I N C I D E N T A L L Y: One Little Boy
It was reported from Heathrow last week that as an aircraft was about to take off the peace was shattered by a five-year-old boy who picked that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum. No matter what his embarrassed mother did to try to calm him down the child continued to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.
Suddenly, from the rear of the aircraft, an elderly man in a uniform, clearly a high ranking officer in the RAF - a Marshal of the Royal Air Force, or someone of that ilk, was seen slowly walking forward up the aisle. Stopping the flustered mother with an upraised hand, the white-haired, courtly, soft-spoken officer leant down and, motioning toward his chest, whispered something into the boy's ear. Instantly, the youngster calmed down, gently took his mother's hand and quietly fastened his seat belt.
All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause. As the Air Marshal slowly made his way back to his seat, one of the cabin crew asked. "Excuse me, sir," she said in a very quiet voice , "but could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?"
He smiled serenely and then gently confided, "I showed him my pilot's wings, service stars and combat medals and explained that they entitle me to throw one passenger out the aeroplane door, on any flight I choose."