"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign. We are now crossing a zone of turbulence. Please return your seats and keep your seat belts fastened. Thank you."

Napatango na lang ako bago ibalik ang earpods sa tenga ko. I was playing Taylor Swift's Lavender Haze as I closed my eyes. Napangiti na lang ako. I don't know why but I always find comfort in her songs.

I'm damned if I give a damn to what people say

After a few seconds, I felt the shaking of the plane. I opened my eyes and looked out the window. I can see the dark and heavy clouds. Pagtingin ko naman sa matandang katabi ko ay may hawak na itong rosaryo at tahimik na nagdadasal. Hindi ko maiwasang matawa.

Turbulence is normal especially in unstable weather. It's just like driving a car on an uneven road or sailing a ship in the waves. As long as you had your seatbelts on, it's completely normal. Pero hiindi ko naman masisisi ang may katandaan na dahil mas mabilis talaga sila nerbyosin lalong lalo na sa mga first time sasakay ng eroplano.

Kahit pa naka earpods ako ay narinig ko ang pagsigawan ng mga tao. The moderate turbulence suddenly became severe. Turns out the aircraft is suddenly out of control. Tinanggal ko ang earpods ko at nabingi ako lalo nang marinig ang pag-iyak ng bata sa likuran ko.

"A-amahan namo nga naa sa mga l-langit. . . P-padaygon imong ngalan uma—Yawa tabang!" Majority of the passengers started panicking but I remained sitting on my seat on the aisle.

"Lord! Virgin pa ako, ayoko pa mamatay!"

"May defense pa ako bukas, Lord! Ayaw ko bumagsak!"

"Hindi ko pa naanakan ang girlfriend ko, let me live please!"

"Promise Lord, hindi na ako mambababae, huwag mo naman ako patayin huhu!"

I frowned. What the hell is that?

"Mommy! Is the plane gonna crash? Are we gonna die?" umiiyak na wika ng batang babae sa likuran ko.

"No, sweetie. The pilot will have it under control. Just close your eyes and pray," her mother comforted her.

I turned my gaze in the window and I gasped when I saw the left engine was on fire. The turbulence increases the burning velocity of the gases present, accelerating heat production and increasing pressure rise rates—so combustion was possible.

Pinakiramdaman ko muna ang eroplano. That's weird, the left engine is on fire—the pilot would have detected it and the lights should start blinking. Umayos ako ng upo. There must be something wrong.

When the severe turbulence turned into moderate, I unbuckled my seatbelt and immediately stood up. It was not suggested to take off the seatbelt, and it was difficult to walk but I still managed to reach the cabin where the crew are seated.

"M-ma'am, please go back to your—" I cutted her off.

"Tell the pilot the left engine is on fire," mahina kong wika upang hindi marinig ng ibang tao.

Nanlaki naman sa gulat ang mata ng mga nakadinig. One of them stood up and went to the cockpit. Tumalikod na ako at akmang babalik na ng upuan ko nang marinig ko ang tarantang boses ng flight attendant.

"T-the pilot is out!"

"W-what do you mean the pilot is out?"

"Captain Morgini had a heart attack!"

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad. That won't be a problem. The aircraft could still fly even with one engine. The co-pilot could just inform the tower with the pilot's condition and request for an emergency landing and paramedics.

When the red light started blinking and the warning alarm went off I halted on my feet. I almost fell down when I felt the plane was losing control in the air. The shrieking of the people became louder. Ang ilan sa kanila ay humahagulgol na sa pag-iyak.

Mabilis kong tinakbo ang distansya ng cockpit kahit na halos madapa-dapa na ako sa kabila ng pagpigil sa akin ng crew. It was a good thing that the crew forgot to close the door or else hindi ako makakapasok dahil hindi nabubuksan sa labas ang pinto ng cockpit kung hindi ito bubuksan mula sa loob.

If the pilot is out, and the engine is on fire, there's a possibility the co-pilot is mentally and emotionally unstable to fly the plane. Pagpasok ko ay naabutan kong nakabulagta sa kinauupuan ang pilot at walang malay samantalang ang co-pilot nito na lalaki na mukhang kaedad ko lang ay umiiyak.

I was right. I understood his sympathy for the passing of the pilot, but he must remain calm and manoeuvre the aircraft. He is carrying hundreds of lives with him!

I stood still as I look at him. He was bawling his eyes out at halatang wala sa sarili. Naikuyom ko ang kamao ko. Mabilis na dumapo ang palad ko sa pisngi niya.

"Get on your senses!" I snapped.

Imbis bumalik sa realidad ay hindi ito natinag. He was too preoccupied kaya naman binigyan ko siya ng mag-asawang sampal. Hinawakan ko siya sa magkabilang balikat at niyugyog.

"You are carrying 250 passengers and 18 crews with you! Get on your fucking senses and control the plane!" Natauhan naman ito.

Inalis ko naman ang pilot sa kinauupuan niya at dahan-dahan itong pinahiga sa sahig. I took over the seat and called for the radio frequency to the nearest tower on the radar.

"Mayday, mayday, mayday. SA Tower 3567, we need an emergency landing. The left engine's on fire and the pilot is out of action." I announced.

