by C. J. Stott
Hijacking of Flight 100
By
C. J. Stott
Black Thunderbird Press
Seattle, Washington
BLACK THUNDERBIRD PRESS
Hijacking of Flight 100
Clayton J. Stott
Copyright © 2014 by Clayton J. Stott
All Rights Reserved
Copyeditor: Susan Toth [email protected]
Cover Design: Cover design by Gary V. Tenuta, [email protected]
Interior Design: Rich Meyer, http://quantumformatting.weebly.comTable of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Epilogue
About the Author
This novel is a fictional representation and is not intended to portray any actual fact, individual, corporation, organization or specific entity. Any similarity between the characters contained herein and actual or specific individuals, living or deceased, is purely coincidental and fully unintentional.
All rights reserved. This book was self-published by the author Clayton J. Stott under Black Thunderbird Press. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by any means, without the express permission of the author. This restriction shall include reprints, excerpts, photocopying, recording and any future means or method of reproducing text and images. To reproduce this book by any means, please seek prior permission by contacting the author or publisher.
Published in the United States of America by Black Thunderbird Press
This fictional work is dedicated to the hapless and innocent victims who tragically died as a result of an inflight explosion of Trans World Airlines Flight 800 on July 17, 1996. The Boeing 747 aircraft was enroute from JFK Airport in New York to Paris, France. The plane broke up into three pieces and plunged into Long Island Sound with the resultant death of all 230 souls on board.
Typical Boeing 747-200 Flight Deck
This work was initially started in 1990, well before September 11, 2001. In the era in which this novel was written, Boeing 747 aircraft were flown by three pilots, and largely were outfitted with analog guidance and instrumentation systems. Digital or “flat glass” cockpits had not yet become an industry standard. Autoflight systems essentially were the same as had been installed on Boeing and Douglas aircraft since the end of Korean War. Overwater-navigation systems were either analog Litton LTN-51 or Delco Carousel IV-A Inertial Navigation System platforms. Global Positioning Satellite systems were not yet available in commercial aviation.
More importantly, in the 1980’s, airport security was largely non-existent. Private contractors who staffed airport security operations with minimum wage employees provided most airport terminal security.
While the airline industry and federal agencies were aware of the threat of airline hijacking or aerial piracy, little was done to deter activity against what most considered a very unlikely event. Airline anti-aerial piracy protocols in the era of this novel were largely “passive resistance” or “reluctant acquiescence.”
UPI WIRE SERVICE - UPI STATE Wire (Florida)
June 26, 1987
MIAMI PASSES SECURITY TEST
MIAMI (UPI) - A government test of security systems at Miami International Airport detected 97 percent of the mock weapons carried by inspectors checking the system.
Lowest detection rates were found in Las Vegas at 45 percent, and Phoenix at 34 percent. The Federal Government required airports to install passenger and baggage inspection equipment in 1973 amid a rash of hijackings, generally with the destination of Cuba.
Most airports hire private security firms to operate the detection systems, which are at the entrance to the gates at all major American airports. Federal officials cited employee boredom and monotony as the most probable cause for these lapses in security. They said steps were being taken to relieve the boredom that would result in better security.
INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 22-23, 1993
U. S. to UNDERTAKE a FULL REVIEW of AIRPORT SECURITY
New York Times Service
WASHINGTON - The US Transportation Secretary, Richard Pena, announced a “comprehensive review” of security conditions and procedures at the nation’s airports. Officials in the Transportation Department said the review was being undertaken to determine compliance with recently ordered security measures and to assess the adequacy of more established procedures, including passenger screening, baggage handling and detection of explosives. The review is to be completed by the end of the year, the officials said.
NEW YORK TIMES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1993
AIRLINE WORKERS CHARGED in COCAINE RING at KENNEDY
Federal agents and the Port Authority police said yesterday that they had broken a sophisticated ring of airline workers that had smuggled cocaine into Kennedy International Airport aboard Pan American World Airways flights from Brazil. The ring was regularly able to bring suitcases containing 50 to 90 pounds of cocaine in the country.
Last year
the Federal Government indicted 22 baggage and cargo handlers employed by Eastern Airlines in Miami on charges of smuggling cocaine from Columbia, “This is the tip of the iceberg,” said Sterling Johnson, New York State special narcotics prosecutor, who said the smuggling was going on at other airlines and airports.
