The real life of an American police officer: Winning over others with virtue

Chapter 179 State of Emergency!
Without Eric's help, the situation would have been quite tricky, because he was alone and couldn't guarantee that he could take control before the suspect started taking hostages.

However, now is not the time to relax, because there are still suspicious targets that have not been checked.

That is, the remaining three destinations in economy class.

Bill quickly glanced around the business class, checking the expressions of all the passengers, and simultaneously confirming that there was a real threat to the plane.

He maintained a gun-wielding posture openly, glancing at business class but focusing most of his attention on economy class. The muzzle of his gun was lowered but ready to be raised at any moment to point in the direction of a threat, and his voice was loud and unquestionable:

"Everyone stay where you are! Hands on the back of your front seats! Immediately! Don't move! Don't whisper!"

His focus was on the suspects on the other lists, especially the two women and one man remaining in economy class, and the business class passengers who might get up due to the disturbance.

Looking at the confused or bewildered expressions of the remaining suspicious targets, Bill felt that they were unlikely to be suspects.

He glanced back at Eric.

Eric had already begun searching Kelvin, quickly patting the outside pockets of his jacket and the chest and abdomen area, taking out whatever he found, but they were all documents and cell phones.

But when Eric reached below the belt buckle on Kelvin's lower back, he felt his fingertips become unusually stiff and angular. He frowned slightly, a sudden sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

"Damn it! No way?"

Eric carefully pulled open the jacket and took out a flat plastic box wrapped with black electrical tape.

Upon seeing the little creature, Eric glanced at the unconscious Kelvin and sighed inwardly, thinking, "Damn it, whatever comes to mind comes to pass."

This isn't a bomb timer, a necessary tool for hijacking; he's eating shit.

Just as Eric had anticipated, he deliberately lowered his body to avoid the passengers' gaze as much as possible. Inside, there was a separate electronic timer with a small LCD screen and simple circuitry.

The display screen is flashing red: [00:30:45] and the number is still jumping around.

The next second is [00:30:44]
“Bill!” Eric called out, without revealing the truth about the thing, lest he cause unnecessary trouble and panic among the passengers.

Upon hearing this, Bill's expression immediately turned serious, because he sensed the gravity in the voice. He glanced at the economy class section and strode over.

Eric showed the device to Bill and said in a deep voice that only the two of them could hear:
"There's only a timer! The bomb isn't here! This is a trigger device; the bomb must be somewhere else."

Eric had no doubt about the nature of this thing; what else could it be but a bomb?
Bill's expression also turned ugly. Seeing some passengers starting to stir, he shouted:

"Due to the discovery of extremely dangerous items, all passengers must cooperate unconditionally! Remain silent! Stay seated! Do not make any noise! ​​Do not move! Repeat, do not move! Otherwise you will be treated as an accomplice!"

This statement effectively quelled some of the unrest.

Bill looked at the countdown timer, nodded to Eric, and shouted:
"Nancy!"

Nancy, who was already in economy class, hurried over. Seeing Bill's grim face, her heart sank a little, even though she had initially thought the thugs were under control.

Bill said to Nancy in a deep voice, "Quickly! Contact the captain! Highest emergency code! Active IED confirmed, with countdown! Time [00:30:39]! Request immediate execution of the highest level bomb threat response procedure! Request technical support!"

Upon hearing this, Nancy hurriedly left, gave her flight attendant a wink, and headed straight for the nearest internal phone to report the situation to the cockpit. (Cockpit)

Upon receiving this information, Captain Keo and First Officer Ivan, though their expressions were grim, activated the highest-level emergency plan, sending the highest-priority emergency code Squawk 7700 to air traffic control (ATC).

This is a globally recognized emergency radio transponder code that will immediately trigger the highest level of visual and audible alarms on air traffic control radar screens.

So at the same time.

On a high tower, the air traffic controller, who was already on full alert because of Bill, shouted loudly.

"In an emergency, Delta Air Lines UA567 sent the highest priority emergency code Squawk 7700."

Behind him, the expressions of some Homeland Security agents, including Philip Marennik, who had just arrived, and some FBI agents who arrived later, became quite interesting.

He cursed inwardly, especially at Agent Philip, who was still questioning Bill.

The group immediately surrounded the air traffic controller who was making the report, staring intently at the screen above.

On the radar screen above, the radar identifier for Delta Air Lines flight UA567 has turned a bright red, accompanied by a piercing special alarm sound, and the code 7700 is displayed.

At that moment, a voice came from the loudspeaker: "SOS! SOS! SOS! Delta Air Lines UA567, bomb on board! Activated improvised explosive device with timer! Location: 80 km north of Pennsylvania, altitude: 33000 feet, estimated next navigation point: Philadelphia, heading: 270."

Requesting guidance to the nearest alternate airport with bomb disposal capabilities. Approximately 30 minutes remaining. Emergency!

The air traffic controller, being experienced, immediately reported: "Distress call received! Declaring an emergency. There is an active bomb with a timer on board, approximately thirty minutes remaining! Radar has identified 7700. Please maintain your current heading and altitude. We are coordinating with airspace and airports! Please wait!"

While he was reporting the highest level of emergency to his superiors, traffic management, and the local military through the internal communication system.

-

The same process was happening in business class. Now that it was confirmed to be an independent device, all that remained was to find the bomb.

The passengers on Kelvin's side have been moved to the front and are now being handled by Nancy and the other flight attendants.

Eric looked at Bill, who was waking Kelvin up by grabbing his hair and pulling his head up, and pursed his lips.

He chose to delegate all the operations to Bill, only taking on an assisting role, because Bill, as an air marshal, had far more experience in this area than he did.

"Where's the bomb? Tell me! Or you'll die too!" Bill whispered.

However, when he woke up, Kelvin, whose hands and feet were bound tightly to his seat, only showed a twisted smile that was a mixture of pain and a hint of mad mockery.

Clearly, this guy is either stubborn or completely uncommunicative.

Bill immediately decided to give up; rather than waste time on such a hopeless guy, he'd rather actively look for someone else.

He directly sought help from the bewildered passengers, shouting, "As a Federal Air Marshal, I request everyone to cooperate with my instructions!! Look up at the overhead luggage racks and nearby!"
The voice boomed like thunder, drowning out the sound of the plane's engines: "If you find a bag that doesn't belong to you or discover anything unusual, report it immediately! Packages, unclaimed luggage, strange devices, ticking sounds, wires! Quick! Don't touch anything! Just look!"

(End of this chapter)