by Liz Woods
CRASH POSITION
A Scandal
Copyright L. Woods 2013
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to any person, real or dead is entirely coincidental. Nothing contained herein is intended to express judgement on or affect the validity of the legal status of any character, term or word as a trademark, service mark or other proprietary mark.
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“Flight attendant charged over alleged Heathrow drugs smuggling”
May 24, 2013
A female flight attendant has been charged following the seizure at Heathrow Airport of a stash off cocaine worth around £600,000.
Border Force officers discovered six kilos of drugs on a bus which had been used to transport air crew following a flight from Lagos to London by Nigerian carrier Arik Air.
The flight attendant has been charged with attempting to import a class A drug, and has been remanded in custody at Uxbridge Magistrates Court until her next court appearance.
––London24
“Airline workers among 18 people charged with drug trafficking at JFK”
Oct 17, 2007
Eighteen people, including 10 airline workers at New York’s JFK International Airport appeared in federal court Tuesday on international drug smuggling and distribution charges.
The drugs were hidden in luggage on international commercial flights from the Dominican Republic to JFK, the complaint alleges. Once arrived it was located to a “safe” area, hidden from law enforcement, it says.
The charges are a result of a two-year investigation, during which federal agents found 46 kilograms (101 pounds) of cocaine, 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of heroin and 3 kilograms (6 pounds) of ecstasy, according to a Justice Department news release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration said the street value of the drugs is over $875,000 for the cocaine, $1.1 million for the heroin and $75,000 for the ecstasy.
––CNN
ONE
It was not how I pictured my flying days would be.
By the time the tyres met the tarmac, the smell of the front cabin had grown foul.
The suited men slumped forward, while some reclined lifelessly in their luxurious seats. Some still managed to wriggle in a paralytic stupor. All were held in place by the seat belts that they thought would protect them. We swung side to side as the aircraft taxied faster than usual. In the back, passengers sat frozen with fear while others fought off nausea, their hands fumbling in a desperate search for sick bags. All of them regretted their decision to take that holiday in Bali.
The crew, who a little over an hour ago were elegantly gliding down the aisles, were now just as panicked as our passengers. We couldn't blame it on motion sickness or food poisoning this time. No amount of emergency drills and practice, shouting commands stoically while adopting the crash position can truly prepare you for the reality of your own impending destruction–especially when there is time to think about.
From my jumpseat I could see my fellow conspirators. Ella–her uniform a mess–wiped away her tears. Whether they were inspired by remorse, guilt, or fear, I could not tell. In the other direction stood Simon, his face redder than the usual plastic tan. He was stunned. He looked around, examining his options, and visualising his escape. His eyes were wide, like someone who had just ran into the back of a Mercedes. He looked at his door. Will he or won’t he? Flight attendants had escaped down emergency slides before in times of stress. One had become an internet celebrity and industry hero. It was possible. But our aircraft was still moving. He would not be able to make such a smooth, stylish exit. And even if he could, he would need to run across the tarmac only to meet the water’s edge. The other option was to climb over a fence and be chased by border protection and their bloodthirsty dogs. Better off staying inside the tube for now.
And then there was Tanya, battling to keep her composure. She uncharacteristically fiddled with her gold necklace.
She looks at me, as if asking for help.
I look straight back.
A smile breaks out on my face.
Oh Tanya, you’re in trouble now.
You had it coming.