Pandora's Clock

Aboard Flight 66 - Friday, December 22 - 5:10 P.M. (161oZ.) As the English coastline passed beneath the nose of Quantum's westbound flight 66, the flight attendant call chime began ringing in the cockpit -- not once, but five times in rapid succession. There was no procedure for such a signal. James Holland toggled the interphone as he glanced at Dick Robb, who seemed equally alarmed. "Flight deck," Holland said. A tense, feminine voice flooded his ear. "Captain, this is Linda at door 2B. I think we've got a heart attack here!" "Okay, how bad is it?" "He's an older man. Brenda's started CPR," she continued. "He got sick right after liftoff, but suddenly he keeled over in his seat. We gave him oxygen, but he's almost stopped breathing." "Have you checked to see if there's a doctor aboard?" Holland asked. "We did, yes. A Swiss doctor responded, and he said we've got to get this man to a hospital fast or we'll lose him." "Okay, Linda. Keep us informed." Dick Robb had nodded and was already calling the air traffic controller, anticipating Holland's decision. "London Center, Quantum sixty-six. We have a medical emergency aboard and need immediate vectors for an emergency landing at..." Robb glanced at Holland and raised an eyebrow, aware he'd jumped the gun -- and equally aware Holland wouldn't protest. What choice did they have? "Let's go to London Heathrow," Holland shot back. "Ask for priority handling, and we need paramedics to meet us." "Robb repeated the request and took the new clearance as the captain dialed in the course direct to London and began an autopilot descent out of thirty-three thousand feet. Holland reached forward at the same time to type "LON" into the flight management computer and hit the execute button. The big Boeing immediately began a turn to the left to follow the new course as Dick Robb folded his arms and sat back with a look of forced disgust. "You're going to do this solo, then?" Robb asked. Holland glanced at him, not comprehending. "What?" "The book says that the pilot-not-flying programs the computer. You're the pilot flying on this trip. I'm the pilot not flying." Holland studied Robb's face. He was serious, and there wasn't time for a confrontation, even if he'd wanted one. "Sorry, Dick," Holland said. "You were busy working the radios, and we've got an emergency here." He gestured toward the flight management computer, trying not to look disgusted. "Please give me direct London, and let's plan the ILS approach." "That's more like it," was Robb's singular response. * * * One story below the cockpit, in the neutral zone between coach class and business class, a small group of flight attendants and several concerned passengers huddled around the figure of a small man lying prone on the floor. Brenda Hopkins, the redheaded flight attendant with supermodel features who had helped Earnest Helms to his seat, knelt by his head alternately trying to breathe life into his mouth between impassioned attempNance, John J. is the author of 'Pandora's Clock' with ISBN 9780385479448 and ISBN 0385479441.