Captain Elvis Carpenter left home on a beautiful summer's day. He had the privilege of flying the Airbus A380, that was the largest passenger plane in the world. It had a speed of Mach 0.85 (about 900 km/h at cruising altitude).
The A380 is an environmentally friendly aircraft, which will produce half as much noise on take-off, consuming less than 3 litres of fuel per passenger over 100 km.
The plane would be carrying 555 passengers. The flight from London's Heathrow Airport to Sydney would take approximately 21 - 23 hours.
The co pilot Digby Reins was highly trained just like the captain, with many flying hours under his belt. They had been friends for years.
Shelley Barnes was the head stewardess on board.
They would be having a short stop over in Singapore.
The captain and co pilot settled into the cockpit. Before this, Elvis Carpenter walked around the aircraft, making sure all was in order. With years of experience, he knew what to look for.
Captain Carpenter had to call clearance delivery by radio to air traffic control tower and request clearance to their destination.
He must check the air, oxygen, and hydraulic pressure gauges, magnetos, propeller control, and set superchargers in accordance with his pilot's check-Off List.
The passengers were all on board. The luggage had been stowed in the cargo hold. The seat belt sign came on automatically.
Captain Carpenter idled the engine, extended the wing flaps, headed into the wind and opened the throttles slowly. He used full power for take off. This would lessen the take off run and ease wear and tear on all landing gear, tyres, and the entire airplane.
The captain knew to maintain a straight course with the rudders.
After he raised the landing gear, Elvis then turned off the auxiliary hydraulic master switch.
Upon reaching cruising altitude, he leveled off the plane.
All pilots must check the fuel supply frequently.
The seat belt sign went off.
Captain Elvis Carpenter spoke to the passengers,
"Welcome aboard Flight 77. We will arrive in Sydney Australia in approximately 21 -23hours, after a brief stop over in Singapore. I hope you enjoy your flight. If you have any questions, please ask the stewardesses for assistance."
Shelley and the other flight attendants performed the in flight safety demonstration.
At Singapore airport, Ahmed Jordan, a Londoner who was born in the Middle East, was waiting for the Airbus from London. He had business in Singapore. Mainly drug running. Mohammad El Dubai was his partner in crime.
This time they were dealing in a more dangerous business. Bombs and terrorism. They planned to hijack the airbus for a million dollar ransom.
On board was Dr. Richard Emerson and his nurse Ali Giles. They were flying to Australia for a new life. The Dr had been assigned a position in the outback. They had always been fascinated with the country down under.
The airbus was more spacious than any other aircraft.
Before entering the airport area, the captain allowed time to slow down and then turned on the auxiliary hydraulic power and booster pumps. Elvis Carpenter lowered the landing gear, before making the final turn to enter the landing lane. With the turbo superchargers off, the engines were throttled back. On slowly entering the final landing lane, the captain extended the flaps one-half. This not only increased the lift and drag, but changed the attitude of the airplane in a manner and increased visibility. He maintained the speed at 120 mph slowing to 110 mph with full flaps on leveling off for landing. The captain now applied more back pressure on the control wheel, holding the airplane in a nose-high attitude. Most important of all was that the airspeed and rate of descent were stabilized, and the airplane was aligned with the runway centre line for the final approach. Landing required and demanded more technique than any other manoeuvre.
Captain Carpenter had permission from air traffic control to land at Singapore airport.
Ahmed and Mohammad had cleared customs. They would later be described as
pleasant and cooperative young men by the custom men.
The airbus landed safely.
Some passengers alighted, as this was to be their destination.
The leg of their journey from London to Singapore went without a hitch.
Captain Carpenter would spend a few days in the beautiful city of Sydney. He looked forward to this. Elvis had visited Sydney many times previously.
The Captain might even retire there, but he'd always call England home.
Australians were a friendly bunch. With their amusing slang sayings. Such as, "G'day mate, Dinky Di and Fair Dinkum." Elvis smiled.
