Legendary Captain

Chapter 332 Air Rescue (Part Two)

In the front cabin crew lounge, the purser and flight attendant number four are preparing the first-class meal. Normally, this task should be done by flight attendant number three, because according to the normal work assignment, flight attendant number three is the first-class flight attendant, while flight attendant number four is usually the economy class flight attendant.

However, since Flight Attendant Number 3 has already gone to call Yue Xinzhao, Flight Attendant Number 4 will have to come over to help prepare the meals. After Flight Attendant Number 3 calls Yue Xinzhao over, she can take over the task of distributing the meals.

Since it was breakfast, even the first-class meal wasn't particularly lavish. It consisted of a few slices of smoked meat, a fruit platter, bread, milk, and eggs. Of course, this was much better than the meals in economy class.

Compared to Chimelong Airlines' first-class service, Star Airlines' first-class service is probably only at the level of Chimelong Airlines' business class, which is rather meager.

There were only three people in first class this time, so preparing the meals wasn't too troublesome.

The meals for three people were prepared quickly. Flight attendant number four glanced at the economy class area and noticed that flight attendant number three was still there and hadn't returned. She then asked the head flight attendant, "Sister, should we wait a while? Flight attendant number three hasn't come back yet."

The flight attendant frowned slightly. This person on flight number three has been trying to call someone for so long and still hasn't been able to get it done. What does that mean?

She lightly touched the glass of milk with her knuckles, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Can you handle first class?"

"First class? Let me take it? No problem!" Flight attendant number four was very responsible. Even though she was an economy class flight attendant, she had helped out in first class many times before, so she was confident in taking on the task. Moreover, there were no important people in first class this time, so she didn't feel as much pressure.

"Alright! You can serve the meal!" The flight attendant nodded. The meal, which had just been heated up, would get cold if left unattended, and if it was heated up later, the meal service would be missed. The people in first class were all very shrewd; whether the meal got cold or the meal service was missed, they would complain about it, and some would even file a formal complaint.

Don't think this is making a mountain out of a molehill. Some people fly a lot and know exactly when each airline serves meals and what the menu looks like. A flight attendant even remembers an incident where a catering chef made a mistake and missed a bread serving in first class. As a result, a first-class passenger immediately called over a flight attendant to question why there was no bread, as he remembered it was on the menu.

If the food gets cold or the mealtime is missed, the flight attendant really doesn't know if any of the three first-class passengers will complain about it.

"Don't worry, sis, everything's fine!" Flight attendant number four was full of confidence, took on the task of delivering meals, and pushed the food cart out.

As flight attendant number four went out to deliver meals, the purser glanced at the economy class seats again. Flight attendant number three was still in economy class, and muttered, "What are they doing?"

However, although she didn't understand why the third flight attendant was so slow, the chief flight attendant didn't urge her. Anyway, there were only three people in first class this time, so it wouldn't be too difficult to handle. She believed that the fourth flight attendant should have no problem.

Flight attendant number four was quick and returned in no time, though she looked hesitant when she came back.

Seeing the expression on flight attendant number four's face, the chief flight attendant's heart skipped a beat: "What's wrong?"

Flight attendant number four entered the cabin, drew the curtain, and asked in a low voice, "Nothing seems to be wrong, but ma'am, we have nitroglycerin, right?"

"Nitroglycerin?" The flight attendant's pupils contracted, and she asked urgently, "Is someone experiencing heart problems?"

Nitroglycerin is a heart emergency medication that has been used for a long time. It's included in emergency medications on airplanes and may be used in case of a heart emergency.

At this moment, flight attendant number four suddenly mentioned nitroglycerin, and the flight attendant's stress response was whether someone had a heart problem.

"No, no!" Flight attendant No. 4 quickly explained when she saw that the purser had misunderstood, "Nothing happened, a first-class passenger asked me for nitroglycerin tablets."

"Do you need nitroglycerin tablets? Is he feeling unwell somewhere?" the flight attendant asked.

"He said that he usually needs to take a nitroglycerin tablet when he flies, otherwise he feels uncomfortable."

