Reddit article- Something Is Wrong Here" Feeling Turned Out To Be True, Story?

 

Airline pilot here!

One day we loaded up passengers and cargo and everything and we were ready to taxi. I noticed that the nose of the airplane seemed to

be higher up than usual while we were sitting on the ground. I told my first officer about it and he agreed. We double checked the weight and balance and everything seemed to be right. Still felt weird to me. Something wasn't right.

I told ground control we needed to go back to the gate. Called ops and told them we're headed back because I think something isn't

right with the weight and balance. After we get back, I ask them to check how much ballast we have in the aircraft. It's verified on my sheet as 500lb, but I have a feeling that something is

wrong.

Turns out, they forgot to put it in the plane. So had we taken off, the center of gravity would have been out of whack - waaay past limits. It could have resulted in an airplane that was impossible to control.

That was a day that I was really pleased that I had so much experience flying to give me that feeling & that feeling could very well have saved my life along with others.