Aussies down under liked the English accent. There was a well known rivalry, when it came to soccer and football or any sport for that matter.
The captain or Cap, as he was nicknamed loved his job.
The terrorists boarded the plane.
Before we go any further, the readers will be wondering how the two men cleared customs and wouldn't their luggage be searched?
Ahmed's uncle Ali had supplied them with false passports and papers, which to even the trained eye looked authentic. Also they had help on the ground. Abee Ben Kamal or Abe as he was known, was a baggage handler and had made sure personally, that their luggage was put on board. These terrorists were not amateurs by any means.
Later on the authorities would discover, the unit where the terrorists had lived prior to the hijacking of the airbus.
They all had training in weaponry and armed combat.
The men held down normal jobs in London.
Shelley felt a shiver run down the length of her spine. She knocked on the cockpit door, which was locked from the inside, as a precautionary action.
"Here's your tea, gentlemen." she flashed them a white smile.
The huge plane was again cleared for take off. The captain decided to take a break.
Digby Reins took over the reins, so to speak. It was a well worn joke between Elvis and the co pilot. It was all in good fun.
Shelley told the captain of her concern, about the two men, who had boarded the plane at Singapore.
"Don't raise their suspicions, Shelley." Elvis told the stewardess.
"Yes, Cap."
"Go about your business in the usual professional manner and friendly way."
This was good advice.
Cap walked down the aisle of the plane.
Not making eye contact with Ahmed or Mohammad.
"Evening all. Enjoying your flight, I hope."
Elvis returned to the cockpit.
"What's wrong?" asked a concerned co pilot, when he saw the look on his friend's face. Elvis was usually calm and not worried at all during the flight.
"Two passengers. Shelley had a bad feeling about them."
Ahmed watched Captain Carpenter with interest. Elvis looked like a man who would do anything to keep his passengers safe. Every time he flew a plane, it was Cap's responsibility.
Elvis Carpenter stood 190 centimetres tall. He had played professional soccer in his home town in England.
Evette Longmire, another flight attendant, who was on her first job was the centre of Ahmed's attention from the moment he had set foot on the plane. Shelley noticed this happening. It was easy to see a mile away.
"Excuse me, miss. May I please have a pillow to sleep. Thank you."
Evette went to deliver the pillow to the dark headed man. Before she could react, he grabbed her by the wrist. He produced a long bladed knife.
Mohammad jumped up. Passengers screamed.
"No one move. No panic, good people, please. We don't want to hurt anyone."
Evette was shaking in fright. But she had a secret.
Ahmed addressed Shelley.
"Tell the Captain!"
Shelley ran up the plane's aisle. She banged on the cockpit's door.
"Captain!"
The cockpit door opened and Elvis emerged.
"Oh, good captain! We are asking you to change course and fly this bird to the Middle East."
"Who are you?"
"I am Ahmed Jordan and this fine fellow is my associate Mohammad El Dubai."
He bowed.
"The world will pay us a ransom of one million dollars or everyone dies on this plane. You wouldn't want blood on your hands. Would you now?"
"Blood of innocent people, you forgot to mention that. I will not give into your demands. You are terrorists."
"Don't be foolish, captain. If this knife was to accidentally slip. This lovely young woman her would be badly injured. It would all be your fault. How would you be able to live with yourself?"
"How can you do this? Have you no conscience?"
"You don't have the privilege of asking questions! Do we understand each other?!"
The captain went back to the cockpit.
"What will we do?" asked Digby.
Another drama was unfolding on the airbus.
Sami Cooper who was eight and a half months pregnant felt the first twinge of contractions. She knew as she had worked as a nurse for a gynecologist.
Dr. Richard Emerson and Ali Giles went to see what they could do for her.
Evette did a very brave act and told Ahmed, that she would sit quietly near him,if he'd release the vice like grip on her wrist. He agreed. He could be merciful if the circumstances called for him to be. But Ahmed would do anything for his cause, even kill.
There had been war between his country and their enemies in the West. He had seen many of his comrades die too young. Someone had to pay.
