Simon blinked and looked from Connors to Pete, his face a lighter shade of pale as the Captain began to speak to the passengers. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is Captain Connors. There’s a large power outage in LA so we’re diverting to Las Vegas, please remain seated with your seat belts fastened. The stewards will be seated among you to monitor the cabin’s systems. We will be over Las Vegas in thirty minutes. Thank you.’
‘Vegas won’t be thrilled to take an unscheduled flight.’ Pete muttered.
James changed frequency and flicked the transmit button. ‘Las Vegas Control. This is Japan Airlines Flight 712. Do you read? Over.’ He held his breath waiting for the familiar reply.
‘Las Vegas Control. This is Flight 712. Please come in. Over.’
‘Flight 712. This is Las Vegas Control. Sorry about the delay Captain. It’s chaos here. Do you know what’s happened? Over.’
James puffed out his breath with relief. ‘Boy, am I glad to hear your voice. We only know we’re stranded up here, Las Vegas. We were scheduled to land at L A twenty minutes ago, but we’ve been unable to raise ATC. What’s going on? Over.’
‘All schedules flights into Los Angeles have been re-routed here. We believe LA has been hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami. We can’t raise the airport. We have you on radar 712. Over.’
‘Thank God. Can you bring us in? Over’
‘Yes 712, but it’s going to be a while. We’re under tremendous pressure. Planes are coming in from everywhere. Do you have sufficient fuel to circle for a while? Over.’
‘Fuel situation is not critical. Over.’
‘Okay. Go to flight level 100, 712 and hold. We’ll advise radial. Over.’
‘Flight 712, confirming level 100 and holding. Thanks Las Vegas. Roger and Out’
James wiped his brow and after taking the plane down to level 100, Pete climbed out of his seat. ‘I need to stretch my legs. I’ll brief the crew.’
Forty minutes later they received permission to leave the holding pattern and land. As they approached Las Vegas, James was startled by the number of lights visible below. He had flown in here many times at night and it was always a sea of lights, but this was something different. Long lines of lights radiated out far into the desert, like roads going nowhere. From ten thousand feet it looked like a huge rimless wheel with dozens of crooked spokes.
The autopilot intercepted the Glide-slope and Connors announced the landing check. Pete checked the undercarriage and flap indicators as James reduced power.
The altimeters read 500ft, then 400ft. The radio crackled. ‘Flight 712. You are cleared to land. After landing vacate the runway to the left and contact ground control on 9421. Out.’
At 300ft the runway approach lights appeared. James disengaged the autopilot which until now had been doing all the flying. A hundred checks went through his mind as the touchdown point rushed at him at 200ft per second. He focused on the centre line, gently pressed on the elevator controls and the main wheels began rolling on the runway. With a relieved sigh he reached for the nose-wheel steering wheel to taxi to his destination, checking with ground control as ordered.
‘I’d better explain to the passengers.’ He groaned to Pete after the aircraft had come to a stop. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen this is Captain Connors. We’ve landed at Las Vegas. Please don’t worry, arrangements will be made to take you to your scheduled destinations soon. In the meantime I must ask you to remain on board until further instructions. Thank you for your cooperation.’
He buzzed Simon and instructed him and the crew to remain with the passengers. ‘Pete and I’ll go and see what’s happening.’
When James emerged from the exit door he was concerned by the number of planes surrounding him. He shivered, his shirtsleeves offering little protection from a cold wintery blast instead of the warm air he was expecting. The tarmac was illuminated by more lights than usual, and they were forced to dodge their way around baggage cars and trucks to cross to the terminal. The arrival and departure lounges were packed to capacity with more confused travellers waiting outside. Instead of finding the expected basic night shift on duty in the control rooms, they were bewildered at the sight of a more than full compliment of staff and a frenetic buzz of activity.
‘Must be worse than we thought.’ Pete said. ‘Every plane destined for LA must be here. Jesus, it’s summer, why’s it so cold?’
Bill Duffey, the airport Controller was surrounded by news men and was trying his best to maintain his temper. James waited until the press had been disbanded by security staff and approached his old friend with trepidation. ‘Bill I’ve got a plane load of very agitated people out there. What can I tell them?’
‘Hi James. Sorry we’re in a real mess here. You heard what happened to LA?’ Without waiting for a reply Bill continued. ‘You’ll have to leave your passengers where they are for now. There’s no hope of flying back to LA. I’m afraid there’s not a room available in town. The military’s been flying people in here for three days. People are sleeping in tents.’
‘We can’t just stay on the plane Bill! I’ll have a riot on my hands!’
‘It’s out of my hands. You’ll have to wait for instructions from the military, they’re in charge now.’
‘The military! Jesus Bill! Has world war three started as well?’
Bill was becoming exasperated. ‘No, but it may as well have. I’m sorry James, I can’t spend any more time with you. I’ve got a million things to take care of. Please, just go back to your plane and wait.’
‘Fine! C’mon Pete. We’re getting nowhere here. Better do what he says.’ James dreaded the reaction from the passengers. They’ll blame him. What the hell could he tell them, that they just have to sit tight and wait!
They climbed back into the cockpit on 712, and delaying the announcement that James knew would cause pandemonium among the passengers he asked Pete. ‘Where’s my sat-phone phone? ‘I’d better call Jean and see if she’s okay.’
James’ home was high in the hills at Calabasas Los Angeles, north of the city. He was not concerned until he failed to raise Jean on the phone. He tried several numbers of friends and relations, but was unable to get through. The city was cut off!
Before James had time to advise the passengers an army jeep pulled up and an official looking gentleman climbed on board and was shown to the cockpit where he introduced himself. ‘I’m Lieutenant Cameron. I’ve been asked to advise you of the situation.’
‘Before you start, let’s go back into that cabin and you can advise my passengers at the same time.’ James was delighted to have put the onus of the dreaded announcement onto the shoulders of the army. ‘See if you can worm their way out of this one.’
‘Captain this is fairly sensitive stuff. Are you sure you want me to be the one to tell them?’
‘Of course. Wouldn’t have it any other way.’ James grinned, opening the flight deck door, ushering the Lieutenant through.
‘Ladies and Gentlemen can I have your attention please. This is Lieutenant….?’ James had already forgotten his name.
‘Cameron.’ The Lieutenant said. ‘Um, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but ah, there’s been a major catastrophe at Los Angeles and you have to stay here until further notice.’
‘Well done!’ James hissed. ‘You idiot! Now the passengers are not only angry but their scared out of their wits!
Angry men hurled abuse and women wailed. One passenger who had obviously bided his time with a smuggled bottle of liquor, jumped out of his seat and began beating the Lieutenant around the head with a paper, garbling something about the bloody army. The crew pulled him off the startled Lieutenant, while James tried to calm the other passengers. When the scuttle died down James turned to him and asked, ‘Now that you have advised us, perhaps you’d be kind enough to give us the details.’