"SA 3567, you're cleared to the East Harbor Airport. Turn right, right turn heading 040," the ATC replied (Air Traffic Controller).

Napatingin ako as co-pilot na nanginginig kamay na nakahawak sa control wheel habang mabilis ko namang tiningnan ang altitude indicator at navigation display. We are about 20,000 feet above the ground and continuously dropping.

"Stall!" When he heard the cockpit computer alarming, he looked even more tensed up.

"S-SA 3567, we cannot make it to the runway. The aircraft is s-stalling above the city," utal na sagot ng co-pilot.

"SA 3567, I thought the pilot had passed out. Who is the other one I talked to?" Napatingin naman ito sa akin.

He is not able to make it to the runway? If he wants to take safety measures, he needs to find somewhere to land since the engine is already on fire. However, we're currently flying above the city. In worst case scenarios, there would be plenty of casualties.

I checked the indicator once again. Judging from the altitude, if we are able to power up and recover the stall very quickly we can make it to the runway on time.

"Stall!" Napahinga ako nang malalim. Napalinga ako sa co-pilot na kasalukuyang kagat-kagat ang ibang bahagi ng labi niya at halatang balisa ito.

"There is no field around to land the aircraft, unless you want to crash the plane, I need you to trust me." Napatitig ito sa akin. He was probably questioning who I am to know this much and command him to do how his job must be done.

"Keep calm, and follow my instructions." I gave him a reassuring smile, and somehow I saw trust in his eyes.

"Stall!"

"Let's do the power-off recovery, are you with me?" Nag-aalinlangan man ay kabado itong tumango.

"Nose down." Umayos siya ng upo at sinunod ang inutos ko.

"Reduce angle of attack. Full power." He began pulling the lever and operating.

Parang nabunutan naman ako ng tinik nang magawa niya ito nang maayos. He had to be very careful with adding power as the underwing engines give it a pitch-up moment. He needs the right angle to do it.

"Raise the flaps." When I felt the flying speed had returned to normal, I was relieved. Unti-unti na rin humupa ang sigawan ng mga tao sa labas ng cockpit.

"Stop descending and establish a climb." Just like I instructed, he was able to climb.

"Now raise the landing gear and remaining flaps." After a few seconds of feeling the weight of the plane, we have successfully recovered from stalling.

"SA 3567, what is your situation?" When the thick cloud disappeared, I was able to see the airport without relying on the radar.

"SA 3567, airport on sight, cleared visual approach, we are able to make it to the runway. " Saglit na natahimik ang mga ito nang marinig ang boses ko. Nagtataka siguro ang mga ito kung sino ako lalo na't alam nila na walang malay ang pilot at ang buong akala nila ay ang co-pilot lang ang narito.

"Roger. Runway 15C, cleared to land. Climb maintains 5,000 ft. Just advise if you need any assistance," sagot nito.

"Affirmative."

"SA 3567, announcing arrival approach on 122.62."

"SA 3567, 122.62." Naisandal ko ang likod ko sa upuan sabay buga nang malalim na hininga. I didn't notice the red light already stopped blinking and the alarms were off. It means we prevented the disaster from happening.

Mariin kong pinikit ang mata ko. What if I cancelled my flight? There could have been another plane crash. Mabuti na lang pala at pinilit ako ni Kassidy na umattend ng birthday niya kun'di mababalitaan ko na naman na may panibagong aksidente.

"You can land the plane, right?" His grip on the wheel stiffened.

"Yes. Thank you. It would've been a disaster without you." Malamya nitong wika.

Tumayo na ako sa kinauupuan ko at akmang lalabas na ng cockpit nang bigla siyang nagsalita.

"With how expert you are, I assume you have the same job as me." Tumango na lang ako.

Same job? He could say that.

"I am Natlan Morgini, Captain Alistair Morgini's son." Napakurap ako.

Napatingin ako sa kapitan na walang malay sa sahig. The reason why he was so affected with the pilot's death was because he was his father? To think I slapped him three times, nakakaguilty. Now I understand why his reaction was like that.

"Condolences." He smiled at me weakly.

"May I ask your name? I owe you hundreds of lives in this flight." I just gave him a small smile.

"I am Aviatrice Sachal Coronia, a former air force pilot." He looked at me, surprised.

"Wow," was the only reply I heard from him before I left the cockpit and went back to my seat. I yawned.

What a tiring day.

𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐀 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄
ᴮʸ ᴳᵒˡᵘᶜᵏʸᶜʰᵃʳᵐ

CHAPTER SHELF

Air Traffic Controller (ATC)- monitors the location of aircraft in their assigned airspace by radar and communicate with the pilots by radio.

Cockpit- a part of an aircraft that provides front and side visibility and contains the pilot(s) and other crew members

Runway- Area at an airport, typically made of asphalt and concrete, for aircraft takeoff and landing.

Stall- sudden reduction in the lift generated by an aerofoil when the critical angle of attack is reached or exceeded. Uncorrected stall will cause the aircraft to fall.

Turbulence- disruption in the air current which helps a plane to fly results in shakes