Flight 237 was a red-eye flight, headed from Brisbane to London, carrying 237 passengers, including crew members. The journey was expected to be a routine one, just another flight for the crew and a long trip for the passengers.
As the plane began to take off, Sarah felt her seat neighbour tense, clearly an anxious flyer. Some passengers nearby closed their eyes and prayed while others simply looked out the window, watching as the ground gradually disappeared. Sarah fidgeted in her seat, uncomfortably watching the seatbelt sign and waiting for it to turn off. She’d never travelled before and despite all the safety instructions given by the crew she felt uncertain and scared.
A ding echoed through the cabin and the seatbelt sign turned off as the plane leveled out and smoothly proceeded across the ocean. Sarah let out a deep breath and tried to calm herself, focusing on the destination. She was finally visiting Europe, starting her long-awaited 3-month trip. She knew they’d be stopping in Dubai before continuing on, so she wasn’t trapped on a plane for the entire time. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Meal service had just begun when the plane suddenly began to shake and rattle. The flight attendants ran through the cabin, making everyone secure their seatbelts before fastening themselves in to their own seats. The pilot’s voice came over the intercom but she couldn’t hear what he was saying as her neighbour began hyperventilating. She had no idea what was going on and she was terrified.
The plane began to rapidly descend, oxygen masks falling from the cabinets above. The flight attendants were shouting out instructions, trying to secure their own masks on as they braced in their seats. Screams echoed through the cabin as the plane hurtled to the ocean. Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to look out the window as the ocean came closer and closer.
She prepared herself for pain, and possible death. She prayed through her tears as her head rested on her knees, desperately hoping that a miracle would occur. And just when it seemed all hope was lost, the plane jerked upwards. It steadied out over the ocean and a calm voice came over the intercom.
“The pilot has been incapacitated,” said the voice. “I’m the co-pilot and I’m taking over for the remainder of the flight. I apologise for the technical difficulties as I was not present in the cockpit. We will be resuming the flight as standard and continuing on to Dubai. Thank you.”
The passengers breathed a collective sigh of relief as the plane resumed it’s steady flight towards Dubai. Sarah removed her oxygen mask and tried to dry her face with her shirt. She was covered in sweat and tears. No passenger seemed comfortable now, they all seemed to be waiting for the plane to drop again.
Sarah watched the flight attendants as the hours drew on. They seemed on edge and unsure of something. Sarah couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something was off. The co-pilot seemed too calm considering the pilot was incapacitated. And how was the pilot incapacitated? What was going on?
The lights dimmed as the flight attendants encouraged the people to sleep. Most seemed to be more comfortable now as there had been no signs of any more drama. Sarah’s seat neighbour had taken some medication and passed out and she felt like she was one of the few people awake.
She carefully scooted out of her seat and unsteadily walked towards the bathroom, the feeling of unease growing stronger with each step. Her hand rested on the doorknob to the bathroom and she paused, glancing around in confusion. Where were the flight attendants?
Sarah walked further into the plane, through the business class section, and saw no flight attendants at all. All passengers were asleep and not a single flight attendant was around. Even she knew this wasn’t right. She continued to walk through the plane, finally coming to a stop outside the cockpit.
The steel door was cracked open, which even she thought was unusual. She went to turn away but her curiosity got the better of her. She gently pushed the door and peered inside. A man turned to face her, his dark eyes boring into hers.
“Hello Sarah,” he said, a sinister smile crossing his face. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
When flight 237 landed in Dubai there was no memory of the near-fatal accident or the incapacitated pilot. The connecting flight to London left late, missing only one passenger.
Emilie Turner 