"What does it mean if I'm not feeling well?" The flight attendant was quite troubled, guessing that she had encountered some rather eccentric passenger again.

"It's just... shortness of breath, chest tightness, and things like that." Flight attendant number four added, "He said all of that himself. But when he spoke to me, his demeanor was perfectly normal, and his complexion didn't seem unusual at all."

"Some people have bad habits. Really." Nitroglycerin has a vasodilating effect, so it should theoretically be effective for shortness of breath and chest tightness. However, according to the fourth flight attendant's description, this passenger clearly did not have any emergency cardiac needs. He asked for nitroglycerin tablets simply to relieve his shortness of breath and chest tightness.

When flying, due to changes in air pressure, some people may experience shortness of breath or chest tightness, depending on individual differences. However, unless it's severe, this usually doesn't require treatment. These discomforts will disappear once the plane lands and the air pressure returns to normal.

The flight attendant had no idea why this passenger would think of using nitroglycerin to relieve discomfort during the flight. Yes, nitroglycerin tablets do have this effect, but nitroglycerin is an emergency medication and has certain side effects. How could one use nitroglycerin simply because of some discomfort?

Even if this passenger dares to ask for it, they wouldn't dare to give it to them!

The world is full of wonders, and I actually encountered one today.

"Sis, what should we do?" Flight attendant number four is most annoyed by these kinds of bizarre requests. If you don't meet his demands, he might complain, which is really troublesome.

The flight attendant firmly stated, "The nitroglycerin is definitely not for him. If something goes wrong with that stuff, none of us can afford the consequences. I'll go explain it to him. If he listens, great; if not, and complains, I'll go back and explain to the cabin crew."

Star Travel takes passenger complaints quite seriously, especially those from first-class passengers. The cabin crew often consults with the flight attendants on duty to understand the situation.

"Hmm!" Flight attendant number four also felt it was safer not to give nitroglycerin. If the passenger wanted to complain, there was nothing that could be done; they couldn't just let the passenger make unreasonable demands.

Thinking of this, flight attendant number four complained, "He must have been provided with nitroglycerin by other airlines, otherwise he wouldn't have asked me for it so directly."

It's normal for airplanes to have some commonly used first-aid medications on board, but many ordinary passengers probably don't know that nitroglycerin is available on airplanes, let alone ask the flight attendants for it.

The passenger's demeanor clearly indicated this wasn't the first time he'd done this. This suggests he must have asked the flight attendants for nitroglycerin during his flight, and they must have given it to him. Otherwise, if all the flight attendants had refused his request, he should have realized it was a dead end and stopped asking. He would only continue to ask if he had a previous successful experience.

"Never mind, we can't control other companies." The flight attendant straightened her clothes slightly and asked, "What's the seat number?"

"Oh yes." Flight attendant number four was just about to tell the passenger his/her seat number when he/she was suddenly interrupted by a cracking sound. Judging from the source of the sound, it seemed to be coming from the first class area.

The purser's expression changed, and without waiting for the seat number, she lifted the curtain and rushed to the first-class area, with flight attendant number four following closely behind.

The first-class area of ​​the 737 is not large, with only eight seats in total. You can get a quick overview of the entire area as soon as you enter.

The flight attendant immediately noticed a passenger slumped in his seat on the left side of the first row, clutching his chest, his face contorted in pain, and his complexion turning blue and purple.

At its feet, shards of a plate were scattered all over the ground, and a lot of food had also fallen over.

"What happened?" The flight attendant was terrified and quickly went to ask the passenger, "Sir, are you feeling unwell? Sir!"

No matter how the flight attendant shouted, the man couldn't utter a single word. He just clutched his chest in pain, and before long, his lips had already started to turn purple and black.

The flight attendant, being a non-medical professional, had no idea how to handle the situation. She glanced at the seats to her right, but there were no passengers sitting there.

There were three first-class passengers: one in the first row, the one now in a very dangerous situation, and two in the second row. The two behind them also craned their necks to look over when they heard the commotion, seemingly unaware of what had happened.

