Was he trying to put a good light on it? Or does Jan van der Cruysse have a talent for understatement? After a Boeing 747 split in half following an aborted takeoff, the Brussells airport spokesman said "The plane is very seriously damaged."

Yes, very. Brings to mind a few other classically cool responses to, um, temporary setbacks.

"The ocean liner took on a bit of water."
--Spokesperson for the R.M.S. Titanic, April 16, 1912.

"Got a bit warm up there."
--German Air Ministry, operator of the Hindenburg, May 4, 1937.

"We apologize for making the air smell bad this morning."
--Spokesperson, Bhopal pesticide plant, December 3, 1984.

"I don't know anything about 'Black Death.' But there's a bug going around for sure."
--Anonymous London doctor, 1351

"Reduced view seats now at half price."
--Facility administrator, Circus Maximus, 140 A.D.

"Low blood sugar can make anyone light-headed."
--Publicist for Britney Spears.

"Some tiny particles escaped through a small leak. You can't even see them."
--Site manager, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, April 26, 1986

"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."
--President Bush, September 2005