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|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2004-04-29
Flying into Hell: A Photographer's Diary, Part 1
By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
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(Editors note: Justin Sullivan is a staff photographer for Getty Images based in San Francisco. He is currently on assignment in Iraq.)
April 28, 2004
"Welcome to Baghdad, please be sure to collect all of your carry on items before exiting the plane..." said a very calming female voice over the intercom moments after the Royal Jordanian Airlines flight 814 touched down at Baghdad International Airport. I had entered what some are calling "hell on earth."
Less than two weeks ago, right in the middle of the outbreak of kidnappings and killing of foreigners in Iraq, I got the call from my editor notifying me that is was my turn in the rotation to cover the war torn country. Needless to say, I was a little nervous about the timing, but, ended up accepting the task.
My journey began with a 20 hour flight to Amman, Jordan. It was a rough start to the trip once I arrived in Jordan. I was held at customs for nearly 2 hours while security scrutinized my luggage packed with electronics and my 20 some-odd pound flack jacket. Once I was able to escape the airport I took a cab to my hotel, or at least what I thought was my hotel. I asked my driver to take me to the Four Seasons, and he took me to a place which he thought was the Four Seasons, but it wasn't. Now it's nearly 2:30 in the morning, I'm really tired. I catch another cab to get me to my original destination, what a disaster.
With about 5 hours of sleep, I get up and leave the comforts of the plush Four Seasons, I head back to the airport to get on my flight to Baghdad. The folks were much nicer today, purchased my ticket and headed to the gate. The all-white Royal Jordanian airlines plane that would take me, the mix of security forces and businessmen to Baghdad International Airport parked on the tarmac about 100 meters from the terminal. A shuttle carried us out to the awaiting plane just before we were scheduled to depart.
Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
International Airport in Baghdad.
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The takeoff was as routine as they get, nice and smooth, a little turbulence. The short hour and a half flight was highlighted by our 20,000 foot spiral descent into the airport. For security reasons, incoming flights are forced to approach the runway within the airspace over the airport or risk being shot down by insurgents in Abu Ghraib, which borders the airport. The result is a 20 minute seemingly never ending downward right turn that ends about 200 yards before you hit the tarmac. Similar to the carrier break before hitting the deck of an aircraft carrier, just not as intense.
After a long taxi past old decrepit Iraqi Airlines planes, we make it to the main terminal. We all walk off the plane, across the tarmac underneath the sign that once read "Saddam International Airport" and now simply says "International Airport." Immigration and baggage claim are a total breeze since we are only the second arrival of the day.
A shuttle takes us to the heavily guarded main checkpoint at the front gate of the airport where I am met by my co-worker Scott Nelson and our lead translator Muhannad. As we make our way down the dangerous road towards town, I think to myself, only six weeks, 4 days until I go home.
Related Links:
Justin Sullivan's member page
'Weird things happen here.' A Photographer's Diary, Part 2
'Here comes the fork in the road.' A Photographer's Diary, Part 3
'I am back in Baghdad.' A Photographer's Diary, Part 4
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