The Strangest Noises and Stories on a Plane: An Ex-NSA Consultant's Experience

When traveling by air, one might expect to hear typical noises such as the hum of the engines, the sound of the plane landing, or even the occasional chatter of fellow passengers. However, sometimes, the strangest experiences can take you by surprise, like the incidents I encountered during my flight from Phoenix to Boston in 2011. In this article, we'll explore some of the most unusual noises, stories, and encounters I've had while traveling on an airplane, particularly one that changed the course of my life.

The Most Unusual Noises on a Plane

I vividly recall an incident on an Embraer flight where passengers were faced with the incredibly unprofessional behavior of a Canadian family. The family, who had an adult diaper-wearing child of six years old, was letting him wander around the plane freely, even going so far as to grab a woman's breast as he walked by. This was not due to any known disability; I had explicitly asked the family if there was any disability, and they confirmed there was none. It was a scene that many would find both disturbing and perplexing.

The Weirdest Story I Encountered

Early in 2011, I was planning to transition to civilian work from the NSA. This transition involved a job interview at Pega Systems in Boston, which required me to travel from Phoenix. During my flight, I struck up a conversation with a distinguished gentleman sitting beside me. Our discussion initially revolved around business travel, but it was clear that he was being very tight-lipped about his role. His reserved demeanor and the nature of the stories he shared made me wonder whether he was truthful or merely part of a show.

One story in particular caught my attention. He disclosed to me that he had been invited to stay in a private guest house located on a luxury island, courtesy of one of his wealthy clients. The client had flown him there in a private jet and then taken him by helicopter to the island. Upon arrival, he discovered that the estate was as large as Bill Gates's house, with no less than 30 people maintaining it privately for two weeks. He even wore an expensive watch from Audemars Piguet and custom-made shoes, all in black.

Curiosity piqued, I couldn't help but ask him about the real nature of his job. His response surprised me when he revealed that he specialises in "making people go away." This comment not only raised the hair on the back of my neck but also made me question the purpose of our conversation and whether our encounter was a coincidence or deliberately staged.

Unsolicited Truth

After the initial stages of the interview were over, the gentleman made it clear that my involvement with the NSA could potentially make me a target. He reassured me that I had nothing to worry about if I didn't become a problem for his clients. This was no ordinary interview; it was a carefully orchestrated scenario designed to observe my reactions and test my resilience.

The experience left a lasting impression on me. It made me realize that sometimes, the most bizarre and unusual stories can occur during the most commonplace of situations. The story of his private island, his expensive taste, and his profession as a hitman engaged in solving complex people problems are all stories that could be straight out of a fantasy novel, but in that moment, they were very real.

So, when you are asked, "What is the strangest thing that you heard while in a plane?", my response would be the puzzling encounter with a wealthy hitman, a man who wore a luxury watch and had been flown to a private island estate with 30 caretakers, courtesy of one of his wealthy clients. The experience serves as a reminder that in the world of aviation, one might encounter stories and encounters that seem almost surreal.

Keywords: weirdest noises on a plane, strangest stories on a plane, NSA experiences