Marla was another story. She was completely unconscious lying on the floor and had hit the edge of a credenza on her way back down. Blood was profusely pouring from her head.
The whole thing was over in less than four seconds before the aircraft stabilized and was again riding in smooth air. Without waiting to see if there was more turbulence in store, Dakota leapt across Suzanne to the floor to her sister. Her sister’s hand was flopping, clearly broken at the joint from the forearm – but was otherwise conscious. She desperately searched the rest of her body for injuries but other than a small abrasion on her head and the hand, she seemed ok, but kind of in shock.
Marla was another story. She was completely unconscious lying on the floor and had hit the edge of a credenza on her way back down. Blood was profusely pouring from her head. Suzanne had volunteered at a homeless shelter in Marin, working the infirmary there for two years. She wasn’t a nurse but had seen plenty of injuries. She knew enough to check Marla’s airway, her breathing, and her pulse frequently. Marla was breathing but it was shallow. Her pulse was rapid at first and as she watched her face, her lips began to get a blueish tinge. She was going into shock. She turned her onto her side and continued to watch her.
Blake had two broken fingers – but otherwise, the rest seemed ok.
Co-pilot, Lance Beal, opened the cockpit door and immediately shot back through the galley into the main cabin. He witnessed what he had feared and tried to assess the injuries. Marla was in the worst shape of course and would need to get to a hospital quickly. He and Suzanne lifted her gently and placed her on the divan immediately aft, opposite the four-top. They strapped her in but kept her on her side. He told the others to remain in their seats and stay belted.
He went forward to inform the Captain, Les Adderly. Adderly knew they had experienced a violent bout of clear-air turbulence (CAT), but was checking the aircraft’s flight surfaces and systems for damage. It appeared everything was ok and certainly the Gulfstream lV was designed to withstand even severe turbulence. But when First Officer Beal briefed him on the passengers, Adderly became far more concerned.
Adderly instructed Beal to identify the closest airport in a city supported with significant hospital facilities or emergency care. In less than a minute, Beal responded.
“Captain, it looks like Tucson is our best bet. Two major hospitals. 320 nm from our current position.”
Adderly was nervous. More than normal. He was the sort that was generally very cool, even in urgent situations.
“Ok, call ‘em and get us an emergency clearance ASAP” ordered the captain as he unstrapped. “Once you’ve got it, turn us onto course. The airplane is yours. I’m going back.”
Adderly scurried back to find Marla laid on the sofa, still unconscious. Suzanne had used towels from the galley and was applying pressure to her cranial wound. He knelt beside her and stroked her face. The girls all looked at each other. He whispered something into her ear and kissed her on the forehead.
“Let me know immediately if she comes to. We’re rerouting to Tucson. Everyone stay belted. It’s probably over but you never know. We’ll be on the ground in 25 minutes and get everyone that needs it to hospital. EMS will be standing by. What’s your name?”
“Suzanne.”
“Medical training?”
“Quasi”
“You look after her Suzanne, please!”
From the cockpit: Beal: “Tucson, this is 800 Delta Charlie. We need to declare an emergency.”
“Delta Charlie, this is Tucson ATC, state your emergency.”
“Experienced violent CAT over Bisbee at 46,000. Two injured passengers. One potentially serious, head wound, currently unconscious. Require immediate EMS services.”
“Copy Delta Charlie. Is your passenger stable at the moment?”
“So far vitals are stable. Can you clear us a path?”
“What’s your current position?”
“Approximately 240 miles south on heading zero-three-zero.”
“Copy, Delta Charlie. Stand by.”
Captain Adderly had returned to the flight deck and was strapping back in.
“Where are we?” he asked.
“Tucson is working to clear us a path.”
Delta Charlie, this is Tucson. What’s your ETA?”
“Approximately 23 minutes.”
“Ok Gulfstream, you’ve got an emergency approach on 29 Right. EMS standing by for University Medical, approximately 10 minutes ground.”
“Thank you, Tucson” Beal replied.
Back in the Cabin: Suzanne was careful to keep Marla on her side, keeping her airway open. Her pulse had now dropped low but not dangerously, she thought. It was her breathing Suzanne was worried about. It was inconsistent – sometimes several seconds or more between breathes. She was getting worried, and the situation was also getting above her skillsets. She sent Dakota forward to find a medical kit. She returned with Gulfstream’s standard issue kit. Suzanne rummaged through and found some smelling salts. Ammonia salts weren’t widely used anymore she told herself, but she also knew many sports docs still used them for players who had been knocked unconscious.
She desperately wanted council from a medical tech on ground but thought it would take too long, so she went for it. She broke the seal and gently passed it under Marla’s nose. She waited about 15 seconds between and on the third try, Marla’s head jerked backward and her eyelids briefly fluttered.
They were all gathered around her. A second or two later, her eyelids popped open completely, her eyes darting around the cabin. She simultaneously drew a deep breath.
“I brought sandwiches…where’s the sandwiches?” she uttered.
They all broke into laughter.
Suzanne rubbed her forehead with a cool facecloth. “Don’t worry sweetie…where you’re going, they have plenty of sandwiches…and green Jell-O.”
