Voices Heard on the MD11 N240UP

Closing my laptop after ending a Skype call with my family I grabbed my flight bag and headed down to the hotel lobby. The captain, the IRO (International Relief Officer) and I waited for our van ride to the airport.

Making our way through security and then through customs before heading out to our plane. We received the MD11 # N240UP’s paperwork from the mechanic and began our routine flight procedures. This particular plane was grounded by the captain the day before as we saw noted in the log book. The plane was checked by our mechanics and nothing had been found. In this situation, both the captain and I inspected the plane looking for fluid leaks, double checked the avionics bay and looked for any other abnormalities. We found nothing and continued our flight check list inside the plane. Ground crew closed the doors as we signed the papers ready for push back. We started the engines while in push back and proceeded to taxi while listening to the tower commands. Receiving approval for take-off we left Sydney, destination Shenzhen.

Reaching our flight’s altitude of 39,000 feet and Mach speed of .82, we leveled off and programmed the auto pilot. I unbuckled and walked through the courier area, back to the galley for drinks. Grabbing two Coke Lites I handed one to the captain when a loud clunk echoed under our feet coming from the Nose Wheel Compartment area. Disappearing as quickly as it sounded, we started with our check procedures and found nothing. Dismissing it, and agreeing that a bird must have hit the plane and it wasn’t loud enough to wake the IRO, who was asleep in the bunk. We continued to check instruments and continued our discussion of iPhone vs. Droid. Another clang, bang and rattle from the Avionics Bay located under our feet and then, silence.

Curiosity led me to the log book. Looking back to the previous flight, the reasons and his notes logged by the captain for grounding plane # N240UP. The notes didn't completely match what we experienced. Skimming through the other pilots complaints when a ringing in my ear it began, it sounded like chatter. Looking up and the left to the captain, I knew he could hear it too because of the look he was giving me. "Maybe, it's the RFO. I'll go check." I said reassuring.

Unbuckling my seat belt I turned to stand, being jolting back into my seat the IRO standing practically over us. Little discussion took place, as we fell to complete silence ... The voice was getting louder and more clear, however none of us spoke or could understand Chinese.

Radioing in our events the Captain began calmly explaining the circumstances. They have denied our request to return to Sydney. Banging, clanging sounds are strengthening and the voice is sharper than before. Agreeing it would be too dangerous for either one of us to go into the Avionics Bay. The noise subsided, hesitating I asked for the captains pistol and opened the hatch behind his seat. Using my flash light and pointing the pistol ready to shoot, the Avionics Bay was clear. No one was down there and equipment, including the nose wheel, appeared to be unharmed.

Two hours into our flight and everything seemed to settle down. We continued on our routine flight carrying taking off with 630,000 pounds of cargo and fuel. We are too heavy, we don’t have permission to land and we can’t prove why we would need to land. Until now!

Sudden bangs and clanks began, and instantly I pulled out my iPhone signaling for the captain to pull out his Droid. We pulled up recording aps and started recording. Leaving them both recording the voice and the banging. The captain radio called the Hong Kong tower and asked for permission for an emergency landing.

Permission granted we started the procedures, dumping 100,000 pounds of fuel equaling 18,000 gallons, costing the company approximately $80,000 in fuel. Plus a landing fee from Hong Kong of $10,000 US. The loud clinging and the Chinese voice getting stronger we continued our decent knowing we would have to “Walk the Red Carpet.” All Pilots must go in front of the chief pilot, the company heads and the FAA when costing the company this large of a loss or any other type of major issue/mistake. The FAA will be involved most likely because of a “heavy” landing. Whoever is in the Nose Wheel Compartment sound like they are removing the landing gear and tearing up the Avionics bay, our lives could depend on us landing.

The crew of MD11 # N240UP were summoned and prepared to walk the red carpet. We will be given a chance to explain our actions on the flight fromSydney to Shenzhen.

One by one we explained and listed the events in the order that they happened. Asking for permission to play the recordings on our smart phones and requested an interpreter.