02:41 Pacific Standard Time -- Hillsborough, California
He awoke with a start. Someone was in his airplane. In his cockpit. They wanted to hijack his aircraft. He, the aircraft commander, the Captain, was powerless to stop them. He could see fire and hear panic. He could smell smoke.
He could also smell the smoky sharp odor of spent gunpowder. He instinctively knew a great number of people could be injured. Though now awake, he could see the face of the anxious hijacker. He couldn’t recognize the man, but knew this terrorist was responsible for the attack.
The hijacker held a tall, blonde Pan American Stewardess hostage, the blunt end of his pistol pressed deeply into her neck.
Confusion flooded over him. Though awake, he was not certain if he had been dreaming about the hijacking, or if the hijacking had actually taken place.
Quickly, he awakened sufficiently to realize this had simply been a nightmare. Yet, there was something that had alerted him that his dream might be a precursor of events yet to unfold.
Maybe, he thought, his dream somehow was a latent review of the anti-terrorist training he had attended last week in Los Angeles. Captain John Testrake, a TWA pilot who had been hijacked in the Middle East, had been one of the guest speakers. Perhaps that meeting had planted a seed in his subconscious that had now surfaced.
Don Webber felt a gnawing concern about the dream’s frightening reality. The dream made no sense, especially the Pan Am Cabin Attendant, who looked remarkably like Kathryn.
The dream had been so life-like. Confused, he fitfully rolled over onto his stomach, punched his pillow into a submissive ball and tried unsuccessfully to put this dream out of his mind. Eventually, he fell back into an uneven sleep. Even in his sleep, his subconscious mind roiled and struggled with the probability the nightmare would most likely return.
Chapter 01
05:45 Pacific Standard Time
Hillsborough, California
The room was still dark. Just the slightest hint of light began to peek around the edges of the dark window curtains on the east windows of their bedroom. The insistent electronic chirping of the alarm brought him reluctantly awake. His imagination was still wrapped around his troubling and unfinished dream.
He silently chose to lie still and enjoy the moment.
In this sensory solitude, he could hear Kathryn saying something humorous about his prowess, “I love it when we are like this. You are so good.” She chuckled deep in her throat with her lilting Norwegian inflection on the word “so.”
He wondered why he was responding to his dream about Kathryn. It seemed she recently had become the central star in many of his thoughts. Or, if regrettably, it was simply an early morning indicator he needed to arise and start his morning bathroom routine.
Ruth Webber had awakened as well. She was not sure if Don was there. From habit, she reached over to see if he was in their bed. She looked for physical reinforcement to diminish the growing feeling their marriage was in pathetic straits.
Don quickly turned away. This only reaffirmed her suspicion he no longer found her attractive or desirable. This morning was like most others. Before Ruth could say a word to Don, he was out of bed. She saw only a glimpse of the muscled backside of her husband of twenty-six years as he reached for his Rolex watch. His lean, 6’-1” frame disappeared into his portion of their shared master bath.
He stood in the foggy shower and hot water and confusion washed over him. In this private place, he tried to sort out the conflicted facets in his life. He needed to find a solution to resolve his emotional conflict between Ruth and Kathryn. Scenarios ran through his mind, and he became more confused. Part of his dilemma stemmed from the fact Kathryn knew about his marriage, while Ruth could only guess or suspect there might be someone else.
Involuntarily, Don denied his guilt. “I’ve been a good husband and a good father.” Then he added in a whisper, “It just happened I met someone else.”
The water on his back turned cold as he depleted the heater’s supply. The change in temperature brought him back. He finished soaking up the last of the water and reflected on the state of his affairs.
He mused, “Perhaps, this was the origin of the term ‘Affairs of State.’ Probably not, maybe just a play on words.” He looked in the mirror and briefly rationalized the word affair had no relation to the situation that had developed between him and Kathryn.
Recently, Kathryn had become passively resistant to him. Sexually, she was compliant. But, as long as he was married, she was not eager to enter into any sort of odd, undefined, ill-conceived, non-permanent relationship.
The harder he chased her, the more ambiguous she became. From the beginning of their relationship, she had made it clear she did not intend to ever again become seriously involved with a married man. And for emphasis, she had added, “Especially, another married pilot.”