The threat of being killed or blown up was enough to keep the passengers mostly quiet.
Cap was thankful that the flight had only been half booked.
Ahmed let the stewardesses serve the meals and go about their normal business.
"I haven't seen any other weapons except the knife," stated Captain Carpenter.
"They are too smart not to be armed in some other way."
Cap agreed.
Elvis sent out an SOS. He then told air traffic control, that he was changing his course slightly for the Middle East.
The message was relayed to the armed special forces, who were fully trained for this type of mission.
Dr. Emerson and nurse Giles made Sami as comfortable as they possibly could.
The baby would hopefully wait. Sami was to be a single mum. Her husband had been killed in the Middle East war. Around her neck she wore a locket with his picture in it. Also she wore the posthumous medal, that was her husband Tim's. She had been presented with it in front of her late husband's unit and by his commanding officer. That was a moment she'd be telling her baby about.
The two men almost ignored them completely. What harm could a pregnant woman be to them.
Cap knew that the fighter jet planes would be following close behind the airbus.
Many countries were alerted to their plight, so the airbus could pass safely through flight zones, that would be otherwise out of bounds. They had to keep good diplomatic relations with everybody.
Evette served Ahmed and Mohammad all their drinks and meals without complaining.
Ahmed called Captain out from the cockpit once again.
He produced a leather bag.
"I thought I'd better show you the proof, that I am not joking. So you won't think of doing anything stupid or heroic. In this vial is highly explosive material, captain Carpenter. They say your name is Elvis. Your mother had a weird sense of humour."
"My mother loved the singer and named me after the King of rock and roll. I am proud of my name."
He looked Ahmed straight in the eye.
"You are a strong man, captain, in body, mind and soul. Do you believe in God?"
'Yes, I do. I have a plane to fly. Excuse me."
Ahmed told Evette of his youth and how he'd been brought up in poverty. He was taught to be a soldier as a young boy.
Evette felt even sorry for Ahmed, but wished that she could have told him, that there was a different and better way to act and this wasn't the right way to gain friends or allies. Ahmed wouldn't have listened. It was his belief. Everyone could have their own belief, as long as they didn't try to hurt others to get themselves heard.
This is exactly what Ahmed and Mohammad were doing.
Dr. Emerson gave Sami a relaxant. It wouldn't harm the unborn baby.
News of the hijacking of the airbus traveled around the globe. Ahmed would be pleased. He would get the attention of the world.
Negotiations had to be made.
The united nations were already assembled. The U S A's president, the English and Australian Prime Ministers were among the delegates.
One million dollars would be waiting for the terrorists, when the airbus landed.
The concern was that Ahmed and Mohammad might decide to blow up the airbus and become martyrs.
Ahmed was told of the proceedings, that had been conducted by the members of the united nations.
Unbeknown to the terrorists or anyone for that matter, something had happened in the cockpit. The clever ( and twice decorated with medals by the Queen herself ) Captain Elvis Carpenter had changed course slightly back to the original one. The airbus was on the flight plan for Australia. No matter what happened in the coming hours, a welcoming party would be waiting for the plane at Sydney airport.
The co pilot smiled to himself.
Bravery award coming Cap's way.
Evette had thought of a clever plan of her own. Shelley told her to use her head and forget it.
Evette would play a role and make Ahmed believe that she totally cared for him.
"Too dangerous! warned Shelley. He'd see right through it."
"I have to keep him relaxed."
Evette smiled sweetly at Ahmed.
Mohammad didn't like Evette.
"She isn't of Middle Eastern decent."
"It's just here on the plane. I need some fun."
Evette was not a silly school girl. She'd done some undercover police work. She knew her way around weapons. Her father had been a policeman for my years.
Not even Shelley was aware of this.
There was a sky marshal on board, but he was keeping a low profile. It hadn't crossed Ahmed's mind as yet, that this might be the case.
Aden Warrington was carrying a concealed weapon. He was ready for anything.
