Just Plane Murder

By Eric Kendall

After two fatal airplane accidents, investigators find that a flight control system change made by the plane’s manufacturer and concealed from the Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), caused both accidents.
Members of the powerful elite may have conspired to procure FAA airworthiness approval of the unsafe plane that killed more than three hundred people, but they are not investigated by the Department of Justice.
A vigilante trial, arranged by those seeking retribution, brings them to account.
This fictional account is linked to fact via the air disasters that actually occurred at the same geographical locations.
First-hand knowledge of activities that can occur in a plane maker’s workplace guides the fictional development of the story. A related episode of the television series ‘Air Disasters’ entitled ‘Grounded’ provides a lively adjunct to this book and creates food for thought about the degree of transparency being provided by news media.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781543497984

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 by Eric Kendall.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/10/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

833579

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Fajar and Katrika

Chapter 2 Life Goes On

Chapter 3 David Baxter

Chapter 4 Room 14

Chapter 5 Frank Scala

Chapter 6 Akwasi and Akosua

Chapter 7 The Mysterious Two-Day Delay

Chapter 8 A Time to Lie

Chapter 9 Ron Gale

Chapter 10 The Gathering Storm

Chapter 11 A Vigilante Trial

Chapter 12 Lessons to be Remembered

The outrage that comes from adopting the perspective of a victim can drive an appetite for retribution.

-Paul Bloom

To all who work to improve air transportation safety.

Chapter 1

FAJAR AND KATRIKA

Death cannot sever the bond of love.

-Anon

Fajar sat at the outside bar on the sixty-ninth floor of the Westin Hotel. He had made good time in traffic and was early for his dinner date with Katrika.

Looking out over the city of Jakarta, he could see Pertamina University where they had met three years ago. Both studied medicine. Katrika had just now graduated, and he had completed his internship and was now qualified to begin practice as an MD.

They were in love and planned to marry. Their culture required that he must meet her parents before the marriage could be approved. They would leave tomorrow to travel to her parent’s home further up the Indonesian archipelago.

He relaxed by fondling his glass and letting his mind drift toward thoughts of their most intimate moments. He sipped slowly as if kissing her neck. Then he threw his head back to enjoy the last drop, recalling the release they both felt as the harmonious rhythm, shared by their naked bodies, reached its climax.

He was startled by a touch on his shoulder as Katrika announced her arrival. Five hundred rupiah for your thoughts, she offered with a smile. Fajar declined, kissed her cheek, and led her to the restaurant one floor below.

Over a light meal of sushi with kosha drinks, they discussed their upcoming visit to Katrika’s home. They would fly to the island of Bangka where her parents and other close family members would be waiting eagerly to meet Fajar. They knew from Katrika’s letters how much she loved him.

As Fajar and Katrika ate, they rehearsed once more how they would try to hide all signs that they had already tasted the forbidden fruit. Her parents would be shamed to know that their daughter had been spoiled before marriage. Fajar would not balk at being shown to a separate bedroom and Katrika would give no hint of disappointment at sleeping alone in her own room. Throughout the week they would behave as her parents would expect them to.

After dinner they went together to Fajar’s apartment to feed other appetites, hopefully sufficient to outlast the pending abstention. Fajar set the alarm and they slept peacefully together.

Early next morning, they were strapped in their seats, gathering speed along the runway towards lift-off. Katrika had made the trip several times. This time she was happy to be bringing Fajar with her. Leg room on the plane seemed