Flying with different airlines, she had never been with him on any of his trips. She was certain he was a very competent, professional and conscientious aviator. In her view, and to those of her friends who had met him, Captain Don Webber was good looking, caring and an intelligent person.
Many told her they made a handsome couple; she with her Nordic beauty and he with a perpetual tan and striking white hair. Though he was twenty-two years her senior, she had found him to be attractive. From the first time they had met, there was a magnetic attraction toward him. He was trim, but always battled his weight. He was pleased his uniform size was the same as when he was discharged from the United States Navy.
Kathryn, as Ruth, had found his eyes fascinating. Always a cobalt blue. They could, however, quickly and subtlety shift color with his mood. They sometimes drifted from a bottomless pool of blue light to a dark and angry color of the sky during a violent winter storm.
Don entered their bedroom and dressed quietly and quickly. He hoped Ruth had gone back to sleep. He did not want to ruin what he perceived as the beginning of a good day, a fabulous day, one in which he would end at JFK International Airport. New York City. Where he would spend tonight and most of tomorrow with Kathryn. His reverie was broken when Ruth stirred and asked, “Where are you going?”
Resentment rose in him as he attempted to back down the conversation with a cold reply, “I picked up a trip to JFK.”
Silently, he thought to himself, “If she paid more attention to what I did and where I was going, maybe there wouldn’t be a need for me to be involved with Kathryn.”
To his wife of 26 years, he rudely finished the conversation that had hardly begun, “I’m on 100 today to JFK.” Without feeling, he said, “I’ll be back on 99 tomorrow night.”
He dressed in his dark blue uniform slacks, tasseled black loafers and white uniform shirt. He completed his attire with the regulation black knit tie.
Carefully, he evaluated himself in the mirror and paid particular attention to the gold wings on his uniform shirt with the four gold and black stripes on the epaulets on each shoulders. He left the bedroom, opened the hall closet door and slipped on his coat. Subtly, he had changed from Don Webber suburban male, to Captain Webber, commander of a Boeing 747 bound for New York.
Don picked up his packed black leather suitcase and matching leather navigation kit, turned and started out the kitchen door to the car.
Just as the door closed, he thought he heard Ruth say, “Good bye, Honey. I’ll see you when you get home tomorrow night.” Then very tentatively, “I love you.”
He didn’t respond, but felt a saddened sense of resentment. Ruth had taken unfair advantage of him and had made him feel even more resentment toward her as he left for the airport. He noted with growing dismay that today, he also resented the company, the trip, the airli
ne and the world in general.
Being with Kathryn tonight would make things much better.
Chapter 02
06:15 Pacific Standard Time
Hillsborough, California
At this hour of the morning, traffic from Webber’s house was light as Don drove briskly to San Francisco International Airport. He idly listened to the weather, traffic and news on KGO radio. He then inserted a tape Kathryn had given him. The tape hissed, whirred and then started to play. It was Kathryn’s voice, pleading in a little girl tone, “Hurry, Donny. I can’t wait for you...”
Her voice trailed off, “...to be with me.”
There was the muffled rustle of sheets moving, and then slightly out of breath, Kathryn implored, “I haven’t been with you for a long time, lover. I’ve missed you.”
Some weeks ago, Don had been unexpectedly assigned to a 747 flight to New York. He and Kathryn had not seen each other for two months. Don was elated at the prospect of being with her again. In a rush, he had called her from the airport in San Francisco, telling her he was on the way. She met him at Kennedy Airport, where they took the first available cab into Manhattan.
During that long ride, she had turned to him, and then silently opened her long coat. She clearly revealed she was wearing little under her outer garment.
Don had caught a fleeting glimpse of her breast as she continued to tease him in the cab. At the small restaurant she provoked him by brashly rubbing his thigh under the table. He had been awash with lust and had been in a rush to take a cab back to her apartment. She teased him even more by saying she wanted to walk.
He had protested, to no avail. However, he gave in when she said, “Go ahead. Take a cab, lover. I am going to walk. You will only have a longer wait for me outside my flat.”
When they finally arrived at her apartment, both slightly out of breath, she became an animal. It was during this encounter that she had made the tape of them, with a small recorder on the nightstand by her side of the bed.
