Final Flight

Six months ago I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Inoperable is all I heard at the time.

Second and third opinions, the same. Nothing they could do for me.

They gave me six months to live and told me to prepare. I was on my way out of this world and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

So once I processed this news I made a bucket list. On this list was everything I wanted to do and see within the six months they’d given me.

And now here we are, six months later and I’d done everything on my bucket list except one.

I’d seen Ayer’s Rock up close — unfortunately I was too weak to climb it — I’d travelled up the centre of Australia by train, caught a ferry over to Tasmania, visited Parliament House in Canberra, rafted the Tully River, took a helicopter ride over Kakadu and lastly, I had skimmed the tree tops on a flying fox in The Daintree Rainforest.

There was only one thing left on my bucket list and for that I needed to board an airplane.

Today was the day I’d place that final tick on my bucket list. I’m at peace with the world as I was assisted up the stairs and into seat A in row six.

Where am I heading? Destination unknown.

This wasn’t about where the plane would land. No, this was just a necessity to board the plane to complete my final task, that one last outstanding item on my list. My final flight I guess you could call it.

I leaned back in my seat as we began to taxi down the runway, thrilled by the G-force as we picked up speed. Now that’s what I’m talking about as I smiled and watched the earth grow smaller and smaller beneath us.

Once we’d gained cruising altitude the Captain turned off the seatbelt sign and that was my cue.

I leaned down to pull my iPad from my carry on luggage and turned it on. My fingers began flying over the keys and suddenly I had a great view of the plane’s cockpit and watched the pilot and copilot in conversation. Weren’t these two in for the surprise of their life.

I had successfully hacked into the camera that is housed at the back of the cockpit and could not only see the two gentlemen in their seats but I could hear every word they were saying.

The pilot asked the copilot to check that the autopilot had been successfully set. I heard the copilot answer in the affirmative as again my fingers flew across the keys on my iPad.

Ah, success! I’d been practicing all my life for this very moment.

I smiled as I took control of the plane. I’d hacked into the highly secure system and taken control. I am now the autopilot if you’d like. However, this is now an autopilot that cannot be turned off.

The plane was now mine and I let out a quiet manic giggle as I used my iPad to bring the plane’s nose up a fraction and allowed the plane to climb higher.

I could see and hear the panic of the pilots as they tried to work out what was happening. Frantically they attempted to take the plane off autopilot. I heard them cursing under their breath in confusion and I smiled at the picture I could see on the screen.

Two very experienced pilots baffled and terrified now they could no longer control the plane.

Higher I pushed the plane’s nose until we were beginning to loop through the air.

By now my fellow passengers were screaming in terror and the air hostesses had to find the closest empty seats and buckle themselves in.

As we finished the large loop through the air, I turned the plane to the left and completed a large circle.

Oh, this is more fun than even I anticipated. It’s like a remote control toy but better as I held the lives of over 100 people in my hands.

I giggled in glee.

I watched the pilots as they radioed into the nearest airfield asking for help and permission to complete an emergency landing. There’s no way I was going to give them back access so they could land this plane.

My fingers flew over the iPad screen once again and I hacked into the cockpit’s intercom system. It’s time to let the pilots know of their fate.

“Good morning Captain, this is the passenger seated in row six, seat A. As you have discovered I am in control of this plane and there is nothing you can do that’ll see me relinquish that control,” I explained.

“Why, what do you want? Is this a hostage situation? Is this about money?” The Captain asked in a panic.

“No sir, that’s not what this is about. I’m sorry but this was always intended to be my final flight. You see I was diagnosed six months ago with terminal cancer and given six months to live. That six months is now up and I have chosen to leave this earth via this flight,” I informed the two pilots.

The look of horror on their faces was priceless.

Looking away from the camera view, I used my iPad to once more manoeuvre the plane. This time I put the plane into a full nose dive.

The passengers in the rows around me screamed louder.

The Captain was pleading with me not to do this. Telling me it wasn’t too late to do the right thing.

I looked out of the porthole window next to me and watched the ground rushing up to meet us, or so it felt anyway.

Closer and closer I watched the ground growing until it filled my window. Close enough I could see the red dirt.

I’d blocked out the screams of terror by then and turned for a final look at the camera showing the cockpit. The two pilots were frantically pressing buttons, trying to gain control, while relaying to ground control what was taking place on this plane.

I looked at how close the ground was through the window, knowing it was all too late. Too late to change my mind, too late to save anyone.

I smiled and quietly whispered over the pilots intercom, “Goodbye World,” just as the plane nose dived into the Australian desert and burst into flames.

My final flight was over and my bucket list was complete.

Please click the link below my name to read more of my work. I would also like to thank you for taking the time to read this today and for all your support.

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Please visit my website if you'd like more information on my newly published book, Battle Angel : The Ultimate She Warrior.

Originally published on Medium