“A CURIOUS FLIGHT: AN ENCOUNTER AT 30,000 FEET”
Good evening sir! Welcome to PIA.
So, there I am, walking down the gangway, and I’m greeted by this really nice flight attendant at the aircraft door. I show her my boarding pass, and she points me toward the aisle. I make my way down, find my seat, stash my carry-on in the overhead bin, and finally settle into my seat. This is only my second time flying with Pakistan International Airlines, taking me back to London from New Delhi — the first leg of my journey was the flight to New Delhi. I’m one of the first passengers on board, so people are still trickling in. I lean back, take a deep breath, and feel a wave of relief wash over me. It’s going to be a long flight.
Out of nowhere, a flight steward comes up and asks if I’d like a drink. I’m surprised because I’m flying economy, and usually, they don’t offer drinks until we’re in the air. But before I could even answer, he gave me a choice — juice or water. I go with the juice, and he quickly brings me a glass of orange juice, sets it on my tray, and crouches down next to my seat to start a conversation.
He asks why I’m headed to London, so I tell him I’m studying Theology there. Then, he hits me with this unexpected question — whether I’m celibate. I laugh a bit and explain that I’m not, as I’m actually in a relationship. I mention that I love writing songs and poetry, and then he shares that he’s into writing too — specifically, short stories. He even tells me he’s published a collection of stories based on his experiences as a flight attendant. He offers to let me read it, and I gladly accept. I can’t remember the book’s title or his name, but it was a nice gesture from a memory that’s now 23 years old.
As the pilot announces that boarding is complete and the cabin crew prepares for takeoff, I notice the steward keeps smiling at me whenever he passes by. During dinner, he even asks if I’d like some extra drinks, which gets me wondering why I’m getting this special treatment. Maybe he just thinks I’m friendly or interesting, who knows?
After they serve dinner and clear the trays, the steward comes back and asks if I’d like to meet the crew. Most passengers are asleep, and the few who aren’t are glued to the in-flight entertainment. Since I’m wide awake, I figure, why not? He leads me to the back of the plane, where four female flight attendants are hanging out in the galley. He introduces me to these lovely ladies, and we chat for a bit. They offer me more drinks, and we have a light conversation. Then the steward pulls out a camera and snaps a few pictures of me with the flight attendants. It was both fascinating and awkward.
After a while, I start to feel tired, so I excuse myself and head back to my seat, where I eventually fall asleep. I wake up suddenly when the captain announces our descent, reminding everyone to fasten their seat belts and put their seats upright. The flight attendant brings me a snack and another drink. Then he starts asking about my plans in London — where I’m staying and how I’m getting there. I tell him I’m staying in Bromley, a suburb of London. He suggests I could stay with him at the Holiday Inn in Kensington. I hesitate, but in the end, I politely decline. But he doesn’t give up, suggesting we grab a drink, and he could drop me off later. At this point, I’m starting to feel uneasy. Why is he being so attentive? Why is he pushing me to hang out?
He suggested we meet at the baggage claim after he disembarked, so I reluctantly agreed. When the plane landed, I made my way there, hoping my luggage would show up quickly because I really didn’t want to see him again. I was only 22, and back then, I wasn’t great at saying no or being direct. My heart started racing when I saw the crew approaching in the hallway. I anxiously checked the baggage carousel, but my luggage wasn’t there yet. I paced, checking the belt, waiting nervously. Then I heard a familiar laughter. I glanced over — there he was, among the female flight attendants, pushing a trolley. Just then, I spotted my suitcase passing by. I grabbed it quickly, put it on the ground, and rushed out of there like my life depended on it.
Phew! I got away by the skin of my teeth.
Looking back, I’ve often wondered what might have happened. Maybe nothing at all. Maybe it was just my mind overthinking the situation, fueled by the advice to never get too friendly with strangers. But that gut feeling, the racing pulse, and the pounding heart — something just didn’t feel right. I’m sure you’ve had that gut feeling when things just don’t add up. That’s exactly what it was. I never saw him again, and I never flew with PIA again.
But something even crazier happened to me, and when I think about it now, still sends a shiver down my spine. Curious to know more? Well, I don’t have time to get into it today, but here’s a hint: I snuck into an enemy state without a visa.
Stay curious!
