Kathy Griffin in A List Mid-Air Scare  12/7/06

US comedienne Kathy Griffin had a mid-air scare on a flight to a show recently when a light bulb burned out in an airplane toilet, forcing pilots to make an emergency landing.

The redhead comic feared she was plummeting to her death as the cabin of her private plane started filling up with smoke, and pilots attempted to get the craft on the ground as quickly as possible.

Speaking of her terror on CNN show Larry King Live last night (05DEC06), Griffin recalled, "I'm going from Burbank (airport in California)... to a gig I have in Stockton (northern California)... and it's just me and the only (other) passenger is my tour manager.

"About 15 minutes into the flight... I think I smell a little smoke. But I'm thinking I'm imagining it. I'm not like a panicky type... (but) a couple of minutes later, I really smell the strong smell of smoke... Within about five seconds, the cabin filled with smoke, visible smoke.

"The plane just sort of started plummeting... It was like an air show, where it was really going from one side to the other and the glass was breaking and the soda cans were exploding and, even though I had seat belts on, you know, I was about two feet above the seat.

"We landed back in Burbank and the fire trucks were waiting for me, which is sort of not a good sign... and, for a minute, I thought, 'Oh, there must be another plane that's having trouble...' (and then), 'Oh, it's my plane.'

"I was shaking and stuff. And I felt, 'Well, should I call my parents?' And I thought, 'No, I don't want to leave that message.'"

Griffin commends the plane staff for remaining calm throughout the ordeal, but feels she should have been better compensated for her scare - she was offered "a deal" on her next flight.

She adds, "I really thought they were going to just give me the plane."