At 2:41pm, the G-lV touched down on 29R. First officer Beal turned the aircraft onto taxiway A where two EMS vehicles were standing by. As the aircraft taxied, Captain Adderly unbelted and scurried aft. He was met by Suzanne at the cockpit door. She had a big smile on her face.
“She’s asking for you.”
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6:30 pm – same day. University Medical Hospital
Blake and Ros were both treated and released the same afternoon – but all remained in the waiting room until the doc finally gave them the word on Marla. When they finally got to see her, she was sitting up trying to work her way through a stale omelet but otherwise seemed in good spirits.
“Fucked up your Mexican holiday pretty good, didn’t I?” She quipped “and where’s the green Jell-O you promised?”
“Blew the Captain, huh?” asked Dakota with a sarcastic grin.
“Well, it wasn’t a lie.”
“How long?”
“A year, three months and…” Capt. Adderly looked at his watch, “six days.”
“Married, I take it?” asked Suzanne.
“Let’s don’t get ahead of ourselves” Marla replied. They all laughed looking in Adderly’s direction. He rolled his eyes with a grin.
After hanging out for an hour or more, the foursome said their goodbyes – just in time to get to the hotel for five-o-clock cocktails if they hurried. Dakota’s manager had booked them into the Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch. According to her, it was the closest thing to Mexico without a beach – replete with Saguaro cacti and Mariachis. Sure enough, by sunset, the foursome had managed two rounds of margaritas and a platter full of cabrito flautas.
As they were headed to their rooms, First Officer Beal called Dakota’s cell. He said the aircraft had been thoroughly checked over, refueled and that they could be ready to resume the journey in the morning whenever they wanted.
“What about Marla?” She asked.
“Oh, well I mean, she’s good I think but she can’t make the trip of course. Ground services has another flight attendant for you.”
“When can she make the trip?”
“You mean Marla?”
“Yea, Marla.”
“Well, I mean I guess I would need to check with the Captain and see.”
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“Ok, well call us back and tell ground services we already have a flight attendant. We’ll go when Marla goes.”
“Ahhh…” he hadn’t expected her response. “Ok then, I’ll ah…I’ll let the Captain know.
At 3:00 pm the next afternoon, Marla was released from hospital but was told to take it easy for the next several days. But 24 hours later, Marla had had her fill of convalescing. She was ready to get back on the horse. Adderly informed Ms. Prescott but was reluctant to let Marla continue on. He cautioned that if she did make the trip, her duties would need to be curtailed and only as she felt comfortable.
But go they did, the full original crew. Two mornings later First officer Beal left ahead to prepare the aircraft. In the meantime, Dakota hired a car to collect Adderly and his busted-up girlfriend and bring them to the airport.
At 4:15, its cabin sanitized of blood, the Gulfstream lV once again went wheels up and was turning out southeast across the Sonoran Desert toward the Yucatan.
Although still technically the charter’s flight attendant of record, this time Marla rode with the rest in the main cabin – Dakota’s strict instruction - and was summarily relieved of all duties. Still shellshocked from the violent turbulence, the five remained belted for the first full hour of the flight. But eventually, Dakota and Suzanne (the two non-casualties) bravely unbuckled and went forward to the galley, closing the curtain behind them. A few minutes later, they reemerged delivering brilliantly-choreographed monologue of two seasoned flight attendants – replete with window exits, safety procedures and the entire bit. Unable to locate an oxygen mask, the pair improvised - dangling a wad of their own panties above their heads. With precision, each allowed them to simultaneously drop at the appropriate moment.
“Place the oxygen masks firmly around your face and mouth” Dakota recited, with the stoic face of a veteran attendant.
It brought screams of laughter from Marla, Blake and Rosalyn.
Marla held her bandaged head, begging them to stop.
The remainder of the flight, Dakota and Suzanne played the part of dual flight attendants, seeing to the needs of the cabin – mostly a ceaseless flow of Champaigne. It was both efficient and hilarious as the pair delivered one bottle after the next, followed by a tray of fajitas and guacamole from the resort. The five re-bonded as if still back at NYU, Marla ceremoniously adopted as one of their honorary classmates.
The following four days in Playa was more than any of “the girls” could have imagined. The irony of course, as with much of life, is that misfortune often reveals the best in people and grandest of silver linings.
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In the years since, Dakota, Blake and Suzanne have made the trip to Mexico an annual thing – and certainly Ros and Marla are always invited. Because Marla and Dakota both reside in LA, the pair regularly meet for coffee or lunch and have become close friends.
In the fall of 2021, Capt. Les Adderly and Marla Kingsman were married. They still operate as a husband / wife crew on charters for Clay Lacey, in Van Nuys.
As of current, Dakota Prescott has not yet managed a fourth Grammy, but continues to make records and performs across the country to sell-out audiences.
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Cabin Confidential is be a periodic feature of JCF Magazine. All Cabin Confidential stories are based on actual recounted events from real flights by the pilots and/or flight attendants that crewed them.
In almost all cases, the true identity of the actual people involved are kept anonymous. Similarly certain details and venues are fictionalized in order to protect the privacy and careers of the parties involved
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