Within minutes there were three different kinds of jets buzzing around the stricken American-registered cargo plane: Hibr flight of two MiG-23s, Suf flight of four MiG-29s, and Kheyma flight of two MiG-25s. The problem was, no one could decide exactly what to do about this intruder. He was obviously a noncombatant, and he was obviously in trouble. They tried light signals, but it wasn’t clear if their searchlights were penetrating the smoke in the cockpit. They couldn’t see inside, and it was obvious no one in the cockpit could see out.

Finally the MiG-23 flight leader switched his number two radio to the international UHF emergency frequency: “Unidentified American cargo plane, this is Hibr flight of two of the United Kingdom of Libya Royal Air Force. You are in restricted airspace and in violation of Libyan law. You are ordered to reverse course immediately. I say again, reverse course immediately or you will be attacked.”

There was no answer. The flight leader repeated the message on the VHF GUARD emergency frequency; still no response. He was about to switch back to his controller’s frequency to request permission to open fire when he heard a scratchy, frightened voice say, “I hear you, Libyan fighters! I hear you! This is November three-oh-three Sierra Mike on VHF GUARD channel. I am on a handheld emergency radio. Mayday, mayday, mayday, can you hear me, Libyan air force?”

“I can hear you, Three Sierra Mike,” the flight leader replied. “You must reverse course immediately! In ten kilometers you will enter restricted Libyan airspace, and we will attack. Reverse course immediately! Acknowledge!”

“This is Three Sierra Mike, we have a catastrophic fire in the cockpit and we were forced to evacuate the cockpit. The aircraft is on autopilot, and we are trying to put the fire out. As soon as we put the fire out we can retake control of the plane. Don’t shoot! We are a cargo plane. We’re carrying relief supplies bound for Khartoum, Sudan, on an international flight plan. We have twenty-two relief workers on board plus a crew of five. Give us time to get the fire out. Over.”

“Three Sierra Mike, you are flying into restricted Libyan airspace during a time of severe emergency flight restrictions,” the flight leader said. “This is a wartime situation. If you do not reverse course in two minutes, I will have no choice but to open fire. You must do everything you can to reverse course or at least stay out over the Gulf of Sidra. I will be forced to open fire if you do not comply.”

“Please, for God’s sake, don’t shoot!” the pilot cried. “We’ll have control of our plane in less than two minutes! Please, stand by!”

“Think he’s for real, lead?” the wingman radioed.