But if a stray bullet punctured the skin of the plane, that was not dangerous.
A small leak would occur, but the cabin is pressurized.
If the bullet was fired causing the window to blow out, then that would cause a problem.
The plane would depressurise in seconds.
The air would rush towards the missing window and a lot of other things would go out. Even a person who wasn't wearing a seat belt could possibly be sucked out.
Loss of cabin pressure would cause problems for the passengers. Oxygen masks would drop down from the panel in the ceiling for this very reason.
If a bullet hits wiring or the instrument panel in the cockpit, that could cause many problems that are small or very severe. It would depend on what the bullet hits.
Worst case scenario of all. If a bullet hit a fuel tank, which can be in the fuselage or in the wings. It would cause a leak or even an explosion.
Cap would be surely aware of Aden's presence.
Another factor was unknown to Captain Elvis Carpenter. Ahmed and Mohammad had a female accomplice.
Ameda Azah was another stewardess on board. But she was Ahmed's real girlfriend.
When Evette came to prepare the food, that she would serve to the passengers, Ameda came near to her and warned her to keep away from Ahmed.
"I am staying near him to keep him happy and not hurt anyone."
"Ahmed will not hurt anyone."
"Do you know him personally?"
"No! He just looks a gentle man."
"Are you crazy? He would have slit my throat!"
"That was your own fault."
"Why because I have light skin. Are you racist?"
"No!"
Ameda left the kitchen area.
Evette told Shelley about her strange encounter with the girl.
"Keep away from her."
"I will keep a close eye on her. There is something I don't like about her. I was right about the two men. Maybe she is one of them and working in cahoots with them."
"I agree."
"Just be on your toes."
Ameda thought that she'd better just do as Ahmed had instructed her to do. He'd be angry with her, if he knew what she had said to Evette. Ameda was sure of her love for Ahmed. She would die for him and Allah.
Captain Carpenter was sure that Ahmed would work out sooner or later that he had tried to fool him.
He was concerned that the liquid in the vial was real. But he had to take the chance that it wasn't.
He knew that these men were capable of killing.
A background check had been done in London and the captain had been informed. Ahmed was a hot headed young man. He had killed a man for looking at him the wrong way in a pub, but in the commotion that followed, he had been able to escape.
Not good, thought the captain.
The plane would be arriving in Australia in a few hours. Aden Warrington called to Shelley the head stewardess.
"I need to see the captain, miss. It is urgent."
"No one can see the captain."
"I must. I am the sky marshal."
"I will inform the captain."
Shelley took some fresh water into the cockpit.
"Cap, the sky marshal wishes to see you."
"Put him in a uniform and he can serve some drinks. Then he can come up here."
"Ahmed might be suspicious of the fact that he has just appeared now."
"If Ahmed asks Aden any questions about this fact. Tell Aden to say that he wasn't feeling well at the beginning of the flight."
Shelley did just this.
Aden was soon kitted out in the flight uniform of the airline.
"Hey, man. called Ahmed. Where did you spring from?"
"I have your drinks, sir."
"Answer my question!"
"I was feeling off colour at the beginning of the flight."
"You are a trooper to get on with your job, he laughed. Or could it be that you have a secret love on board? You come here!"
Shelley came over to Ahmed.
"Sit on this man's lap! Sit, man!"
Shelley sat down on Aden.
"Sorry," she whispered.
"Now that was fun, wasn't it? Back to work! I don't wish the Cap to be mad at me!"
Mohammad laughed so much, Ahmed gave him a warning look.
"Enough of your stupid laughing. You drive me crazy!"
Mohammad looked at Ahmed.
"When will we land?"
"In a few hours."
"I will get some shut eye. Ameda! Here! Sit! Mohammad wake me if there is any trouble."
Shelley whispered to Evette,
"Well, now we know what side Ameda is on."
Evette nodded her head.
Sami's contractions were getting more frequent.
Dr. Emerson was worried about the birth.
"God and Tim are watching over me. The pain is getting worse. The baby is pushing to come out."
