The aircraft took a sudden, stomach-churning drop, falling fifty feet in a fraction of a second.

My head hit the padded ceiling of the cockpit, and I grabbed the back of the captain’s seat to stay upright.

In the galley, Gerald let out a loud cry as he slid across the floor.

“Grace!” Malachi yelled, his feet struggling to reach the rudder pedals below the dash. “I can’t hold the nose up by myself!”

The yoke was shaking violently in his hands, vibrating with the force of the air rushing over the control surfaces.

I looked at the captain’s seat.

Captain Pierce was still slumped forward, his breathing shallow and his skin a pale, grey color.

First Officer Cole was motionless, his eyes closed, his head resting against the side window.

“Gerald!” I called out over the roar of the wind.

“What?” Gerald yelled back, holding onto the galley cart latch to keep from sliding again.

“I need you to get in the co-pilot’s seat,” I said.

“Are you crazy?” Gerald screamed. “I don’t know how to fly a plane!”