Grace Newcombe Colvin of Marshall County is safe after a scare on her flight from Atlanta to Orlando when the plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida. The emergency was triggered when heavy smoke began in the cockpit area. Oxygen masks dropped, and the passengers put them on. The plane turned.
Grace is the wife of State Rep. Brock Colvin (R-Albertville). Colvin was not on the flight.
Grace Colvin is an official of the League of Credit Unions and Affiliates, which represents credit unions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Virginia with 32.7 million members. She was flying to a conference of credit union officials in Orlando.
Fittingly for her first name, she instantly turned the frightening experience into a moment of grace. Here is her story, which she posted moments after getting on the ground safely, although a long way from her intended destination:
I saw God today.
While flying to Orlando today, we lost cabin pressure and oxygen masks were deployed about halfway into our flight. The very second I finished praying to God to guide us safely to landing and opened my eyes, the pilot came over the intercom to say we could take off our masks.
Shortly thereafter, we landed safely at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville thanks to our skilled Delta team and the on-the-ground emergency services teams in Jacksonville.
Yesterday at church, the message was to share the word of God and how He saves. When I opened my eyes, I knew without a doubt that He was with us today—guiding our flight crew every step of the way. We serve a powerful and mighty Savior.
Grace Colvin finally made it to Orlando six hours late, tired but no longer scared. She now has to lead a large credit union conference.
The flight was Delta Airlines flight 1576 out of Atlanta and bound for Orlando. It was forced to make an emergency landing Monday afternoon after smoke was reported in the cockpit, but there were no indications of fire on the aircraft. The incident occurred at approximately 1:58 p.m. EDT on Monday.
The plane was a Boeing 757-200, and there were 200 passengers and eight crew on board.
There were no injuries reported.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue was called to the scene, but no fire was detected.
The 200 passengers were taken off the aircraft and moved to a Cecil Airport ground facility after the plane landed.
Delta team members from Jacksonville International Airport were sent to assist customers and coordinate carry-on and checked baggage retrieval. Delta arranged for ground transportation to get customers to Orlando on Monday afternoon.
About 15 credit union officials were on the flight headed for their conference in Orlando.
Grace and Brock Colvin were married in June 2024.
Grace had previously worked in the Alabama Secretary of State’s office and had been president of the Student Government Association at the University of South Alabama, where she graduated.
Brock was elected in 2022 at age 27 and became the youngest member of the Alabama Legislature.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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