They converted the seat into a long flat bed for her to lie down to give birth.
The airbus was in a class of it's own.
A baby's cry never ceased to amaze the Dr., no matter how many babies he had delivered.
A boy. Timothy Jnr.
"He is very beautiful," Nurse Ali told an exhausted Sami.
Her son drank his first mother's milk and slept contently.
Sami was so happy and yet sad that her Tim couldn't have been there to witness the miracle, that is the birth of a baby.
She knew he was in heaven watching her. She slept.
The Dr. went to inform Shelley, that the baby had been born without any complications.
Ahmed got wind of this and told no one in particular.
"My wife was chosen by my parents. We all lived in a one bedroom place. She had a baby, a boy, but he died from sickness. A victim of the war."
Ameda hadn't known this until this moment.
"Where is your wife? You were very young to marry."
"None of your business! She divorced me while I was at war and married a man twice her age for the money."
"I would never leave you, Ahmed."
"We need drinks here!"
"Evette dutifully brought them.
"A toast to our mission! Allah will bless us. The million dollars will be used for our cause."
The special forces planes had landed at Sydney airport and stood on the tarmac.
Captain Carpenter must make sure that no passenger was hurt. He was hoping that Ahmed would let most of them go free. He would stay. Not because of the fact that the captain must stay with his ship. ( or plane )
Cap was loyal and true to his job.
Ahmed called Elvis out of the cockpit.
"It may come a s a surprise to you, Cap, but I already am aware that we are headed down instead of where I wanted to go. But hey, I can be flexible. So you don't think of me, as a totally bad dude. I will even release the majority of the passengers in Sydney. Maybe we will blow up the Opera House or the Harbour Bridge. What a thrill! Only joking. It will be you and the co pilot, Shelley, Evette, Ameda and Aden. See I know their names. Just between you and me, I think Shelley fancies him. And oh the good Dr. Can't forget him, now can we? Never know when we will need a Dr. to stop someone from bleeding to death."
Mohammad gave a laugh and stopped abruptly, even before Ahmed looked his way.
"The special forces might cause you a few headaches, though!"
"I think you have the wrong end of the stick, Ahmed. It will be you who will have trouble, not me."
"Are you threatening me,Cap? Here, I thought we had an understanding."
"I was just stating a true fact, Ahmed. Keep your shirt on."
"Stop the double dutch!"
"It is just a saying! It is humorous."
"I don't like your sense of humour, Elvis."
"What about your's and saying that you'd blow up some famous and important landmarks in Sydney Australia."
Ahmed ignored this and told Captain Carpenter.
"Contact the Commander on the ground and tell him to clear the special forces from the tarmac. Each and everyone of them, before we land or it will be curtains for all on board."
Elvis reentered the cockpit.
"Captain, we have to land soon."
"I know. I have to make an important call to Commander Vincent McBryce. Vince, this is captain Elvis Carpenter. Yes, Cap. That's right. We have a highly volatile situation on board the airbus, as you know. We have been hijacked. Please withdraw your special forces from the tarmac at Sydney airport. That is the terrorists demands."
"We will withdraw immediately, Elvis. We will be watching and waiting."
"Thank you. Ahmed is willing to allow most of the passengers to leave."
That is swell of him!"
The connection was broken.
Elvis Carpenter went to talk to Ahmed.
"Well, Ahmed, the Commander has agreed to withdraw from the tarmac. So when we land it will be clear. The airbus will be refueled.
"Who do I blame if it isn't as you say?"
"Commander Vincent McBrye wouldn't lie."
"We will see."
Captain Elvis Carpenter did what he was best at and flew the huge aircraft into Sydney and landed the airbus.
The special forces were on high alert.
The door of the plane opened and the passengers were led safely away.
Elvis wanted Shelley, Evette, Aden, Dr. Richard Emerson and nurse Ali Giles to be freed."
"Now, Cap. I need some hostages."