The interpreter began to listen, closing her eyes concentrating on every syllable, deciphering the crashing sounds from the voice. She asked for us to replay both devices, now with a non-blinking eye, her mouth slowly dropped. Her eyes darted over to the chief pilot when the words popped out from my iPhone. She jumped and chattered something in Chinese, calming herself she skin paled, she swallowed hard and then she choke out the words, “The voice,” she hesitated, “The Voice, he is saying, you Chief Pilot Hasting … Must Die.”

A Near Miss

Mr. Rhodes surprised his wife by coming home early from work. This gave him the afternoon to spend with his ten year old son. When the boy saw his father in the car rider lane his face blazed with excitement. He jumped in his dad’s car and they headed to his guitar lesson. The lesson was at 3:30 and they should arrive home by 4:30 to enjoy the rest of the day together.

Across town Mr. Hanks, his wife and their two dogs live in the country on an old farm. This farm was now the home of his business The Waste Management and Treatment Company. The business was growing and Mr. Hanks was now running it alone since his son had passed away.

On this same afternoon, Tina was home preparing for a quick afternoon photo shoot. Her son is a musically gifted ten year-old and he's enrolled in music classes after school. Let me rephrase that, he is in six after school music programs and plays five different instruments. Today was his guitar lesson and prior to her husband coming home, their son would have had to miss the lesson. Tina left the house about 4:20 for her on location photo shoot missing her husband and son’s arrival.

After the guitar lesson Mr. Rhodes and his son headed home. They’re only minutes away from home as Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin fills the car. His son explains that this is the new awesome song he started playing today.

Mr. Hanks had to go into town to pick up his wife's medications and to stop to see his employees. The end of the work day was approaching and his customer wanted their water turned on and the pharmacy would soon close. He left in the red Ford 350 pickup truck, carrying some extra equipment for the crew. It was already 4:20 in the afternoon as he drove nearing his next turn. His employee phones and gives him a quick update on his customer’s dissatisfaction and prepares Mr. Hanks for their encounter.

Tina makes her way down the winding country road headed into town. Only about a mile left until she will turn and head north of town. In an instant, she saw a large red pickup truck approaching a stop sign, but knew he wasn’t prepared to stop. The red truck, Mr. Hanks, balanced his truck on two wheels trying not to hit Tina. Mr. Hanks’s truck twisted into Tina’s lane cutting her off. His truck forced her out of her lane and into the lane with oncoming traffic. She held tightly to the wheel, braking, while the red pickup truck was still at her right door. Looking forward, Tina noticed the oncoming car. She braked harder and swerved back into her lane while Mr. Hanks had sped ahead, allowing Tina to swerve back into her lane just missing his tail gate and the oncoming car. Her heart pounded, it raced, and it felt as if it stopped. It wasn't only the red truck that made her heart skip beats, it was the car headed straight towards her. Her eyes met, face to face making her very aware that the near head on collision was with her husband and son. Their faces showed expressions of horror, pure shock, and alarm. Their faces images flashed at her, as she pulled over to catch her breath. There was no sign of the red truck that sped away and no visible trace of a near accident. Still parked, her phone rang, she answered it. It was the sweet sound of her husband and son.

(Note: This was based on a true close call. My heart leaps out of my chest every time I think of it.)