"Are you working with this gentleman?" the flight attendant asked anxiously.

The two passengers behind him both shook their heads.

If the seating arrangement had been changed, and there was someone else in the first row, they might have been able to witness the person's episode and use that as a reference to figure out the specific cause. But now, the two people in first class are in the back, their view is blocked, and no one knows why this person is acting this way. They can only determine the cause based on the symptoms they are currently exhibiting and then take emergency measures.

However, most people who are not professionals cannot tell what happened from the appearance. If the judgment is wrong, the first aid measures will definitely be wrong as well. In that case, if the patient cannot be saved, wouldn't we have to bear the responsibility?

Why do commercial airliners refuse to carry or restrict the transport of people with pre-existing health conditions? It's because flight crews are not actual medical personnel and can play a limited role in actual rescue efforts.

In many real-life cases where flight attendants successfully resuscitate passengers, it's because the passengers had informed them of their condition beforehand, were still somewhat conscious when the illness occurred, or had a companion familiar with the patient's situation, making it easier to determine the cause. If the situation also happened to fall within the scope of basic first-aid training received by the flight attendants, then there is still a possibility of success.

But now this passenger can't speak, has no companion, and didn't inform the flight attendant of his situation beforehand. The flight attendant is completely in the dark. What is the flight attendant supposed to do?

Suddenly, the passenger grabbed his own neck with one hand, writhing in agony, his mouth open but unable to utter a sound.

Meanwhile, the fourth flight attendant who had followed also came over and immediately saw the passenger's horrific condition. Caught off guard, she let out a scream.

The scream was heard by the third flight attendant who was still in economy class.

Flight attendant number three immediately decided not to argue with the middle-aged man next to Yue Xinzhao any longer, and instead instructed Yue Xinzhao, "Mr. Yue, please sit down first, I'll go check on him!"

Judging from the noise, something must have happened in the first-class cabin ahead, so it's not a good time for Yue Xin to go over there.

"Hmm!" Yue Xinzhao guessed that something must have happened in first class, and he really shouldn't go there now. He decided to postpone the upgrade.

After speaking with Yue Xinzhao, Flight Attendant No. 3 couldn't wait any longer and immediately strode forward.

At this moment, there was still a curtain separating first class and economy class. Yue Xinzhao turned his head to try to see what was happening in first class, but he couldn't see anything because of the curtain.

However, the moment the third flight attendant lifted the curtain and went in, Yue Xinzhao briefly saw a passenger-looking person slumped over the armrest in the first-class corridor through the corner of the curtain, who looked like he had a real problem.

"Someone... is in trouble?" Due to the obstructed view, Yue Xinzhao could only see the person's drooping head; he couldn't see anything else.

In first class, the third flight attendant was also stunned by the scene when she entered.

"This...this..." Flight attendant number three never expected that she would return in this state after going out to economy class.

Just then, flight attendant number four immediately said, "Sister, this is the person who asked me for nitroglycerin earlier."

"Him?" The flight attendant's mind was in turmoil. First aid was something that couldn't be done carelessly; it could easily harm someone instead of saving them. "Could he actually have a heart problem?"

Many cardiomyopathies can lead to insufficient blood supply, causing severe chest tightness and shortness of breath, and even cyanosis. However, this person's condition doesn't entirely resemble insufficient blood supply to the heart; it's more like suffocation.

However, why did they suffocate? None of the flight attendants could answer that question.

They are most afraid of encountering this situation, an emergency they completely cannot understand. They simply have no idea what to do.

"Should we give him nitroglycerin?" Flight attendant number four was also in a panic. The only information they had was that this passenger had asked for nitroglycerin before. What if he really had a heart problem?

The flight attendant licked her lips: "Number Three, go and explain the situation to the cockpit. Number Four, go and get the nitroglycerin."

They have absolutely no clue what to do, so they can only try anything as a last resort.

"Okay!" Flight attendants number three and four immediately took the instructions and went to carry out their tasks, leaving only the chief flight attendant anxiously. Now, the passenger was clutching his own neck with both hands, his face filled with terror, as if something was stuck in his throat.

