why does the narrator say, “i landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old dakota…”?

The narrator says, "I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota" because he was immensely relieved to have survived a dangerous storm while flying. The "old Dakota" symbolizes the perilous situation and the plane itself, from which he is glad to be safely away. His lack of regret about leaving the plane behind highlights his gratitude and relief at having landed safely, prioritizing his survival over attachment to the aircraft after the harrowing experience.