Chapter 47: Air Supply

By the time we flew over the US border the pressurized air system was malfunctioning and our passengers who were napping, awoke irritable and nauseous. I panicked and woke Ali. He rubbed his eyes and peered at PSI gauge. We were at an unsafe level of 9.4 psi.

“Lukas, didn’t you notice we were losing air pressure?”

“No, sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry! Take this plane down to eight-thousand feet and hold steady while I call in an emergency landing at LAX.”

“What’s going on up there?” Said the large man in the passenger compartment.

“Nothing we can’t handle sir, but I must ask you to put on your oxygen mask. It’s going to be a little uncomfortable” Ali said.

“Oxygen?”

“Yes sir, please follow my request and you’ll be just fine.”

The large man peered at Eddie and growled.

“You told me; this pilot can be trusted. Pray to God we don’t crash Chavez!”

Eddie smiled at the large man sheepishly and uttered.

“Si Senor.”