At first, the passenger was clutching his chest, which resembled a heart problem. This behavior was very deceptive. However, as time went on, the passenger began choking himself, with a look of deep terror on his face, which really resembled suffocation, as if something was stuck in his throat.

If something is stuck in the throat, then everything makes sense. If a foreign object is stuck in the esophagus, not only will there be signs of suffocation, but the person will also be unable to speak, which perfectly matches the situation described here.

"Sir, sir! Is something stuck in your esophagus?" the flight attendant asked hurriedly. Even if the man couldn't speak, his hearing should still be working, right? The flight attendant immediately added, "Sir, if you can't speak, just nod or shake your head."

As if he had found a savior, the passenger nodded hurriedly, as if he had grasped at the last straw.

"Wow!" The flight attendant's casual question actually got the answer. But then another problem arose: what to do if something is stuck in someone's throat?

The flight attendant could only rely on her experience to try and pat the passenger's back to straighten his food. However, this method was completely ineffective.

Just as the flight attendant was sweating profusely with anxiety, she saw that the passenger's struggles were becoming weaker and weaker, and if this continued, death would be almost inevitable.

In an extremely urgent situation like suffocation, there is simply no extra time to react.

But what should they do? Their emergency training didn't cover how to handle a choking situation.

Just then, a deep voice came from behind the flight attendant: "Patting his back like that won't do any good."

The flight attendant's expression changed drastically. She turned around and saw a young man who looked to be in his early twenties standing behind her. The young man had fair skin, delicate features, and an air of scholarly refinement, but his gaze remained fixed on the passenger who was already somewhat weak.

"Is it stuck in your esophagus?" Yue Xinzhao asked hesitantly.

This man was Yue Xinzhao, who had come out of curiosity. He had just noticed through the curtain lifted by flight attendant number three that someone in first class seemed to be unwell, so he came over to check on the situation.

As he expected, the situation in first class was really not good.

"Sir, we are facing an emergency. Please return to your seat." The flight attendant said, giving the security officer in the first row of economy class a look. If this uninvited guest refused to cooperate, she wouldn't hesitate to take some forceful measures. In this emergency, it was necessary to take some tough measures.

"If I go back to my seat, the person below will die in less than five minutes. And judging from his condition, he probably didn't just suffocate; it could be less than five minutes." Yue Xinzhao said seriously, "Do you know the Heimlich method? If so, I can go back."

The flight attendant was momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered: "You're a doctor?"

"Yes, Yunnan First People's Hospital, Yue Xinzhao." Yue Xinzhao glanced around and, finding the corridor fairly spacious, waved to the flight attendant: "If you don't mind, could you make some room for me?"

"Yue Xinzhao? You're Yue Shanshan's brother?" The flight attendant immediately recognized Yue Xinzhao; she had heard Yue Shanshan mention him before. To be precise, very few people in the cabin crew were unaware of Yue Xinzhao's name. After all, Yue Shanshan was always proud of him and would tell everyone about him. The flight attendant remembered Yue Shanshan saying that her brother was a doctor at the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province. If that were true, it would undoubtedly be life-saving good news.

"Hmm!" Yue Xin responded, pulling his sleeves up slightly. "If you think it's alright, is it possible?"

"Oh, okay!" The flight attendant immediately made way, and Yue Xinzhao took his place. He went to the man, about to pick him up, when he suddenly remembered something and whispered to him, "Sir, could you still stand?"

The man was already somewhat delirious, but he still managed to nod with difficulty.

"Alright, I'll help you to the corridor in a bit, and you can stand still." With that, Yue Xinzhao carried the person to the corridor. Despite his appearance as a frail scholar, Yue Xinzhao's arms were quite strong, and he carried an adult without any hesitation.