We Shared a Room with Montgomery Cliff

Three days with little sleep traveling over two thousand miles, we arrived in Hollywood. Making our way to our hotel trying to avoid the Los Angeles traffic, we followed the little blue line on Google Map on our iPad. We finally found ourselves at the valet of our grand old hotel and were greeted then directed towards the hotel lobby. My boys were excited, even though they didn't say it. We quickly checked in and found our way to the elevator. Brody and Zane raced to open the room door, fighting for the desk, the outlet for their computers and the lone desk chair. As Brody opened the door, he blocked the entrance hesitating to walk inside holding the door ajar. Zane made a move to pass him in the tight hall as the stampede carried them to the desk, the door sprung back and I managed to block it open with my bag. Entering the room, I grabbed the knob on the closet door hoping to find a luggage rack for my bag. Pulling open the door I was met with a dark mass. It lunged towards me looking like a cloud of smoke, as I gasped for breath, I could feel a cool breeze pass through me. Gasping for air, words frozen, I dropped my bags, walked further into the room, looked at my boys looking back at me as I shook and wiggled. Knowing the cold chill made every hair on my body stand strait up. I shook to warm myself, shaking the chill from every inch of my body the boys starred and I flopped down onto the bed, started to whoop, yelp and suddenly, I cracked up laughing.

We were in Hollywood, and Hollywood boulevard here we come! Waiting for the elevator I started making up excuses why it was taking so long. It's an old building, everyone must be going out and several more followed. Ding, the elevator doors opened and it was slammed full of guest with bags. Exhaling all at once, the elevator left and the boys pushed the button once more. A minute later the same elevator door opened and the same people occupied it. An explosion of comments jolted out of the opening doors and then they were gone again. The second elevator seemed to be detained elsewhere as we stood patiently, pushing the button repeatedly. The same elevator door slid open and people came dashing off with bags in tow. They had said the doors wouldn't open on their floor and they would rather take the stairs than that elevator again. Ignoring their statements, we jumped in and rode the elevator with no events or problems.

Celebrity sightings, the Jimmy Kimmel show, finding Stars in the sidewalk, live entertainment at the Hard Rock, pool parties with celebrities, red carpet events, and our personal favorite; people watching! Long eventful days made sleeping easy. However staying asleep was difficult at times. Every morning around 3:00 AM our television switched on to the cartoon network blaring loudly. Startling me, I scrambled to find the remote and found the off button and in the morning the television was back on. The third night the television turned on, I simply turned the volume down and left the cartoons on.

One morning getting in the shower, I felt something. Maybe someone was watching me; I felt an invariable chill, but definitely something unexplainable at that moment. Goosebumps covered my body, and my hair stood strait up on my arms. Out loud I spoke, "Really? I'm an old fat mom, don't watch me." If there was something, someone, anything present I thought that would stop it or make it go away. Getting out of the shower, the Goosebumps were gone. I looked at myself in the mirror, in the small bathroom, where I had a steaming hot shower. The mirror never fogged.

The last night we stayed in Hollywood I fell asleep first, while Zane and Brody we're grossly involved in computer combat. Later, hoping not to wake Zane I struggled to stay on my side of the small bed. Early morning the sun had lit the room, I sat on the side of my bed facing the other bed where I saw my two boys asleep. Turning around slowly, I saw no one in my bed. When the boys woke, I asked them if they had moved or changed beds. Neither of them had.

After returning home I did some research on the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Amazed, but in no way was I shocked to discover that the hotel has had several reports of hauntings. If I read the stories before staying there, it's possible I wouldn't have gone. I had made an excuse for every event and occurrence during my visit. The occurrences were easy to dismiss. After the trip, Brody disclosed to me the reason why he hesitated before walking into the room. He thought someone was standing in the bathroom, but he dismissed it for the strange bathroom lighting. The fact that every hair on both my arms stood straight out and something in that room made my skin crawl enough to make me shake as if spiders were crawling all over my body, makes me wonder. Did I encounter a star from the past? He can't seem to cross over – see the light - and leave his old glamorous life behind? Seeing is, believing. Maybe you should visit the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for yourself. May I suggest you stay at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood?

Do You Remember?

The rush of wind blew around us, as I nestled my face in Craig's back, my arms wrapped around his tight warm body, I watched the vibrant colors of autumn stream past us. His Harley's motor purred with power as I felt the vibration between my legs as we glided over the hills. Then seeing shades of darkness, a pulse vibration, and then another, notifying me of an incoming text, the light shined in from outside my window, it must be dawn. Well rested, I roll over to read my text from Sandy. My very best friend is on her way here. Feeling the soft lump of blankets besides me, it's empty. Then remembering Craig had left to see his parents yesterday, I was alone.

