Kansas City ARTCC

ZKC Quincy Low

  “Transways two thirty, contact Chicago Center on….Universal four fourteen, cross River intersection at and maintain….”  Loretta Anders continued giving instructions to the various aircraft in the Quincy sector. Occasionally glancing at the VFR target, Loretta had just finished one radio transmission when Deran tapped her on the arm.

“Loretta, Saint Louis departure control call about the…”

“Hello!?….Help! Can anyone hear me?….Help!…..Hello?”

The radio transmission filled both Loretta and Deran’s headsets, stopping Deran in mid-sentence. Both controllers looked at each other in amazement.

“It sounds like a kid, doesn’t it?” Deran said to Loretta.

“HELLO!….CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?….I NEED HELP!”

Loretta keyed her microphone. "Aircraft calling for help, this is Kansas City Center. Go ahead.”

“Hello…I’m in…I’m in an airplane and my mom and dad won’t wake up. I…I need somebody to help me….my mom and dad….I can’t wake my mom and dad up…”

Loretta Anders was momentarily shocked at what she had just heard. She shook her head slightly in disbelief and sat up straight in her chair.

“Aircraft calling for help,” Loretta said regaining her composure, “What is your call-sign and what is your position?”

“Ummm, I’m not sure where we are….my dad was flying the airplane. He’s like, he’s like half asleep. I can’t get him to answer me….Ummm the…our….the airplane is N-eight oh five B-W. My mom…my mom is like….making some…noise…she’s moving…MOM! WAKE UP…MOM! WAKE UP…I’M REALLY SCARED!”

Frightened, Adam kept a tight grip on the microphone. Engine noise and the sound of him crying and calling out to his parents filled the radio frequency.