I will never know

His eyes tell you that he has seen things that no one should see. There is a haunted resignation in them, like someone who has witnessed the apocalypse but still has to go to work every day to feed his family. His name is Alexander. He is a Mozambique First Officer. He has been in the Q400 jump seat observing aircraft operations. He’s a quiet man. When asked about the twisted scars on his arm his eyes bored into mine a look that told me I would never know.

Alexander studied aviation in Moscow during the mid 70’s. He then returned to fly Antonov 26’s for the Mozambican Air force during the civil war. I asked him what it was like to fly in the war. He said, “I dropped bombs on people. I saw many things. It was hard aviation.” He went on to explain how government and rebel forces used tactics of fear, intimidation methods to coerce the public to one side or another. “Cutting off ears or noses, killing…unspeakable things. The fighting here was very bad” He said.

After the war he spent time flying in the Congo. While on assignment there he and several other pilots were taken hostage. After two days he was released. The others were killed. “Why were you released?” I asked. “Somebody paid for me.” He said. Alexander is a quiet man. I can only imagine why.

After listening to him talk about his life experiences I made a promise to myself. The next time I have someone in my jump seat railing about compensation, work rules, scheduling conflicts, and the FAA, or if I’m doing it myself, I will think of Alexander. I will think of his life and remember that I will never really know.

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