"Ahmed, I am tired. I don't wish to continue this journey. I have been flying for over twenty hours straight," Cap told the terrorist.
"Don't try anything now, Elvis. Don't ruin our friendship."
"I am not flying anywhere, Ahmed. Your one million dollars has been delivered," said the Captain holding two cases.
"I will let five people leave. But it will be you and the co pilot."
Just me, Ahmed."
The great captain."
"Just a man who has to protect people and a whole aircraft."
Evette, Shelley, Aden, Digby, Dr. Emerson and nurse Giles were whisked away.
All hell broke loose. Ameda promptly surrendered.
The special forces stormed the plane. Mohammad was killed instantly.
Ahmed pushed Cap ahead of him
"Hold Off! It is time, Ahmed for you to give yourself up."
"I will never. I'd rather die a martyr. Bye, Elvis."
"Don't do it, Ahmed."
"If I stay I will be sentenced to death or rot for life in prison. Worse still, I could be sent back to my home country. I'd be killed out right or stoned. They bury people up to their necks and then stone them or leave them out in the desert to die of thirst."
"Nice people. These are your country men, Ahmed. Come with me and if you are put in prison, I will try my hardest to keep you from being sent back. Returning the one million dollars would help you have a better chance of receiving a lesser sentence."
"Nice words, Cap. But they have an empty sounding ring to them. Sorry."
Ahmed turned and ran towards the door of the plane.
A spray of bullets hit him from every angle.
It was all over.
They removed the body.
Commander Vincent McBryce boarded the plane.
"Elvis, nice to see you."
"A life wasted."
"He was a terrorist, who died a martyr."
"He wasn't a coward or a hero," Cap said sadly.
Captain Elvis Carpenter was awarded a bravery medal.
He wished there could have been a different ending.
Cap was sure that Ahmed and Mohammad weren't the only terrorists. He learned that two other men had been arrested in London for aiding and abetting them.
The most important thing was that no people were hurt of killed. He almost thanked Ahmed for that.
Cap hated violence. He'd loved a woman once of Middle Eastern decent and it had ended in tragedy.
Reemah had escaped from her war torn country and met Cap in London.
They were so happy. She didn't wear a full covering, just a scarf. A robbery had occurred at the shop where she worked, but it went horribly wrong.
Two men entered the shop and demanded money. Reemah had handed over the cash, as he had asked.
The second man had paniced and a shot was fired. It ricocheted and hit Reemah fatally.
Cap was beside himself, when he was told the news.
Cap stayed on in Sydney for a while. There Captain Elvis Carpenter attended a pilot's convention. He met Mariah at a party. Her husband had been a pilot who had died in a plane crash. She had heard of Cap. The hijacking had been all over the news.
She liked him. He was down to earth and good company. They became firm friends. Mariah even flew with Cap a few times as a passenger.
Ahmed filled his thoughts. Why did young lives have to be thrown away? Why did even young women stand up to be used as a human bomb?
Because of Reemah, Cap tried to understand why Ahmed acted as he did.
It was a different world altogether.
Digby Reins flew with Cap on the Airbus A 380 once again, but now Cap had his own airline.
After that fateful flight, Shelley and Aden were together.
Sami returned to work and Tim Junior grew into a happy and healthy child.
Dr. Richard and nurse Ali Giles settled into their outback positions with gusto. They loved Down Under, but the heat and the flies were a bit hard to get used to.
They stayed a year and returned to England, as their contracts stated.
The Dr. was asked by Cap to be his medical specialist on the airbus. Aden was employed as the sky marshal and Shelley was to be part of Cap's crew as well.
It was almost like before.
They would never forget that flight.
Captain Elvis Carpenter had an illustrious career. All the years, that he'd put in so many hours flying long distances to get passengers safely to their destinations, the world over.
He had delivered every time.
Cap knew that God was in heaven and he felt blessed with the life he'd led.
Elvis still thought of Ahmed years later.
He hoped that everyone could live in peace, no matter what their beliefs were.
That is what all people hope for.