Sandy had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. We now spend every minute we can with one another. She is at peace with her fate. However, I'm fighting for more time with her. Who will be my children's God mother when Craig and I have children, and who will be my maid of honor when we get married? She must win the fight and stay with us. As she walks in she hugs me tighter than yesterday, I hug her back. Today she feels stronger than I have felt her in months, it’s a good day and I'm glad she is sharing it with me.

Handing her some tea, she takes both our cups and set them on the coffee table and reached for my hands and delivered the news. Craig had a motorcycle accident on his way to his parent’s house, he didn't make it. A rush of cold, then my body catching up with my brain, I fell limp. Crying didn't help, neither did Sandy comforting me. Lying in bed I ran my hand over his empty space, smelling his pillow and then hugging it tight, I cried until I slept.

Her gentle hands wrapped around mine as she sat beside me. "Craig would not want you like this, he would want you strong and to find your way," Sandy spoke lovingly. Looking at her I replied, "Why is it all such a blur? Why can't I remember the last time I saw him, held him or spoke to him? I can't remember anything. All I can remember is the dream I had the night he left, and now I am thinking I was supposed to go with him. Why didn't I go? This is like a long terrible dream," I said trembling, as I drifted back to sleep.

Peaceful morning light was shining into my window as it did the morning Craig died. My insides empty, a pain ripped through me, lying in bed without Craig. The dream remained in my mind like a memory lingering. The cold air swirling around me, the smell of Craig, the warmth of his body and his leather jacket against my cheek, holding him tight ... I can still smell him.

Waking, I opened my eyes as I gazed up at him, and then over to Sandy. I sat up and said, “Thank God you are both here, I had the worst dream ever.” My hands felt warm as Sandy held my hand and Craig held my other. They looked at me then both turned towards the light coming through the window. The answer was simple. I was with Craig that beautiful autumn evening and the three of us will be together for eternal life.  

Alisa, Is That You?

Briskly walking to class, my hands numb gripping tightly around my books as I see my breath in the freezing air. Winter fell upon us as quick as my alarm waking me this morning. Finding a seat next to Alisa we text our hello pretending to take notes. College life was exactly what I suspected and more.

A friendship beyond Economic Analysis class, swim practices and dorm suitemates, we travel to swim meets together. Lately Alisa added a late evening training session, so seeing one another in class and in the pool is all we had.

Below freezing temperatures secured the decision to study in the dorm. My roommate Tammy and I studied into the early morning, both deciding to take a nap before heading to exams. Falling asleep before hitting the pillow is done frequently, and this night was no exception.

Chills ran over my skin sensing someone had opened the door. Softly I rolled over tugging at my down blanket. I heard a soft whimper, so I slightly opened my eyes. Seeing Alisa sitting in the chair next to our door I whispered, “Alisa, what’s wrong?” With no reply, appearing wet she shivered, drew her legs up in fetal position and wrapped her arms around her legs. “Alisa, what’s going on?” I asked softly. The late swim practices were getting ridiculous; it had to be three in the morning. Something was different, something was very wrong. This wasn’t Alisa!

Whispering to Tammy, she responded with a demand that I go turn on the light. Arguing in whispering voices for a minute, falling defeated I slipped out of bed keeping our eyes on the occupied chair. Switching on the light, no one was sitting in the chair!  “What the hell!” I screeched. Tammy jumped up and we both jumped simultaneously onto my bed and stared at the chair.

For the next few days we studied in the commons and fell asleep in our books. Tammy and I spoke to no one and said nothing, only questioned Alisa’s whereabouts that night. For weeks we only entered our room together and mid day.

Later we discovered that years ago a girl on the swim team was practicing late one cold winter night and died of hypothermia. A tingling sensation crawled up my arms and the back of my neck as hairs began to stand straight up, her face staring at me. Her picture resembled Alisa. It was the girl in our chair!