hapter3 The plane spun out of control , flung through the sky like a leaf in a storm . Massive centrifugal force pinned everyone into their seats ; blood rushed to their heads . Passengers began vomiting and fainting . A sense of death hung over every soul on board . In the cockpit , Sophie had frozen solid with fear . Her hands had left the yoke . All she could do was let out raw , incoherent screams . " Sophie ! Now - where's your flight manual? What are the engine - restart procedures ? Read them out to me ! " Charles's voice finally betrayed an unmistakable panic . He was so rattled he had forgotten even the basic emergency steps . " The manual ... it's in my bag ... I can't reach it ... " Sophie sobbed , gasping . Watching the horizon outside spin - sky turning to sea and back again - I knew we couldn't wait any longer . Waiting meant the aircraft and everyone aboard would be lost . In my last life I had battered down the cockpit door . This time I chose a better route . tilting , staggered toward the crew Auto - added to the Library yes wide with terror . I unlatched my belt and , despite the angs rest area at the rear . The junior flig " Evelyn ! Where are you going ? " one of them cried . " Follow the emergency plan . Calm the passengers . Prepare for an emergency landing ! " I threw the order over my shoulder and slammed the rest - area door shut behind me . There was an independent satellite emergency phone in that compartment with a direct line to company headquarters - the only external comms left besides the cockpit . My hands shook as I typed a string of high - level credentials known only to the captain and the purser . The line connected . " This is Purser Evelyn Hart of TA370 , " I said , voice steady . " I am initiating the Cockpit Incapacitation Red - Alert Protocol . " " Captain Charles Wentworth and Trainee First Officer Sophie Carlisle have engaged in egregious , improper operations and the aircraft has gone out of control and lost reliable contact . " " I am requesting immediate ground takeover of flight guidance . Repeat . request ground to take Chapter3 3.13 % immediate control . " Silence answered at first , a hollow pause - then a burst of frantic comms and orders came back from the other end . Simultaneously , I hit the alternate internal channel that bypassed the captain and addressed all crew directly . " First Officer Michael Reed - do you copy ? " The channel carried Michael's ragged , suppressed breathing before he managed a shocked , " Evelyn ?! " > " Michael - listen to me . Under Aviation Safety Regulation 112 , when the captain and the first officer are simultaneously incapacitated or when their actions clearly endanger flight safety , the highest - ranking qualified crew member aboard has the authority to assume control . " " As Purser of TA370 , I am formally authorizing you to take control of the aircraft . " " Stabilize it . Hold it steady . " ཅ་ ག Chapter3