In a moment that could have ended in tragedy, Salma Hayek has shared a deeply emotional memory from a terrifying plane emergency she experienced alongside her longtime friend, Penélope Cruz. The two Hollywood icons, known for their close-knit bond of over two decades, found themselves confronting what they believed might be their final moments during a dramatic mid-air scare over Mexico.
The incident unfolded unexpectedly during a flight the two were taking together. While Penélope has long had a fear of flying, both actresses sensed something was gravely wrong when a flight attendant rushed out of the cockpit wearing an oxygen mask—an unmistakable sign of an emergency. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in a remote area of Mexico, leaving the passengers shaken.
Reflecting on that near-death experience during an interview for Vogue Arabia, Salma recalled the moment with raw honesty and affection. Despite her own fears, she tried to stay composed for the sake of her friend.
“I took your hands and told you we were going to be OK,” she remembered telling Penélope. “I knew something was wrong with the plane, but I needed you to stay calm. And I was so proud of you—you were struggling, but you stayed strong.”
What came next was a moment that neither woman will ever forget. In the midst of fear and chaos, Penélope found peace in the idea that, if they were to die, at least they would be together. "I thought maybe we were going to die," Penélope said, "but we were going to die together. And we were going to be OK." That statement, Salma admitted, was one of the most beautiful things anyone had ever said to her.
As harrowing as the situation was, there was an absurd twist: the emergency happened on Halloween. Penélope had chosen to dress up as a clown for the occasion—an irony not lost on her. “I never liked clowns,” she later joked. “After that experience, I like them even less.” With around 100 passengers onboard, all in costume, the emergency landing turned into a surreal nightmare. “It was crazy,” she told People. “When I tell this story, people think I’m making it up.”
This shared trauma is just one chapter in a friendship that has stood the test of time—and turbulence. Their bond was forged years ago when Penélope first arrived in Los Angeles, uncertain and alone, on her first major trip to the U.S. Though they had only spoken over the phone, Salma insisted that Penélope stay with her instead of a hotel, recognizing how tough the early days of a Hollywood career can be.
“She picked me up at the airport and said, ‘You’re not going to a hotel. You’re coming to my house,’” Penélope recalled during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “I didn’t know anyone, and she made sure I wasn’t alone.” That one act of kindness sparked a sisterly bond between the two. Penélope even ended up sleeping in Salma’s room that first night out of fear and unfamiliarity.
The vulnerability of that first meeting—combined with years of mutual support, emotional intimacy, and even life-threatening experiences—has transformed their friendship into something more like family. Whether it’s sharing their fears mid-flight or comforting one another in an unfamiliar city, their relationship is a rare example of genuine connection in an industry often seen as superficial.
Looking back, Salma admits the plane scare could easily be a movie script in itself. Yet, unlike any script, what made the experience unforgettable was the unfiltered humanity between them—the fear, the comfort, and the realization that even in the darkest moments, true friendship can shine through.
The story of Salma Hayek and Penélope Cruz is not just about survival—it’s about sisterhood, trust, and the kind of unspoken bond that doesn’t waver, even when the world feels like it’s falling from the sky.
