduring 192 Hours in the Jungle
When Herfkens regained consciousness, she was met with a scene of horror. Amidst the wreckage, fellow passengers and her beloved fiancé lay lifeless. Injured but determined, she made her way out of the wreckage and into the unforgiving Vietnamese jungle.
Alone and surrounded by the dead and dying, Herfkens made conscious decisions that kept her alive. She controlled her breathing, focused on her surroundings, and suppressed her tears. Trusting in the prospect of rescue, she clung to hope as fellow survivors succumbed one by one.
To sustain herself, Herfkens retrieved insulation material from the plane’s wing to collect drinking water. Despite physical pain and emotional anguish, she remained present in the moment. Her resolve and resourcefulness ultimately guided her through the ordeal.
A Remarkable Tale of Survival
After eight agonizing days, relief arrived in the form of a Vietnamese policeman who initially mistook Herfkens for a ghost and fled. He eventually returned with help, securing her rescue after 192 harrowing hours alone in the jungle.
Her journey was far from over as she faced a long road to physical and emotional recovery. Mourning the loss of her partner of 13 years, she relied on her resilience to move forward. Returning to her job in Madrid and later marrying a colleague, Herfkens sought normalcy while raising her children in New York City.
Years later, she confronted the story of the crash by writing her book, “Turbulence: A True Story of Survival.” Through her writing, Herfkens shared invaluable lessons from her ordeal, like the importance of staying hydrated, celebrating small victories, and practicing mindfulness in the face of adversity.