Business trip to Seville via JFK from San Diego, American A/L. Sitting up front. 25-30 minutes into the flight smell of electrical fire/smoldering In the cabin. Pilot comes on and says we’re diverting to Denver due to a ‘mechanical issue.’ A minute or so later, Captain comes on the PA and instructs the crews to page x of the in-flight manual. Attendants come two each passenger and instruct us to remove glasses, take pens or other sharp objects out of our pockets, put pillow on our knees, etc. The gal across the aisle was hyperventilating about to lose it, crew were visibly shaken… I’m thinking fark, I had to check in a large bag full of junk for my Israeli coworkers who asked me to bring this, that or the other to Seville.. I know I am now going to miss my next connection. Although fire engines, ambulances, etc., were on the run way to escort us to the gate there was no further incident. When the door opened, I bee-lined it to the Admiral’s Club to get rebooked (Executive Platinum). They had my name and a seat booked for me up front from Chicago to Seville. Told me to haul ass to the gate as they instructed the plane to hold at the gate for me. By now, I was sweating like a whore in church on a Saturday night and it’s sailor’s pay day. Made the connection to Chicago, to Seville. I figured the checked bag was somewhere in the atmosphere but went to the baggage carousel and son of a b!tch, my bag was the first one on the chute! The was a Dog (I’m not dyslexic). My boss arrived at the same time from a direct flight from Tel Aviv. His bag didn’t make it, he was pissed
He retired from Shen Bet as #2 (responsibilities included security of all Israeli Embassy’s, El Al and in-bound/out bound flight security, etc.). I suggested to him there was probably a Shen Bet dude he may have pissed off once upon a time who was doing a ‘pay back.’ Boss didn’t think it was funny…