Shortly after takeoff, the pilot circled over the Great Salt Lake, tipping the wings ever so slightly so we could witness the unusual reddish-purple color of the water—a phenomenon, he explained, that occurs when a particular species of algae meets up with a certain bacteria. It was quite fascinating. Just as he was bringing the plane level so we could be on our way, CRACK! A loud kind of popping noise sent a chill up my spine. “I believe we’ve hit something, so we will be returning to the gate,” an audibly shaken pilot reported. But it wasn’t quite that easy. First, we needed to get rid of a lot of weight so we could make a much-needed course correction (like picking up a different plane, perhaps?). So, back to the lake we flew, where the captain dumped nearly an entire flight’s worth of fuel. As we deplaned, the problem …