In the first-class corridor, Yue Xinzhao adjusted his position, embracing the passenger from behind with his arms wrapped around the passenger's abdomen. At this moment, Yue Xinzhao bent his left leg forward and braced his back leg, placing the passenger on his thighs, causing the passenger's upper body to lean slightly forward. Simultaneously, he clenched his left fist, gripped his left wrist tightly with his right hand, and placed the base of his left fist against the center of the upper abdomen below the patient's chest and above the navel. Then, he suddenly tightened his arms, forcefully pressing the base of his left fist into the upper and inward abdomen of the patient, forcing the upper abdomen to sink in.

In this way, the diaphragm rises and compresses the lungs and bronchi, and a certain amount of air is forced out of the esophagus, directly pushing out the object stuck in the esophagus.

Often, this method doesn't work on the first try and requires multiple attempts. However, this passenger didn't seem to be stuck too deeply, and it was resolved on the first try.

With a sudden fit of coughing, the passenger vomited up most of a yellow, viscous, unidentified substance. Upon closer inspection, the flight attendant realized it appeared to be an egg yolk.

Egg yolks are easy to get stuck in your throat if you eat them too quickly. You can't swallow them down or spit them out, which is quite dangerous.

Once the yolk blocking his esophagus was expelled, the passenger, like a drowning person surfacing from the water, greedily inhaled the hard-won air.

After catching his breath, the passenger, supporting himself on the armrest, turned to look at Yue Xinzhao beside him and asked, "Did you save me?"

At this moment, in an airspace not far from Star Travel 6333, a military transport plane opened its rear cabin. Inside, Xu Xian, Zhao Yanyue, and the Luohang air force's airborne tactics instructor were explaining the precautions for parachuting to Xu Xian.

"As I said before, the blue one on the left is the main parachute, and the red one on the right is the reserve parachute. You have a locator, so no matter where you drift, don't worry, we can find you. Also, there's a signal smoke in the storage bag on this side of yours, in case the locator is damaged." The instructor gave Xu Xian a final reminder before the jump.

"I'm saying it again, can you please not do this kind of surprise attack? I just finished eating, and you guys dragged me here for parachute training?" Xu Xian couldn't help but recall that he had been eating with Ye Qing and Wang Qi in the cafeteria when he received the last-minute parachute training notice. Because there were no transport planes at the Luohang fleet base, they had to rely on the 3rd Division's military transport planes. The main reason for flying so far was to give Xu Xian a long-distance ferry flight training exercise. The parachute training was just a side project!

Their destination this time was Huining Airport in Northeast China. This airport is located in the northeast of the country, while Chengdu is in the southwest of the country, which is exactly on a diagonal line, making the distance long enough.

Near Huining Airport, there is a dedicated airborne training area, which was a good opportunity for Xu Xian to practice his parachuting. Unlike civilian airliners who are not equipped with parachutes, fighter jets do have the practice of parachuting, so appropriate parachuting training is necessary.

The airborne tactics instructor chuckled: "What, can't we fight after you've eaten from now on? You need to digest properly, right?"

Xu Xian could tell that the airborne instructor was quite unfriendly towards him. There was nothing he could do; this airborne tactics instructor was sent by the Third Division and, in principle, wasn't part of the Luoyang Air Force squadron. Because the Luoyang Air Force squadron was too small, and parachute training for fighter pilots wasn't a frequent activity, training a dedicated airborne instructor was too costly; it was better to request one from the Third Division when needed.

The instructor, with his distinctly military style, disliked Xu Xian's lazy nature and naturally didn't have a good attitude towards him.

"One last question!" Xu Xian said with a wry smile, "Nowadays, after a pilot ejects, the parachute opens automatically, right? Is it really necessary to practice this? Also, did you guys even bother to research the weather conditions in the airspace below before notifying me of this training? What if the weather is bad? I can't exactly jump into a cumulonimbus cloud, can I? Doesn't that make sense?"

The airborne tactics instructor shook his head helplessly, then suddenly his gaze shifted to behind Xu Xian: "Birds?"

Xu Xian subconsciously followed the instructor's gaze and looked back, asking in confusion, "Birds? Three thousand meters away, there are still..."

Suddenly, Xu Xian felt a jolt in his heart and felt a heavy blow to his buttocks. He was sent flying straight out of the cabin!

(End of this chapter)